I had the pleasure of hosting the Miss AWAG (Area Women’s Action Group) 2009 Beauty Pageant. The event was held at Faulkner State Community College on September 26th.

Congratulations to this year’s winner, Ms. Erin Patterson!

She’s a senior at Daphne High School, with an amazing voice.  Patterson says she plans to study Theatre Arts when she goes to college. 

This was my second year hosting the pageant.  It’s really neat event!  Not that I’m biased… BUT having competed in pageants before, I can’t stress the importance of pageantry enough.

The competitions help with self confidence, finding a platform to speak your mind and they also promote community service.

AWAG contestants were judged on talent and performing arts, evening wear and their knowledge of current events.  For example this year, the girls were asked to share their thoughts on the controversy that stemmed from President Obama’s decision to speak to students during school.

Despite dwindling financial support, pageant organizers of the pageant are able to provide winners a scholarship to Faulkner State, as well as cash prizes.

I have to give a personal thank you to Ethel Higgins for inviting me out.

I’d like to take a moment and thank everyone who participated in this year’s Gulf Coast Start! Heart Walk.

Hundreds of friends, familes and co-workers came together in Spanish Fort this weekend, to raise awareness and research dollars for the American Heart Association.

The weather was touch-and-go.  It rained for much of the morning.  But the sun came out just in time for the walk.

Fox10 News was a proud media sponsor.

I was honored to spearhead the event and several members from the Fox10 News family laced up their walking shoes for a great cause.

We had a fabulous turnout!

So far donations have totaled to just over $107,000.  However, the event goal is $370,000.  Yes, they are still taking donations if anyone is interested.

The American Heart Association is the largest voluntary health organization working to prevent, treat and defeat heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.  These diseases are the Nation’s No.1 and No.3 killers, and claim more than 865,000 American lives a year!

The American Heart Association cannot achieve its mission without you.

So thanks again for your support.

Here’s to living a more heart healthy life

Last week, when I was in New York, I attended a taping for The Wendy Williams Show.

The syndicated talk show made its season debut on Fox10 in July, following a six week trial run last summer in New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, and Dallas.

Most people already know Wendy Williams, also known as the Queen of Media, from her days in radio.  She has what you might call an aggressive interviewing style.  Ok to be frank, she has no qualms with asking her guests tough and sometimes embarrassing questions…let’s just say…the juicer the better.

Wendy tapes live Monday through Thursday at 10:00 a.m and audience members are expected to arrive to the studio by 8:00 a.m.

There’s a check-in process.  You give your name to the person at the door, and walk through a security check point, before your escorted into a waiting room.  Certain VIP’s are taken into the “Purple Room.”  It’s a more intimate setting and puts you at the front of the line for entering the set.

I have to thank the producers of the show for giving me and my sister the VIP treatment

Kate Voegele performed her hit song”99 Times.”  Then actress Debbi Morgan, from “All My Children” stopped by.

But I was most impressed with Wendy.  She was such a gracious host.  It was something to see…staff members were fussing over her hair, wardrobe, and make-up in between commercial breaks as Wendy was trying to make her way through the audience to meet and greet.  I have been to other show tapings before and during the commercial breaks the talent sat in their chairs and had very little interaction with the audience members.

Overall, my short stint in NYC was a jammed packed with activities.

I was there for the start of fashion week, the memorial for 9/11, and the U.S Open tennis tournament.  It was both and exhilarating and exhausting.

So, the other day I was on the phone with one of my girlfriends.  She pulled into a fast-food restaurant and ordered her son something to eat.  Right away I asked, “what are you doing?  I hope you’re ordering him a salad and fruit slices!”  She proceeded, as most of my friends do, to tell me how ridiculous I was being.  “Lenise, please tell me your son has had a french fry and that you’ve taken him to McDonalds or Burger King at least once.”

The short answer to that question is yes.  Yes, he’s had french fries and yes he’s been to a McDonalds — once.   But the truth of the matter is we simply don’t eat a lot of processed foods.  It’s not because I think fast-food joints are evil.  I’ve had plenty of Mickey D’s in my day.  But that was before I decided to make a positive change in my eating habits.

I lost my grandmother to heart disease when I was just a teenager.  Next to my mother, she was my best friend.  I was the last person to see my grandmother before she died.  We talked about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  It was then, that I made a promise to take better care of my heart and to help others do the same.

I’ve been actively involved with the American Heart Association since I was 17.  Volunteering, fundraising, and promoting the message of eating healthy, getting daily physical activity, and decreasing the amount of stress in ones life.

The Alabama Gulf Coast Start! Heart Walk kicks off September 20 from Five Rivers in Daphne.  Fox10 News is one of the media sponsors.  I have the privilege of leading the walk again this year. I am really hoping to make a difference, which is why I am creating a team of walkers to help raise funds for the American Heart Association.  The money raised will be used towards heart disease and stroke research and education.

Unfortunately, too many of us have a loved one affected by heart disease or stroke.  In the last year, Author E. Lynn Harris, News Anchor Tim Russert, Mobile Radio Host Ray-Ray Russell, and Pitchman Billy Mays, were all lost to cardiovascular disease.  Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the country.  It’s a message we’ve heard before.  Now it’s time to create hope, inspire change and do something about it.

I know we can’t eradicate cardiovascular disease overnight.  But we can help to save the life of someone down the line.

Join our fight and help me keep my promise to reduce heart-related deaths in our country.

Copy and paste the following into your browser and click register and join the Fox10News team:
http://algulfcoastheartwalk.kintera.org/faf/r.asp?t=4&i=295032&u=295032-262480164

The more people we have working to defeat heart disease and stroke-the better!

So my Friday started off with a bang… literally.  I was live from Pensacola Beach for the Blue Angels dress rehearsal.

Sure, I was warned about how loud the jets were.  But clearly I didn’t completely grasp how “loud” they would actually be.  I quickly realized when I felt my entire body shake each time the jets came whizzing by, seemingly at warp speeds. I’m talking a shake that went right down to the core; my lungs were vibrating!  It was my first time seeing the Blue Angels perform and even if it was just the dress rehearsal, this was an experience I’ll not soon forget.

Saturday was also pretty cool, and another day for firsts.  My family and I spent much of the day at Waterville USA in Gulf Shores.  My husband’s company rented out the park for its employees. I’d never been to the water park before.  I was psyched about going, that is until I realized I needed a new bathing suit.  It took four trips to four different stores before I finally found something to wear.  But that’s an entirely different blog

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am truly a kid at heart.  And I must say the park was so much fun!

Perhaps the best part was seeing my son Sidney trying to swim for the first time.  He had a bit of false sense of security because he was wearing a life jacket.  But each time he dove into the wave pool, mind you with three-foot waves coming at him, he would just laugh and laugh.  He would even laugh when his head would dip into the water because he couldn’t quite figure out how to balance his body.

We left the park with less of a farmer’s tan and not being able to wait until the next trip back.

Since there’s no shortage of opinions concerning the Miss California controversy, I thought I would add my two cents.

Initially, I was going to keep quiet.  After all, it’s always easy to sit back and judge and criticize.  And I simply did not want to be one of those people, especially having competed in Miss USA pageants (on a local level) and knowing how fierce the competition can be.  I give absolute kudos to anyone brave enough to delve into pageantry.

But all bets were off following Tuesday’s news conference.

In case you’re not familiar here’s the issue:

Miss California USA Carrie Prejean was catapulted into the spotlight when she declared opposition to same-sex marriage.  The answer was in response to a question asked at the Miss USA pageant April 19^th.  She was asked her view of marriage by blogger Perez Hilton. Prejean said she believes marriage is between a man and a woman.  Shortly thereafter, let’s just say a firestorm ignited.  There was an abundance of chatter from groups both speaking in favor and against Prejean’s comments.  Now somewhere along the way, seminude photos surfaced of Prejean.  The pictures were taken when she was a teenager.  The news did not sit well with California pageant officials and an investigation was launched.

Ok, let’s fast forward to Tuesday morning, when pageant owner Donald Trump held a news conference and said, “We’ve reviewed the pictures carefully.  We’ve made a determination that the pictures taken were acceptable. Some were risqué, but we are in the 21st century.”

Ladies and gentlemen, that’s when I my silence was broken.  ”Some were risqué, but we are in the 21st century?”

What!

The issue isn’t whether the pictures were beautiful, or in bad taste.  The issue was whether she didn’t tell the truth and was in breach of contract.

Participants are clearly asked whether they have ever been photographed nude or partially nude.  Prejean answered no.

Yet instead of having her crown taken away for being dishonest, the “risqué” behavior was rewarded and seemingly justified because we’re in the “21st century.”

I’m sorry but Trumps decision not to fire Prejean just sends the wrong message.  It tells young ladies you can lie in a competition and still keep your prize when you’re caught.

Incidentally, how is Miss North Carolina is doing?  You know, Kristen Dalton, the young lady who actually won the title of Miss USA.

Volunteer Mobile held its sixth annual “Shrimp Cook-off” in Bienville Square this weekend.

I had the delicious pleasure of being one of the judges.  Initially, I didn’t think I could participate because I don’t eat red meat or pork.  It’s a lifestyle choice I made at the age of 16.

But the organizers assured me that wouldn’t be a problem.

In hindsight, it appears my priorities were out of order.  Instead of worrying about being a fair judge, I should have been more concerned about what the event would do to my waistline!  I gained 10 pounds easily.  The food was absolutely scrumptious.

20 teams put their best foot forward and prepared some pretty outstanding shrimp dishes.  The dishes varied from Shrimp et tu fe…to Shrimp & Grits.     

Including myself, there were a total of 10 judges.  We were split into two teams and given the difficult task of sampling/judging 10 different dishes based on seasoning, presentation, and recipe originality. 

Among my team were:

Lawrence Battiste (Prichard Chief of Police), David Holloway (Press Register Food Editor), and Dr. Roy Nichols (superintendent of Mobile County Schools).

We all had our favorites.  Personally, my favorite was Zea’s Asian Almond Shrimp.  Incidentally, it won best professional dish.

Here’s a breakdown of the awards…

Best professional: Zea’s Asian Almond Shrimp

Best amateur: Elm’s Mango Stuffed Shrimp

Best non-profit: Salvation Army’s Shrimp étouffé

Best decorations: Child Advocate Center

People’s choice: John Stone Adam’s Shrimp Elegante 

Need-less-to-say, I had a blast!

I’m told more than 1,500 people attended the cook-off.  Tickets were $10 in advance or $15 at the gate.  It was a good bargain, for a good cause.  The proceeds benefit local volunteer-based programs.  When I called Volunteer Mobile for a grand tally, they were still crunching the numbers.  But I’m sure they raised a generous amount of money.  After all, the gulf coast loves its shrimp.

As for me…it’s back to the gym…and looking forward to next year’s cook-off  :)

Is anyone as excited as I am about this year’s NCAA Championship games?  You have to admit, we’ve seen some great college basketball… even if our brackets are completely ruined.

Of course you should know, I am a HUGE Michigan State basketball fan.  So when my alma mater stunned Louisville to advance to the Final Four, the games got even more exciting.

Then it hit me — my school is going to the Final Four AND the games are in my hometown of Detroit, but I didn’t make any preparations to be there.

Ok, suddenly my enthusiasm has waned.

See, when I say I am a huge MSU basketball fan, well that’s kind of an understatement.   Here’s some perspective.  I was an intern at the FOX station in Detroit when the  Spartans defeated Florida to win the title in 2000.  But there was no question in the producers mind who to send to East Lansing to help cover the victory parade.  I’ll never forget it.  I interviewed Tom Izzo, and even got to meet the Flintstones (Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson, and Charlie Bell)!

Then when the Spartans went to the Final Four in 2001, I traveled all the way to Minneapolis… by myself… to cheer them on.  That’s right; go State!

Naturally, with March Madness converging on Detroit, all of my family and friends assume I am coming for the festivities.  Unfortunately, I am not.  I predicted they would make it to the Final Four in my brackets.  I knew the NCAA Championship was going to be in motor city this year .  Why didn’t I get a plane ticket?

Clearly with the games starting this Saturday, I will be watching from home.

Lucky for me,  my mother works right around the corner from Ford Field.  She has promised to send me pictures of all the pep rallies so I won’t feel completely left out.

And with that said, I leave you with this…

On the banks of the Red Cedar, Is a school that’s known to all.

Its specialty is winning, And those Spartans play good ball.

Spartan Teams are never beaten, All thru the game they fight.

Fight for the only colors, Green and White.

Go right thru for M S U, Watch the points keep growing.

Spartan teams are bound to win, they’re fighting with a vim, Rah! Rah! Rah!

See their team is weakening, We’re going to win the game.

Fight! Fight! Rah! Team Fight! Victory for M S U.