Young Fly Girlz on BMA

Recently The Young Fly Girlz’ performed on Better Mornings Atlanta at 9am. (YFG) mission is to promote a wholesome image of young girls. These honor roll students showcase their talents through singing, song writing, dance and acting. The messages in their lyrics are clean, inspiring, educational and most of all positive.

YFG was inspired to create their first video of the Keep It Movin’ song in support of the “No Bullying” movement. They feel that the best way to defeat bullies is to have self confidence, a positive attitude and desire to “Keep it Movin'”!

BlackBride.com makes a stop on BMA

We had some beautiful models come in for a Better Mornings Atlanta segment for The BlackBride.com Bridal Show will answer wedding planning questions for brides-to-be and provide interactive access to the best exhibitors in the business. Taking them step by step through the planning process, their A-list exhibitors will showcase the most contemporary wedding planning ideas, advice and services, to help you plan the wedding of your dreams.

Experience a fashion show showcasing all the latest trends for you, your groom and your bridal party. Explore booths with fantastic giveaways for your wedding and honeymoon, on-site examples of floral arrangements, photography packages, and reception décor, and tasty samples from local caterers and bakers sure to infuse something special in your menu. Gain your all-access pass to experts with priceless advice, all while sipping a glass of Champagne, a Bellini or a refreshing Mimosa!

Attendees will have the opportunity to receive up-close and personal attention, valuable information, participate in fantastic giveaways, discuss honeymoon destinations, and enjoy on-site examples of floral arrangements, photography packages and reception décor while nibbling on tasty samples from local caterers and bakers.

Brides and their guests will be able to preview the latest bridal fashions for brides, grooms, and the bridal party in an intimate runway setting with couture gowns by top wedding industry designers. The Therez Fleetwood bridal collection combines the exotic and romantic with the modern and structured, while the Bryan K. Osburn Collection will inspire the hopeless romanticism of love and marriage. Both designers come with notable backgrounds in the fashion and design industry. Brides will also have a sneak peak at spring bridesmaid’s gowns provided by Alfred Angelo, and stylish fashions for grooms by Express Tuxedo.

Jamie Grace Harper on Better Mornings Atlanta

We just loved 20 year old Jamie Grace Harper when she came on the show this morning to perform during the 9am edition of Better Mornings Atlanta.
When she was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome, at 11 years old, a GRAMMY nomination was the furthest thing from her mind. But a few years later came a Twitter contact from Christian music star and record label owner TobyMac, who had been following the teenager’s music postings on YouTube for more than three years.
Fast-forward a few months and “Hold Me,” the song the Lithonia native composed on her dorm room floor at Atlanta-area’s Point University, a four-year liberal arts Christian university, garnered the top spot across an unprecedented three different radio charts. Recently, the self-described “weird kid with Tourette” learned she has earned her first GRAMMY nomination for “Best Contemporary Christian Music Song.”
Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics. “I missed lots of school, lost my hair and, by the age of 14, just wanted to stay in my room all day,” Harper said. Noticing her discouragement, Jamie Grace’s grandfather gave her a drum set and guitar. “Even though I didn’t know what I was doing, the second I hit those drums, I seriously felt life coming back!”
Then, moved by a teen conference speaker who had overcome great adversity, “I thought, ‘I’ve cried enough. Even with Tourette, God has a purpose for me. I love to sing. I have a story, and I’ve got to share it.’ ”
Harper shares her story with thousands of middle and high school girls each year through the national Revolve Tour, as well as through her own nonprofit mentoring program called GraceTalk, which she started at the age of 15. Jamie Grace credits her struggles with Tourette, the support of her parents – pastors in Stone Mountain – and her major of child and youth development at Point University, for helping her understand the insecurities many youth in her audience are facing.
The 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards will take place Feb. 12, 2012. Jamie Grace’s latest single, “You Lead,” recently hit No. 2 on the CHR Chart. She released the EP “Christmas Together” Nov. 29 and will travel on Newsong’s “Very Merry Christmas Tour” through Dec. 20.

Chef Mourad Lahlou visits BMA

We had a great time on BMA at 9am with Chef Mourad Lahlou. He just released his new cookbook called Mourad: New Moroccan. He showed us some Moroccan dishes from his cookbook that are easy for home cooks to replicate for holiday parties.

Chef Mourad came to the United States when he was 20 to study economics at San Francisco State University. He missed his native cuisine, so he taught himself how to recreate his favorite Moroccan dishes with local ingredients and his own inventive techniques. He’s now the chef/owner of Aziza in San Francisco. He’s been recognized as one of the most dynamic and individual chefs in the Bay Area. He’s known for the way he showcases the great flavors of his native cuisine in ways that harmonize with fresh, local, artisanal ingredients.

Monica visits BMA

We had the pleasure of having R&B singer Monica on Better Mornings Atlanta recently…
She took a break from the studio as she was putting the finishing touches on her seventh album, New Life, set for release on February 21th.
Monica has joined forces with Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger relief charity, to raise awareness about child hunger in the U.S.

Monica entered the music scene at the tender age of 14 and quickly established a track record of history making accomplishments. Monica became the youngest female ever to have two #1 back-to-back hits with “Don’t Take it Personal (Just One of Dem Days)” and “Before You Walk Out of My Life” on Billboard’s R&B chart her from 1995 debut album Miss Thang. Her 1998 album, The Boy is Mine garnered pop success when paired with Brandy on the album’s title track that spent a record breaking 13 weeks at #1 on the charts and earned the duo a Grammy Award. That album also boasted two more #1 hits, “The First Night” and “Angel of Mine.” In 2003 Monica’s chart-topping success continued when her third album, After The Storm, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top 200 Album chart and spawned her sixth #1 single “So Gone.” Monica’s follow-up album, 2006’s The Makings of Me, entered at #1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album chart and added yet another achievement to the songstress’ extraordinary career. Monica’s fifth studio album Still Standing debuted at #1 on the R&B Album chart, #2 on the U.S. Billboard Top 200 and was certified Gold in just three weeks! The album’s first single, “Everything To Me,” reached the #1 spot on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and became Monica’s seventh #1. The success of “Everything To Me” also placed Monica within an elite group of history making superstars that have garnered #1 R&B singles in three decades – Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, James Brown and Marvin Gaye.

Rocker Chic with Andy Hilfiger

It was great having Andy Hilfiger, brother of Tommy Hilfiger, with us on Better Mornings Atlanta at 9am.
Andy is launching his new clothing line… called Andrew Charles collection.
Andrew Charles is a new rock ‘n’ roll inspired fashion collection for men and
women available exclusively at Impulse departments at Macy’s and Macys.com.
Legendary rock star and style icon Steven Tyler infuses his style into the brand and serves as the inspiration for all Andrew Charles menswear. Tyler, who is never seen on-stage without a series of scarves tied to his microphone stand, will also be developing a Steven Tyler Rock Scarf Collection for Andrew Charles. The scarves will launch for Holiday.

Hot Dog! It’s HD1

Talk about an amazing hot dog… a new atlanta restaurant puts a new twist on an old favorite.. and we got to try it on Better Mornings Atlanta at 9am.
HD1 is Chef Richard Blais’ (FLIP Burger, “Top Chef”) newest venture. The menu has several different types of gourmet hot dogs on it – in addition to other food (you can still find something to eat if you don’t want a hot dog!)

The hot dog menu includes:
-Classic hot dog with sauerkraut & HD mustard
-Red haute dog with brisket chili, pepper jack foam, Vidalia onion
-Fennel sausage with San Marzano ketchup, fontina, & grilled radicchio
-Chicken-apple sausage, herbed creme fraiche, walnuts, sour grape relish
-Beef pastrami dog with ox tongue & tripe hash, rusky dressing
-Kenturkey with smoked bacon, mornay, and tomato-pimento marmalade
-Merguez with red currant compote, minted cucumber salad, and Labne yogurt
*Sous vide carrot or Smartdog may be substituted for any other dog

Chef Jared brought in several of the gourmet hot dogs from the menu for us to try and they were amazing!