John Legend Shares Advice, Reveals Dream Collaboration

As John Legend nears the release of his latest album Love in the Future, he promises to tease Indiana University students with some highly-anticipated new music when he takes the IU Auditorium stage on
Dec. 7.

“I probably will play a song or two from my new album,” says Legend.

He found inspiration for this record in telling stories about love and life.

“The inspirations for making [this album] are things that are personal to me, things that other people can relate to,” he says.

Granted an Honorary Doctorate from Howard University in May 2012, Legend has taken this award as a means of inspiring others by sharing advice with young adults.

“I feel like there are a lot of parallels, no matter what career you’re going after and trying to pursue,” he says.

So what advice does Legend wish to share with aspiring artists? He says:

“1. You want to try to be the best at it, so you have to practice and get really good at it. Whether it is music or any other field, I feel like you have to spend a lot of energy and time studying and trying to be great at whatever you are doing.

2. You have to make good decisions. Part of that is through experience, part of that is through good advice from people that you trust. A lot of times you will make a few mistakes and you will learn from those things as well.”

“Education is something that is very important to me, so whenever I have an opportunity to inspire young people to do great things in life, it’s always a good thing for me,” says Legend.

Before officially going on tour, Legend will spend time promoting new music as well as collaborating with other artists, such as co-writing with Alicia Keys on her recently-dropped album and working with Kanye West on Love in the Future.

Legend expresses the joys of working with other artists.

“I love being a writer and getting into character,” he says. “Seeing things through another person’s perspective and then writing with them, and for them for their own project.”

As far as future collaborations are concerned, Legend shoots for the stars in the most literal sense. He goes on to reveal which music artists he dreams of working with.

“Adele, Beyoncé. Nothing too high or anything,” he jokes.

Though working with top recording artists seems thrilling to the nine-time Grammy winner, Legend expresses his excitement about another musical venture.

“I’m absolutely excited to be at IU,” he says. “Especially as someone who grew up watching sports, it’s such a famed and fabled place. It’s exciting to actually come and perform at IU, I think we are going to have a great time.”

–

Will YOU be having a “great time” tonight with John Legend? It’s not too late- buy your tickets at IUauditorium.com, the IU Auditorium Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations.

Breakfast Break-Up

Breaking up is hard to do, heck–ask Justin Timberlake and not-so-ex girlfriend Jessica Biel (the almost-exes were recently spotted biking together). Yet one relationship you should never part ways with is the one you have with your oatmeal. Yep, I said it (and no, I’m not making things up here). According to a recent survey from Food Insight, 93 percent of Americans agree that breakfast is the most important meal, yet fewer than half are eating it every day (as reported by mybreakfast.com). Personally, breakfast is my favorite meal of the day…same with lunch, dinner, and all of the snacks in between–yum! So it comes as such a shock to me when people often confess they skip breakfast daily. Besides being a key factor in weight loss (eating breakfast regularly can increase metabolism by 10%), it is an excellent way to kick-start your day.

 If you find yourself victim to a breakfast breakup, here are some fun & delicious ways to incorporate food into your morning routine:

For the Chocoholic:

Better Oats offers a wide variety of nutrient rich instant breakfast options. One of my favorite products is undoubtedly due to my permanent sweet tooth–dark chocolate oatmeal not only gives you the satisfaction of eating breakfast but the indulgence of chocolate. I’m sorry, but does it get any better?

Tried and True:

In a rush, breakfast can quickly go from desirable to overlooked. You may not even notice that you made the mistake of skipping out. Grab an english muffin, a banana, or yogurt–& you’re out the door. There are so many portable foods that by adding into your morning will change your day, for the better!

For the Adventurous:

No need to bring out the frying pan or pancake batter to get a homemade breakfast. For those who stray away from greasy bacon and scrambled eggs, try a less tradition option: enter frushi. A fruit infused, fish-free sushi roll is a satisfying and fun way to mix it up. Not to mention, the presentation looks so good you almost feel bad eating it.

What is YOUR go-to breakfast choice?

A Family Affair: Martin Sheen & Emilio Estevez

The presence of a great public figure rarely goes unnoticed; similarly, the work of a talented actor rarely goes unrecognized. For these reasons alone it was very clear at the Chicago International Film Festival gala just exactly who the guests of honor were. As a crowd of spectators traced the steps of a man and his entourage, it was not until I heard “You are the man, Emilio” echoing the foyer at the AMC theatre, that I quickly realized who was approaching.

Photo Courtesy of Joe Arce, Hollywood Chicago

The projected voice coming from a boy, no older than 20—with popcorn in hand, it was obvious he probably was on his way to catch the new Final Destination 5 flick. To the fan’s surprise, this celeb spotting was no coincidence. Unlikely, Emilio Estevez was not planning on catching the latest Ryan Reynolds comedy, but rather a screening of his self-directed film The Way starring none other than his father and the recipient of the festival’s highest honor, the Career Achievement Award.

 Martin Sheen is slight in stature, yet mighty in presence—as I’ve come to notice, most movie stars are. However, Sheen is no ordinary star. In fact, he has far surpassed just what it means to be an actor in Hollywood. The night’s award seemingly “long overdue” according to his son, Emilio, who was present at the Chicago screening to support his father’s achievement.

Among other great recipients of this honor (Steven Spielberg and Clint Eastwood included) I was determined to ask this year’s honoree about something deeper than his relationship with his infamous son, Charlie—who though not present at the screening, did not keep his talented father from #winning the award.

Photo Courtesy of Joe Arce, Hollywood Chicago

Observing that perhaps the stem of all achievement is the fulfillment of potential, I found potential to be the utmost appropriate topic of discussion with the man of the hour. After all, the fulfillment of potential seems to hold special value to Sheen, who in the past spoke on the record of one of his icons, Elvis Presley, never being able to reach his full potential. Further, Sheen had always predicted Emilio would have to direct films to feel the full extent of his talents.

In light of the topic, I asked Sheen “How does one nurture potential”. A slight pause and a whole-hearted response later, “Well you start by really caring about the person and being a source of inspiration. You bless people by acknowledging their humanity and their talent…also by going out of your way to share part of yourself and encourage them. It’s just natural progression.”

Sheen may have been the one accepting the award that night; however naturally, he was the one doing the giving. [Giving praise, that is] in the name of his son, as he spoke candidly about Emilio’s role in the film.

“He did something very special in this movie–for me personally, but also for our community. He created something so deeply personal, that it’s transcendent. This story is one of healing and brokenness. It is of courage, and humanity.”

For as many kind words Sheen had to bestow, Estevez had equal amounts of respect to give to his father. It was in this moment I captured the essence of their relationship, one of mutual respect and admiration.

“I’m just really proud of Martin, I’m proud of my pops. I’m excited that he’s getting honored—it’s cool,” said Estevez of the celebration.

As the red carpet cleared and the stars made their “way” to the award presentation, the crowd dissipated, leaving but few star-struck fans. One in particular, a teenage boy who happily exclaimed, “Martin Sheen waved to me!” proved that whether it be his memorable role in the original Wall Street or rubbing elbows with Leo DiCaprio in The Departed, the work of Martin Sheen will surely stand the test of time.

I’ll Have What She’s Having…

While most of us rely on the glossy pages of glamour magazines to seek the best in beauty, maybe the secret to a flawless face is right in our own backyard, our mothers & grandmothers. No, literally…you can usually find my grandmother in her garden. During a recent visit, I discovered a mecca of black & white photos stored away in beautiful leather-bound albums. Turning pages, I admired the effortless-chic style that was my grandmother’s. Today, her wrinkle-free face is that which should be envied by the masses. Forget pricey facial creams and ridiculously painful chemical peels, my grandma know’s whats up.

My Grandmother in Korea. Eating an apple, naturally.

Here are her tips to looking young…well, at least “not her age”:

1. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Yeah, yeah we’ve heard it all before but if the ageless-wonder is telling me to eat veggies, yes ma’am.

2. Moisturize daily. You don’t need to splurge luxurious night creams or even use homemade remedies–simply apply a basic moisturizer twice a day to keep your skin in a constant hydrated state.

3. Go light on the makeup. My grandma has always preached not to wear too much makeup (like all grandmothers are entitled to do). Though sometimes unrealistic, try to go for a minimal day time look–sans foundation, bronzer, the works.

4. Stay out of the sun. I know what you are thinking…Brandi, these rules SUCK. I die for the sun, I cannot possibly go a day without makeup, and frankly I would rather eat a candy bar than a carrot. Guess what, me too–so I get it. Staying out of the sun does not mean becoming a mythical cave creature (though that would be an interesting day job…) but opt for a SPF based foundation, this way you are keeping your skin protected and there is no need to remember that extra step.

Though my grandmother’s rules to anti-aging are simple, trust me they do take effort. If these rules aren’t suitable for your lifestyle, ask your own skin role model for their skin secrets. My mother, for example, has skin that Bravo‘s Real Housewives would kill for (no, really they probably would kill each other for skin this good). In fact, she often gets mistaken for my sister. Um, yeah…about that. So instead of stealing secrets from Hollywood A-listers for skin care product they are paid to promote, I steal my mother’s secrets–not to mention nearly every beauty product she owns–sorry mom!

Identify YOUR skin role model and ask them what their secret is…the answer to your pore problems may be closer than you think. Not to mention, the compliment you give your grandmother on her ability to look seemingly half her age will surely score you a few extra dollars in next year’s birthday card. What can I say, it’s a win-win situation.

#Coincidence

We’ve all heard it before, great minds think a like. Well how about former flames Tweet a like? Seems like exes Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush were both in need of some R&R…and from the looks of it, they both got it. Not together, of course. In fact, Kim K is newly [and happily] engaged to her Nets stud, Kris Humphries and as for Reggie? He is rumored to be dating a Kardashian look-a-like. Remember those controversial Old Navy commercials causing everyone to do a double take on the nearly identical Kim? I guess Old Navy and Reggie have more in common than we thought; neither could get the real Kim Kardashian, so they settled for the next best thing…oh yes, we went there.

Red, White, & True

True to my signature glitter nail obsession, I found a way to incorporate the holiday spirit (Fourth of July, people) into my nail color for the weekend. Check it out:

 

How do YOU get in the holiday spirit?

A Moment With: Entourage’s Jeremy Piven

What better way to return from a two-week blog-hiatus than an interview with one of TV’s most powerful characters? If you want to know what it feels like to talk to Entourage star Jeremy Piven, here is a little insight. Simply put, it feels like you are watching an episode of the hit HBO show…the only catch? You are a guest star.

Photo Credit: Chicago Corporate Photography

His presence is not overwhelming, yet you feel a shift in the air when he enters. At first glance you expect Piven to project his infamous calling “Lloyddddd!!” as he makes an entrance, only to remember you are living in real life and Ari Gold is, in reality, only Piven’s television alter-ego.

Entourage fan or not, there is something about Piven that makes you stop and stare. Having grown up a product of the theatre, Piven’s natural ability to attract attention does not go unnoticed in this moment…but maybe that is just coming from me–a self-proclaimed “Entourage Nerd”.

I had the honor of speaking with Mr. “Ari Gold” himself at the annual Piven Theatre Workshop benefit– seeking answers to questions I, personally, was dying to know. Perhaps Piven’s current successes stem from his flawless depiction of a larger-than-life Hollywood agent, based in part on the real-life agent Ari Emanuel. Having played one of the most successful characters in showbiz and achieving honors such as three Primetime Emmy Awards, it’s safe to say Piven knows a thing or two about what it means to be successful.

After experiencing countless victories both on and off-screen, I was curious as to how Piven interprets what it means to be successful. Without hesitation, Piven referenced the work of his beloved mother, Joyce, expressing admiration for her lifetime of success. Straying far away from a textbook defintion (thankfully!) Piven told me that success is “when the people you’ve touched come back to show thanks”. Whole-heartedly, he  further admired his mother’s achievements.

Overly satisfied with the authenticity of his response, I continued–asking the question I knew only Piven, himself, could answer with necessary complexity. Warning: Entourage viewers, get excited.

Photo Credit: Chicago Corporate Photography

What can fans not expect to see in the all-new Season 8 that will be revealed? (Come on now, asking “what to expect” is so overdone!) Thrown off by the “unexpected”–literally–Piven first response is ”Good question”. A split-second ponder and Piven is back in the game with a rather enticing answer. This season (premiering July 24th) “Shows a new side of Ari”, says Piven. Proceeding, the actor passionately illustrates this must-see transformation through his ability to “pull the layers off Ari”–describing the experience as “gratifying”.

As the Chicago native shared with me his “curiosity to see fans’ reactions”, I should have assured him that fans are equally curious to see what the Mark Wahlberg-produced series has in store for its final season.

Having snapped out of my Entourage fantasy momentarily and back into reality for the duration of the interview, I was later convinced that I was “back on set” when I observed Piven conversing with a beautiful woman. As I stood [merely a foot away], Piven bid farewell to the beauty with a polite, “Bye [insert name here]…”, only to turn to me in the same instance to conclude his sign off with a joking whisper ”…I love you” to the woman, who purposefully did not hear him.

…and just like that, I witnessed the quick-witted Jeremy Piven as he stood before me–in none other than true Ari Gold fashion.

____________________________________________________________________________

Like this post? ‘Subscribe’ to Laugh Often, Blog Daily for more Lifestyle write-ups and Celebrity feed sent straight to your email.

Go social: ‘Like’ us on Facebook. Follow LOBD on Twitter

Questions, comments, suggestions? Contact me at blchang@indiana.edu