Sidney Poitier

He's not only one of the greatest male stars of all time he was awarded USA's highest civilian honor The Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama in 2009. 

Langston Hughes

He's best known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance. He was an incredible writer. He wrote novels short stories and plays. 

Would love to hear who you're paying respect to during African American month. Tell me in the comments below.

What kind of chocolate are you? Let me know in the comments section below!

Chocolate Me! Book Signing

Appearance on "American Morning"

Appearance on Tim Daly's "The Daly Show"

Prep for "The Ellen DeGeneres Show"

On "Live! With Kelly Ripa"

With the cast of "Absinthe" in Vegas

My Trip to Six Flags Magic Mountain

What were some of your favorite memories of 2011? Let me know in the comments below!

On October 2 2011 Steve Jobs the mastermind behind Apple passed away sparking an outpouring of sentiment from the public.

What do you think was the biggest event of 2011?

What do y'all think about my suggestions? Let me know which frames you'd go for.

Let me know what you thiink of the show and be sure to check back for more episodes!

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
I have loved all the Peanuts books since I was a child and this book is one that I look forward to reading to my son this weekend.

The Polar Express
I love the imagination of this story that captures the spirit of Christmas and has amazing illustrations.

A Wish to be a Christmas Tree
This book gets me every time! “A Wish to be a Christmas Tree is a must-read about friendship love and generousity.

Too Many Toys
About charity and generousity this book teaches an important lesson that is easy for children to relate to.

Which books do you love reading to your little ones around the holidays? Let me know in the comments section below!

SP: What are three quirky things about you that make you different?
TD: Hmm three quirky things about me that make me different: I sometimes like to make up dances and teach them to friends when I'm out at parties or a nightclub. I was born with 6 fingers on each hand. I had the extra digit removed but you can see where it was on both my hands. Sounds more gross than it is. And the third? I consider myself a highly sensitive person. I play it off but I'm a very delicate flower.

SP: What's your life's biggest question?
TD: My life's biggest question... right now I'm curious as to what kind of adult my son is going to be. I'm confident and hopeful but very very curious.

For the full Q&A and to participate in the contest click here.

We’ve been getting in some great pictures on our “Chocolate Me!” Facebook page expressing diversity. Here are some new ones including a self-portrait by Malikhai Kolonko that he drew for Black History Month for his kindergarten class. Thank you to everyone who has sent in works of art. Continue to spread the sweetness and keep ‘em coming!

Earlier this week I sat down with the super funny Ellen DeGeneres to share some laughs. I also got to talk about “Chocolate Me!” and share stories about my 2-year-old son Walker and my wife Idina Menzel who recently appeared on an episode of Glee. Check out the clip below and let me know if you caught the show!

I don’t know about y’all who are parents but with my son Walker I’ve somehow started adopting a new “dad”  vocabulary. I have no idea when this started but it’s something I don’t even realize I’m doing. At least Idina and I don’t get too carried away with the baby talk – we mix things up and sing around the house too which is something Walker loves.

Some words I’ve used translated below…
“pop pop” — pacifier
“banky” — blanket
“baba” — bottle

How about all you parents out there? Have you caught yourself doing this at home with your little one?

Make sure to keep them coming so we can share them over the next couple of weeks!

What do y'all think of Lily? Have any of your kids seen the episode?

Don’t forget to catch Private Practice tomorrow on ABC at 10/9c. As many of you know there’s some changes looming on the show. Need a quick breakdown? Check it out via People.com: 

Things are going to start getting interesting. What do you guys think of the season so far?

"James and the Giant Peach"
"Fantastic Mr. Fox"
"The Witches"
"The Twits"
"Matilda"
"The Horse and his Boy"
"The Indian in the Cupboard"
"The Magic Faraway Trees with Moon Face"
"Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs"
"Danny and the Champion of the World"

"My son is an American of African and Japanese ancestry. I am an American of Japanese ancestry. Our story begins the moment my son was conceived. Although I was unaware of it at the time his existence would save my life. In my first trimester during a routine ultrasound to monitor my pregnancy a mass was detected near my left ovary. The doctor suspected that I may have an ectopic pregnancy and recommended a course of action which would result in the loss of my pregnancy. Due to the ramifications it would have on the child I was carrying I refused.

Over the next few weeks I would be closely monitored. During my 16th week of pregnancy I went to see a maternal-fetal medicine specialist underwent a battery of tests and received the news that I was pregnant with a son and I had ovarian cancer. Upon seeing my son’s sonogram that day I exclaimed “Zion” for that is where God dwells. That was the moment when he received his name Zion Psalm. Zion is God’s gift to me. Because I write Psalm the center of his name and the book in the center of the Bible is my gift to God.

During that initial visit to the maternal-fetal medicine specialist I became aware of the true miracle of his conception since ovarian cancer causes infertility. I realized that if he had not been conceived I would not have had any medical sonography for a doctor to notice the suspicious mass. The cancer would have gone undetected leading to my demise.

The recommended course of action was that I receive chemotherapy which would result in the termination of my pregnancy. The doctors believed that they could eradicate the cancer and I would be able to have children later since I was still young and still had one healthy ovary. I believed that my son was here for a reason and I refused to do anything that would potentially result in losing him. I asked for an alternative and was presented with three choices. The first choice was to undergo chemotherapy. The second choice was to undergo surgery. The third and final choice was to do nothing and be closely monitored. I informed the doctors that I would be willing to undergo any type of treatment they recommended after I delivered my son. Since I was only 16 weeks pregnant the doctors informed me that he would not survive outside of the womb at that time. I told them that I wanted to wait. My son's biological father was unable to emotionally handle the situation and chose not be involved in our lives from that time forward.

I continued to be very closely monitored and within a month the tumor more than doubled in size leaving my son without room to grow. My life as well as his was now in jeopardy and the only choice I had was to undergo surgery to remove my left ovary the tumor and the fallopian tube. The odds were against my son’s survival. There had been no documented case of a fetus surviving in this unusual circumstance even for a renowned hospital as UCLA Medical Center. Yet I no longer had an alternative. I was not expected to survive if I waited until he was full term. Thus he would not survive either.

The surgery was scheduled however I had bronchitis and could not be intubated. Therefore the anesthesiologist cancelled the surgery. The surgeons rescheduled the surgery giving me a few days to recover. On the second scheduled date I still had uncontrollable coughing and was having tremendous difficulty breathing. Again the anesthesiologist refused to intubate me. This time however the surgeons would not allow the surgery to be cancelled. They informed the anesthesiologist that this was my last opportunity at successfully removing the tumor to save my life.

Since I was unable to be intubated and receive general anesthesia I received an epidural and remained awake for the entire surgery. When the anesthesiologist inserted the needle into my spinal canal the first time it caused extreme jolting of my right leg. He removed the needle and replaced it. This time inserting it too high resulting in the inability of me being able to move from the neck down instead of the waist down and giving me the feeling of being unable to breathe. The anesthesiologist gave me oxygen but the feeling of being unable to take a breath for the hours ahead was torturous.

As I lay on the surgery table my eyes were affixed to the wide stainless steel rim of the light fixture above me. It served as a mirror for me to witness the entire surgery. It was a strange feeling being cut pulled tugged and manipulated. The strangest feeling came when the oncologist left the surgery room with the tumor ovary and fallopian tube while I remained wide open on the table waiting with the rest of the surgical team for the results of the biopsy he was performing. He returned in what seemed to be an extensive amount of time later. The surgeons completed their work on me. Since my uterus was manipulated during the surgery it was expected that my uterus would begin contracting upon completion of the surgery. I was informed by one of the surgeons that I would receive morphine in the hope that it would reduce my pain and prevent contractions. The epidural was removed and I was taken to the recovery room. I instantaneously began to feel excruciating pain as I felt my son kick turn and move about within my freshly cut abdomen. I called for the nurse to give me the morphine.

She told me that I could not have morphine because I was pregnant. She instead gave me Tylenol. I was moaning and crying in desperation. I informed her that the surgeon told me I would be given morphine. She said she didn’t know anything about it and could not ask my surgeons because they had moved on to another surgery. I was begging for something more than the Tylenol which did absolutely nothing to ease my pain. After approximately one hour she was able to ask the surgeon and clarify that I was in fact supposed to receive morphine. By that time it was too late. I was already contracting. I was wheeled up to labor and delivery where I was anticipating the relief that would come when I was able to receive the morphine. As the nurse was setting up the morphine pump in my room she noticed that it was broken. She went to retrieve another one. It seemed like an eternity before she returned and I was finally able to receive any morphine. Much to my dismay the morphine did nothing to help ease my pain. The doctor entered the room and I informed her that the morphine did not help. She informed me that it was too late to ease my pain. It would only take the edge off. However I did not feel the edge being taken off in any way. The doctors and nurses worked at successfully stopping my contractions. Yet the pain remained without ever subsiding.

A week later my staples were removed I was bandaged up and sent home. The day I returned home I noticed blood on the gauze bandages. I figured it was because I was on my feet walking from the car to the house the bedroom to the bathroom etc. That night I experienced extreme pain of a greater intensity as my son moved about. I actually dreamt that he came through the incision in my abdomen like in the movie Alien. The following morning I noticed more blood on the bandages and called the hospital. I returned to urgent care where the dressing and butterfly bandages were removed. My incision was wide open. It had not healed at all. The acrobatics of my son in utero caused my incision to break open and prevented it from being closed. The doctors could not close the incision on my growing abdomen. As they cleaned the incision I experienced what would be the most intense pain of my life. The doctors taught me how to clean care for pack and dress my open wound which took 45 minutes 3 times a day. For the remainder of my pregnancy my incision remained open and I remained in constant excruciating pain.

Thankfully I was able to carry my son to term and experience the joy of natural childbirth which I really desired. After enduring all the pain I had during my pregnancy 21 hours of intense labor followed by natural childbirth and third-degree lacerations would be a breeze. At least during labor I had a break between contractions. Despite all the odds being stacked against him and all the concern the doctors had my son whom was not expected to survive the first trimester of my pregnancy and whose conception itself was a miracle was born in perfect health. I was blessed beyond measure.

When my son reached 6 months of age the cancer returned on the opposite ovary. I had a complete hysterectomy which consisted of the removal of my uterus remaining ovary fallopian tube cervix lymph nodes appendix omentum and part of my colon. At a young age I instantly became post-menopausal. My son has been to every oncology visit with me which has been every 3 months since his birth. He has fought back against cancer with me by raising money to benefit the American Cancer Society and being the team captain of his elementary school’s American Cancer Society Relay For Life team.

Being a single parent two-time cancer survivor cardiac and endocrine patient; my greatest fear is leaving my son behind in the event of my death. He is without a father figure or any positive black male role model in this life. My own father was the only father my son has ever known. He was the only man he ever called “Dad”. Sadly we lost him last Thanksgiving to cardiac arrest.

Being his only parent and Japanese it is important to me that he embrace his African-American heritage to the fullest extent. I hate to be another statistic: single mother absent black father. Unfortunately that seems to be prevalent in Los Angeles. Regrettably since he has never met his biological father he has no contact with his African-American side of the family. He does have a godmother and two godsisters of African descent. His godmother is also a single parent so unfortunately he doesn’t have a male role model there either. As I stated: single mother absent black father seems to be prevalent in Los Angeles.

My son is the most compassionate and sensitive child I have met. I truly am not only saying that because he is my son. As a teacher of over 17 years I have gotten to know hundreds of children. At the age of three when he became aware of the fact that animals died for us to eat he cried and instantly became a vegetarian. Also at the age of three my son began asking questions regarding skin color. He asked why he is brown and I am peach. I answered him honestly and told him to be proud of his ethnicity and heritage. I let him know that both heritages are rich and filled with reasons to be proud.

Sadly my son has been teased and tormented because of the color of his skin even in church. He is proud of being both Black and Japanese and happily refers to himself as being “Blackenese”. Yet he hates being picked on because of it. My job as his mother is to protect him provide him with the tools to cope and succeed and to teach him that diversity is beautiful and that he and every other child is a beautiful creation of God. Thank you for Chocolate Me. Thank you for giving my son and countless other children this give of love tolerance and acceptance. God bless you."

Thank you again to everyone who participated!

And if you haven't already don't forget to enter the "Chocolate Me!" contest before we announce the winner this Friday!

As many of you know one of my biggest passions is theatre. It’s something I enjoy both as a performer and as a member of an audience. It was brought to my attention recently that the Theatre Development Fund TDF a nonprofit that sustains the arts and encourages diversity in audiences created a new program called Autism Theatre Initiative. It’s something many us may never consider but theatre is one of many things that children and adults with autism find difficult if not impossible to attend — until now.

Through TDF’s new initiative “The Lion King” and a panel of autism experts were able to create the very first autism-friendly Broadway performance providing an environment that supports those with an autism spectrum disorder. Some adjustments that were made to the production include:

•    Volume and light reduction
•    Cutting strobe lights and sudden light cues
•    Doing the music electronically instead of using an orchestra for better sound control

This is such a beautiful initiative and something that draws positive attention to autism encouraging us to learn more about this group of disorders and issues other families experience that many of us may never consider. Let me know your thoughts and if you were able to attend this performance. Can’t wait to hear from you guys!

In the meantime check out this video where I talk about the book.

- Courtesy of the Huffington Post 

And if you haven’t already be sure to enter the “Chocolate Me!” contest this weekend! The finalists will be announced next week.   Remember to be eligible you must upload a photo of your family to your profile and paste the link to your photo with your story in the comments section. Check here on for a step-by-step breakdown on how to enter.

Today I wanted to share another Q&A. Shane Evans the illustrator of “Chocolate Me!” and a very good friend of mine talks about the creative process behind his work and what inspired it. If you’ve got questions of your own you’d like to ask be sure to leave it in the comments section below.

What makes this project different than other books you’ve illustrated?
The heart of this work is truly different than any of the projects I have done. A lot of that has to do with the fact that me and my best friend/family member and I came together after years of developing this and brought it to life. I believe that where we are today is from our positive upbringing in the visual and performing arts and this work is a part of what makes this book so special.

Can you describe what the process was like when you began the project?
I can say that we have been working on this since Taye and I were 15 before were knew anything about this process. It picked up again in college at Syracuse where I had Taye write me a piece for a creative book that I was working on and he wrote a poem called “Chocolate Me!” Many years later when I started illustrating and Taye was doing movies I pulled this old book out and saw its potential. It took some time to see it evolve the way we both envisioned and I believe that has a lot to do with us becoming parents. We understand the importance of opening this dialog today.

What message did you want to share with readers through your illustrations?
I wanted to show that life is always full of color. Even in the not so good times there is joy all around you when you least expect it. I believe it is there to lift you up to recharge your battery when you are feeling down. I wanted to also express that there are moments of sadness and you will get to a better place…you just have to turn the page.

What’s one of the most memorable comments you’ve received so far from a fan or reader?
It's always the looks on the faces of the children as they listen. Every face is a different experience and every child listens for his or her own needs. I could see children in the front row at the book reading in NYC all the faces lighting up when they were listening to the words. I could see true understanding which is a great moment for an author or illustrator.

What books were favorites for you as a child?
I would have to say "Where the Wild Things Are” and “Snowy Day.” These books took me on wonderful journeys and continue to inspire to this day.

Also don’t forget to enter the “Chocolate Me!” contest if you haven’t done so already. The prizes up for grabs: A signed book and “Chocolate Me!” T-shirt.

“I’ve tried being other people and being myself suites me the best.” – Chris Colfer Time.com

“Just be confident in what you know for yourself. Because you will have pressures from all different types of people who will try and tell you that they know what’s better for you.” – Jada Pinkett Smith via Tyra Banks Show

What inspired to write “Chocolate Me!”?
The book was inspired by a poem I wrote in college about being young and living in an area where no one looked like me. At that time my mother sat me down and gave me an important message about self-esteem and embracing your differences.
 
How did you come up with the title?
The title comes from my stepfather. Instead of using common descriptions related to race or color i.e. “black” “negro” he used the word “chocolate” instead.  This word always made me feel better about who I was. There were no negative stigmas or attachments to the word “chocolate.” It was a perfectly positive way to see myself and others who looked like me.
 
What was the process like when you began to write the book?
My publishers made this process very easy. We had a very open dialogue and correspondence. They would email comments and suggestions dealing with editing but at the same time they loved what the original message was putting forth.
 
What message do you want to share with readers?
I want all readers to realize that the message of “Chocolate Me!” is universal regardless of the title.  Everyone has experienced feeling on the outside.
 
How have audiences reacted to the book?
I've gotten an amazing amount of positive feedback. People of all ages and races are relating to the message. Most parents have said how this subject matter needs to be discussed more and how happy they are to have some assistance. People love the illustrations as well. My best friend from high school did the illustrations. It was actually his idea for me to turn the poem into a children's book.
 
What is something you learned that you’d like to share with your son?
I guess what I would drive home to my own son is the importance of a healthy self-esteem regardless of what others may say.
 
Also don’t forget to enter the “Chocolate Me!” contest for a chance to win a signed book and “Chocolate Me!” T-shirt.

• Post a picture of your family to your profile on TayeDiggsOnline.com Not sure how to do this? Here’s a how-to.

• Share your family’s story with us by leaving it in the comments below and be sure to include the URL location of the family photo uploaded to the album in your profile that you want to submit.

I’ll announce the winner who will receive a signed book of “Chocolate Me!” and a “Chocolate Me!” T-shirt. I look forward to hearing your stories.

The winner will be announced October 21 so don't forget to enter!

If you haven’t already don’t forget to purchase your own copy of “Chocolate Me!” here: ChocolateMeToo.com

“Growing up and being half-black half-white I felt weird; I didn’t look like anybody. My friends were all different from me no one knew how to fix my hair.” – Mariah Carey via StyleList.com
 
To purchase my new children’s book on diversity called “Chocolate Me!” visit ChocolateMeToo.com

If you've haven't seen it yet check out an exclusive sneak peek by clicking HERE.

Would love to hear your thoughts on the episode in the comments below or join the conversation on Twitter using PrivatePractice.

Go Behind-The-Scenes of "Private Practice"

“It’s a great book it’s got a great message and I think it resonates with kids of all races.” – Kelly Ripa “LIVE! With Regis & Kelly"
 
“The book isn’t meant to divide or ridicule. It’s meant to teach children to appreciate individuality and see the sweetness in our differences rather than act bitter toward them.” – Nerdlike.com
 
“‘Chocolate Me’ will be of great benefit to all children as well as adults in helping them to not only see their differences as a gift but appreciate the differences in others. If you have ever been singled out because of your religion color height or weight you will understand the spirit behind such a piece of work.” – expertscolumn.com

To purchase a copy of “Chocolate Me!” visit ChocolateMeToo.com.
 
I want to hear your reviews too! Let me know what you think of the book in the comments below.

To purchase the book check out:

ChocolateMeToo.com


I’d love to hear your thoughts on the book and if your son/daughter enjoyed it. Please leave comments below and send in pictures of you reading “Chocolate Me!” at home by creating a profile submitting the photo then adding a link to this post.

“Chocolate Me!” is about to drop and I couldn’t feel more blessed. This book has been something I’ve been waiting to share with parents and children as a way to spread love and teach acceptance. As a child being different can feel uncomfortable regardless of whether it’s your complexion your ethnicity or where you’re from that sets you apart. “Chocolate Me!” celebrates diversity and is a way for parents to share with their children that you should be proud of who you are and that it’s okay to be different.

For all the children out there who just want to fit in I hope this story helps you in some way to shine and feel good about all the things that make you you.

I hope everyone enjoys this book and picks up a copy when it comes out September 27. Here’s a schedule surrounding the release of “Chocolate Me!” – please be sure to stop by if I’m in your city and let me know what you think of the book.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 27

“Chocolate Me!” is available in bookstores 

9:00 AM    Appearance on “Live! With Regis and Kelly” Check Local Listings

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 28

8:37 AM     Appearance on “CNN American Morning”

9:40 AM     "Wake Up With Taylor" - Live

10:00 AM    "Morning Jolt" - Live

10:20 AM    "Shade 45 Morning" - Live

5:00 PM-     Books of Wonder book signing and reading of “Chocolate Me!”
6:30 PM      Books of Wonder
                      18 West 18th Street
                      New York NY 10011

SATURDAY OCTOBER 1

2:00 PM     “Chocolate Me!”storytime and book signing at in Huntington Beach
                     Barnes & Noble
                     7881 Edinger Avenue Ste. 110
                     Huntington Beach CA 92647

SATURDAY OCTOBER 8

2:00 PM:    Book signing at Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville IL
                     Anderson’s Bookshop
                     123 W. Jefferson
                     Naperville IL 60540

MONDAY OCTOBER 10

Appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” on NBC Check Local Listings

TUESDAY OCTOBER 11
       
11:30 AM    Appearance on “Better TV”

THURSDAY OCTOBER 13

11:00 AM     Appearance on “The Talk” Check Local Listings

“My mother never really brought up race because our house was full of color. But she did have an intelligent way of putting it. I was 5 years old and she said ‘You are just as much white as you are black just as much Russian Jew as you are African-American. But society is only going to view you as black.’ If you have a drop of black blood they put the black stamp on you. If I have to fill out a form that asks what race I am I check both boxes.” – Lenny Kravitz via Details August 2011

I would love to hear your stories on family diversity. What makes you different?

Here is an inspiring post from my assistant and new TayeDiggsOnline guest blogger Cherise De Villiers giving her take on living in Los Angeles from South Africa. Cherise will be sharing more of her insights soon!

Notes From Abroad
 
I was inspired to write this after reading the book "Chocolate Me." Having been a nomad for most of my life I know how it feels to be different in a place other people call home. Now that I am older I relish that fact. But growing up I found it incredibly challenging. I am grateful for those experiences though they made me the strong independent woman I am today.

 
The little things
 
I’m new to LA. Just moved here from South Africa. Emigrating to another country is a big deal. You have to find a job. Some where to live. Buy a car. Obtain a drivers license. Register with a million different government agencies. Start a new social circle. Familiarise yourself with your new neighbourhood…These are all BIG things especially when you’re doing it alone.

Driving around the other day I contemplated the journey and thought about the little things. Here in LA I love that you can turn right on a red light. I love that you can walk your dog pretty late at night and not fear for your life. I love Sunset Blvd… at Sunset. I love that I can see the Hollywood sign from my house. I love how everyone greets you with a smile and asks how you’re doing when you walk into a store even though they probably don’t care it’s still a nice gesture. I love how sunglasses are a part of everyone’s anatomy. I love that there’s a ‘Rock ‘n Roll’ Ralphs up the road and how everyone dresses up to go there and buy Seven-Up hummus and breadsticks.  I love the way my boyfriend looks at me when I walk through the door after a long day. I love karaoke at this downtown bar called The Living Room on Thursday nights. I love the 15 minutes before I get up in the morning when my french bulldog crawls up the bed for a last minute attempt at a kiss and a snuggle before the day starts…
 
I reminded myself to always keep the little things in mind… for those are the small joys that ultimately influence us to make the big decisions.

Anyone else either currently living abroad or has before and has an inspiring story? Let me know in the comments below.

Here's some more Inspiration for you.

Here is an inspiring post from guest blogger Kenneth Crudup who just happens to be my basketball trainer.


Early Sunday morning I decided to workout as hard as I could so here is how my day unfolded.

I went to my gym and completed a 2-hour weight workout. Then I trained at Runyon Canyon which is a pretty tough run/hike mid-day with ankle weights on. Shortly after I go back to the gym to jump rope and play basketball for extra cardio. As soon as I finish my workout I get a call for a last minute audition for a commercial with Dwyane Wade!!!! The tough thing about this audition is that it was at 7AM the following morning! I was excited. Naturally I thought I would be too sore and fatigued from my Sunday workout to compete and have a good showing at the audition… negative thoughts ran through my mind and I contemplated not going at all. I calmed down and told myself “I am going.” I’d never know the outcome if I didn’t show up. Showing up is half the battle.

Another obstacle I had was that I had to work Sunday night until 4 a.m. So I had every reason not to show up for this wonderful opportunity. Fast forward to Monday morning and I get back home from work at 5:15 a.m. and I go to sleep for 45 minutes. Then my alarm goes off 6 a.m. I quickly shower and run out of the house to make the audition at 7a.m. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME… but traffic was surprisingly so backed up on 405 freeway I drove in the carpool lane to make it to the audition on time risking paying a big fine. This was another obstacle.

Finally I get to the studios and I am competing against 3 guys and one of them happened to be one of my college buddies who had national commercial experience with McDonalds and Adidas. Long story short I was the most inexperienced guy there. What better way to get experience than by throwing yourself in the fire right?! So we had a mini dunk-off for the producers I allowed them to go first and I mustered up some energy and adrenaline to jump as high as I could. The directors went away for a minute and came back with a decision. I came out on top! YES!!! We shot the commercial that same day on 45 minutes of sleep which they didn't know. They asked for various dribbles shots and dunks and I gave all that I could.
 
Moral of the story: Never give up due to difficult obstacles; find a way to make it work. Minimize all excuses and give your best effort. Stay ready so you do not have to get ready!!!!

Here's some more Postive Thinking for you.

Asked: What is the biggest difference between you and Sam Bennett the character you play in Private Practice?
 
I get asked this question a lot in interviews. I'd like to think that I'm a bit more laid back than Dr. Bennett. I feel as if this character was raised with a very black or white right and wrong perspective. Started out very religious. Straight-laced. Believes that with hard work comes success. Throughout the seasons he has softened. Realizing that there absolutely is a gray area in life in relationships and at work.
 
I'm a lot more youthful-minded. Sometimes I like to stay out 'till three dancing. I love vintage Air Jordans and Twizzlers. I watch "The Bachelorette."
 
I don't think Sam Bennett would ever watch "The Bachelorette." 
 
I'm trying to slowly add a little more of Taye to Sam and at the same time I'm sure a bit of Sam is slowly seeping into Taye.
 
We're balancing each other out and I think it's a good thing. It makes for a more interesting character and a few less trips to Las Vegas....

What do you think are Sam's best qualities? Leave your response in the comments below.

Wondering what it's like backstage at Private Practice? I'll give you a video tour.

It's the end of summer and I wanted to put together something chill and laid back for those long summer nights.

Hope you dig it.

TRACKLIST:

• Diary - Alicia Keys
• Amos Lee - Another Lonely Day
• Ben Harper - Fight for your Mind
• Bilal - Sometimes
• Billy Porter - Time
• Nikka Costa - Everybody Got Their Something
• Me'shell Ndegeocello - Bitter
• David Ryan Harris -  If I Had a Dime-
• Adelle - Make You Feel My Love
• Colin Hay - I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You
• Idina Menzel - You'd Be Surprised
• The Rescues - You're Not Listening

Asked: As an actor making an impression is key. What tips do you have for networking in social situations?

I've never been the type to ever "work a room".  It's not me and the idea of it makes me uncomfortable.

I am a proponent of being yourself being confident and sincere.

When I'm in a situation where I have to meet important people I always try and stay relaxed. I'm sure to give solid handshakes and make eye contact. I never want to appear over-eager or shifty.  We all get nervous but it always helps to take a deep breath listen and be in the moment.

What’s your strategy for making a good first impression? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Asked: I know you have a few tattoos but can you tell us how many and what they mean?

I think I have ten tattoos. I always end up forgetting a couple. Pretty sure it's ten.  I won't tell the meanings of all of them because a few are personal but my first one was on my right shoulder. Almost fifteen years ago I was working in Japan so I got the Japanese character for 'Hope'. This was before Japanese characters were so played out. I struggle with getting it covered but it marks a very specific time in my life.

Throughout the years I've gotten other symbols in Arabic and Egyptian ranging from “Abundance” and “Eternal Life” to “Peace” and “Patience.”

I'm drawn to simple but pretty shapes so as to stand out on my dark skin.  Obviously I'm hoping that inking a certain symbol on my skin will somehow lend itself to me becoming closer to whatever that symbol means.  I've always been attracted to symbols.

My last tattoo was my son's name on my forearm. I received it on his first birthday.  Big block letters spell out: WALK.  This one's my favorite.  

A few days ago I had another emotional and seminal moment with my son. For his bedtime story I read him a book I wrote titled Chocolate Me. The book is about a time in my life when I lived in a neighborhood where no one looked like me and resulted in me getting made fun of. 

My mother then sat with me and convinced me to embrace my differences and that I should love the qualities and features I have regardless of what others thought. The book is directed towards young people from 4 years and up. I'm excited for Chocolate Me to come out this fall but I was more excited to read it to my son. He may be too young to understand the complexities but he loves it when I read it to him. 

Over the next few months I want to use this site as a place to talk about Chocolate Me and the issues raised by the book. Plus I have some other surprises up my sleeve. Stay tuned. Here’s a little more about the project:

"Founded by actor Taye Diggs singer Idina Menzel and illustrator Shane W. Evans WalkTall productions is a multimedia company focused on exploring the various needs of children through education entertainment and creativity.  

Their mission is to inspire children of all backgrounds to shine and the projects slated to be released through WalkTall will prove to be a world that communicates positive messages as well as a creative cultural force for children and adults alike. 

Taye and Shane's first project the book Chocolate Me Published by McMillan/Feiwell & Friends is due out for release this September. 

The story focuses on self-esteem and encourages children to embrace their differences big and small. Look out at a bookstore near you for personal signings with Taye and Shane this coming fall."

Have a question about Chocolate Me? Ask it in the comments below.

Asked: What's on your night stand and what's your before bed ritual?

I have a picture of Dee and myself from when we were in Rent as well as some eye drops lip balm and a bunch of scripts on my nightstand. I actually need to clean it. It's a bit too cluttered. My before bed ritual usually consists of a glass of wine going over my lines for the next day's work and a bit of TV.

Asked: Taye how do you manage your cologne situation?

I'm a huge supporter of smelling right. Though I'm constantly looking for new and fresh fragrances I sadly still use the same two that I've been using for about 15 years. 

Damn I'm old.

I go in between musk oil and sandalwood. I keep it simple and switch it up for the season: Warm and cold. I use the heavier oil musk during the colder seasons and save the lighter of the two sandalwood for warm weather. I've tried to change but nothing rivals these scents for me. I also have to admit that I enjoy the fact that I've had the same scent for so long that people recognize me by the way I smell.

Try:

• Jovan Musk Cologne
• The Art of Shaving Sandalwood Cologne

Have a question you’d like answered? Post it in the comments below for Taye to read.

I realize that everybody's workout routine or regiment is completely personal and different but every once in a while I'm inspired by something someone else 'hips' me to. 

This is a gym mix that I'm very much feeling. 

Jay Z's 'Off That' really gives that push I need coming out the gate as well as Eminem's 'Soldier'. The rest is a mix of both fun cuts combined with tracks with driving beats meant to assist in that last 45 minutes of cardio. 

Hope you dig it.

TRACKLIST:

• Off That Feat. Drake - Jay-Z
• Brown Sugar Raw -Black Star
• Soldier -Eminem
• Power - Kanye West
• That's All She Wrote feat. Eminem - T.I.
• We Got The Beat - Talib Kweli
• Boom Boom Pow - Black Eyed Peas
• Swing Ya Rag feat. Swizz Beatz - T.I.
• Over - Drake
• Two Words feat. Mos Def - Kanye West
• Hello/Goodbye Uncool feat. Unkle - Lupe Fiasco
• Takeover -  Jay-Z
• Rush - Talib Kweli 

Normally for an actor working in television the idea is to try and find stimulating projects to do during your hiatus. In a lot of cases the work being done on your “TV job” only uses certain muscles and one needs to stretch out occasionally and exercise those muscles differently.  

This usually means trying to find an interesting film role or even just a different character on a different TV show. For those actors with stage experience they may try and find a musical or a play.   If you're extra ambitious you might try and do some work on the other side of creativity and produce something.  

I was silly this hiatus and ended up doing all of the above.

I rehearsed and performed two nights at a jazz club in Miami did an independent movie then choreographed for a Toyota Industrial as well as my wife's performing art's camp.

This was too much. I had a great time doing all of this but I didn't do what one should be doing on hiatus which is rest.

Rest usually comes too easy for me so I wanted a challenge this break. I wanted to face a bunch of different fears I had started to develop and I did.  I'm very proud of myself but ended up being tired as sht most of the time.  

I realized I do a lot when I'm focused and committed.  For this I'm grateful but next hiatus I may change it up. I might consider challenging myself to a nice Hawaiian family vacation. We'll see.

How do you like to use your free time? Would you call yourself a workaholic or do you like to kick back?

My son is 22 months old. Just shy of two years. He's running dancing forming sentences throwing and kicking balls.  Really starting to communicate. He definitely has his own opinions and prefers to do things on his own. He also still wants to be picked up by his daddy when he's scared. And I love it. I don't ever want him to stop. I love to feel his little arms gripping my neck. I love how soft his cheeks are next to mine. I love his little boy smell.

I fear the day this all goes away. No I can't wait for the day when I can throw a ball around with him or teach him how to drive or even give him female advice. I can't wait. But all that means that he won't want to be picked up by his daddy anymore. I won't be able to cradle him in my left arm while warming his bottle or pointing to the big garbage trucks. That makes me sad. Yet another reminder in this cruel world that nothing good lasts forever.

So I'm forced to try and live in the moment and be one of those fathers who is chock full of children’s clichés: 

"They grow up so fast"

"Where does the time go?"

"I feel like he was a baby just yesterday!" 

I suppose that's how the story goes. I don't like that story. This is how 'they' get you to have more babies. I don't know who 'they' is yet but 'they' are pretty sneaky. Sigh

I'm going to go and hug my baby boy now whether he' scared or not.

Saw this great article and had to share:

Idina Menzel at Red Rocks: If you can't feel the love...you're dead

A perfect night under a blood-red moon at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre clearly took Idina Menzel's breath away - but not her signature five-octave voice.

Performing hits from "Rent" "Wicked" and even that admittedly ridiculous bad-mom song called "Poker Face" that introduced her to a national TV audience on "Glee" a disarmingly self-deprecating Menzel repeatedly went Sunday where most celebrities no longer dare to tread: She got personal she got real she got silly - and she often became overcome with emotion what with her mother and sister who live in nearby Louisville in attendance along with her famous husband and their 22-month-old son. Her stage mic in fact was laced with a beaded necklace that Walker Nathaniel Diggs made for his mom.

Menzel could have stood at the exit and shaken every departing hand and the audience could not have felt more like they already had been allowed into the world of a woman who is clearly the Streisand of her generation. Only apparently a heck of a lot nicer. 

Read the whole article here.

What concerts have you been to this summer? Where should Idina perform next?

The prescription specs are tortoise shell. We used to call them “school boy’s”. 

Check out this pair.

The sunglasses have a frame similar to a Wayfarer but smaller. They're also clear. Didn't think I could pull these off but they look pretty funky on.

Check out this pair.

I've been wearing both pairs nonstop.

Got a favorite pair of shades? Post a link or your recommendation in the comments below.

Seems the older I'm getting the less time I'm able to dedicate to the preparation of what to wear. I want to look good but with new projects work and of course Walker the time isn't there.

Finding that I'm gravitating to simple combinations of pants and t-shirts especially in the summer heat. I have always appreciated the classic style of chinos with a white t-shirt tucked in. Throw a hat on with some summer sneakers and I'm feeling good. If I want to dress it up a bit for the evening a light vest over the top or a sports coat gets it done. No need to go home and change. I can just keep it moving.

Shop The Look:

• Vince Full Leg Chino
• Ann Demeulemeester Double Belted Vest
• Moncler Monaco Sneakers

 Are there any fail-safe wardrobe choices you use when time is of the essence?

Always hearing about how people just love the weather in L.A.: Surfing hiking cycling. I know there's a trend in people getting outdoors to work out -- but I can't be bothered.

I much prefer the air-conditioned convenience of a gym. Don't have to worry about stepping in dog waste or running out of water in the hot sun or inhaling the fresh stench of animal urine while on some 'hike'. Always an endless supply of clean towels weights and machines.

Love the great outdoors. Play tennis enjoy swimming and most other outdoor sports but when it comes to my workout get me inside.

What's your perfect workout environment? Let Taye know in the comments below.

Wondering: Are most people shopping online? Realize it may save time but I still enjoy the actual activity of going to the store and purchasing. You can get a feeling of the fit and the material and don't have to worry about sending anything back. How do online shoppers deal with returns and ill-fitting items? Am I missing something?

Who's on the cover of GQ this month? Have to catch up. Not above admitting to lifting styles from the pages of magazines: fashion publications gossip rags whatever.

If it looks good on a cover model I may change it up a bit and give it a try myself. I mostly come up with ideas from mixing and matching at home but outside inspiration is always welcome. I have learned to be cautious when trying to emulate fashion spreads. Certain pieces of clothing only look good in print and don't necessarily work in person.

Check out these go-to sites for style advice:

• Style Salvage
• ASOS
• Details
• Men’s Flair
• Esquire

What are your favorite style guides?

Just realized I feel a lot more secure in my day when I focus a few moments in the morning to take inventory of what I have what I need and what I want.

I give thanks for the safety of my child the rest of my family and friends. Past present and future.

Definitely believe in the power of energy. Positive and negative.

Starting my day like this gets me going and ends up making me feel a lot better.

What's your morning routine? What do you do to start your day off right?

Pet Peeve: Noticing a woman with a nice shape and form fitting jeans with an ugly bulky iPhone or Blackberry in one of the pockets. Junk in your pocket messes with the line of the body. Have to remind Dee about this. Ladies have no excuse: Throw it in the purse that you’re allowed to have.

What are your fashion pet peeves?

Struggling with the wallet and phone-in-pocket situation. The thickness is getting uncomfortable 'That's what she said'. Often have to take items out of pocket while sitting down for a meal. Hate to walk by other tables seeing a collection of various blackberries and iPhones littering the tops but I get it. Where else to put them?

Are people using “man bags?” Will men ever start using purses? Sounds weird but may be easier. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Finding it difficult to stay cool and fashionable this summer. Not a lot of time for shopping. Still trying to put together my summer wardrobe. Looking for light and comfortable materials that look simple and stylish.

Popped into J Crew and Barney's Co Op and found a couple of pairs of cotton twill trousers and some Shipley and Halmos summer shirts which I'm really into at the moment.

Get the Look:

• J.Crew Bowery Cotton Twill Urban Slim Fit Pants
• Rag & Bone Beach Shirt
• Barney’s Co-Op Grid Check Sport Shirt
• Shipley & Halmos Coolidge Washed Button Down Shirt

What’s your favorite way to look stylish in the heat? Share your style ideas with Taye in the comments below.

I was on vacation in Mexico recently. I realized I hadn't packed appropriately for the weather. I needed lighter clothing so I ended up buying a few items at the resort gift shop. Amongst them were some Vilebrequin drawstring linen trousers in both khaki and white. Next time I'll be sure to check the weather ahead of time and pack a few extra light layers.

Also recommended:

For Him

• Vilebrequin Linen Shirt
• American Essentials Drawstring Linen Pant

For Her

• Tommy Bahama Two Palms Linen Pant
• Vince Cropped Linen Pant

What are your vacation staples? Share your packing and vacation wardrobe tips with Taye in the comments below.

There are lots of ways to keep cool during the summer but few are as satisfying as a cold refreshing drink. While beer may be the go-to drink for picnics a party or event can be made more memorable with a cocktail.

Even if it doesn't suit everyone's tastes offering up an alternative to the usual cooler full of beers is something worth considering when throwing a party.

What drinks have you tried that have had success? A lot of times during the summer you want something simple that's easy to prepare. While a complicated cocktail might impress your friends chances are they'll appreciate something like a spiked lemonade that can be easily served out of a pitcher more.

If you have a cocktail recipe share it below. The best ones will be put together in a future post. If you're looking for some ideas check out these recipes.

For this week's playlist I thought I'd go to one of my all-time favorites Stevie Wonder. While his career has spanned over 50 years his early hits still feel fresh and vital. "Superstition" took the Motown sound and taught it to rock with a driving beat that landed Stevie a 1 hit. His cover of the Beatles' "Work It Out" gives it a whole new funk flavor and "Lately" is perfect tearjerker ballad.

Listen to these classics and a few others below:

Are you a Stevie fan? What songs hold special meaning for you?

When auditioning be sure to enter the room with a focused energy. Be in your body and make eye contact with the auditor. It makes a strong impression and lets everyone know that you deserve to be there. I always think it's a good idea to have some presence of the character you're to be playing upon walking in the door as well.

I'm not saying go in there with an eye patch and a parrot if you're reading for a pirate. Just go in there with a bit of flavor of what you're about to do. I find it makes it easier to transition for both you and whoever else is watching in the room.

What other questions about theatre and acting do you have for Taye? Share your own audition stories and questions in the comments below.

I went to the cupboard to get my bathing suit this season and all I could find were bright board shorts extending well below my knees. Although I do enjoy this look I have noticed a trend towards shorter bathing trunks lately. I am choosing to save some of my longer suits for when I'm more active and sport the shorter trunks for less functional activities.

Here's an interesting take on the shorter shorts trend from across the Pond via The London Financial Times:

"Tom Kalenderian general merchandise manager and executive vice president of men’s wear at Barneys New York says the trend towards shorter shorts might be down to the fact that it takes its cues from the streamlined mid-century silhouette. Jim Moore creative director of American GQ agrees: “We’re in a slim culture now and it feels like the one thing that was holding up the slimness of the entire wardrobe was the short.”

How long is too long and how short is too short? Let Taye know in the comments.

If you're going to put the time into a workout you want to get the maximum benefit from it. Diet and routine are important but it turns out so is the time of day you excercise. There's been a bit of research on the subject and this is what they've found:

Late afternoon is the best time to work out. It turns out your strength and endurance peak in the late afternoon. An additional benefit is that you're less prone to injury at that time of day.

Morning exercise has its benefits as well. It turns out people who exercise in the early hours are more consistent than those who work out later in the day.

What time works best for you? Let me know in the comments below.

I wanted to take a brief moment to wish you a happy Independence day from Idina Walker and I. Whether you're hitting up the barbecue or laying on the beach or just watching fireworks on TV I hope you enjoy the holiday.

Let me know how you spent the day in the comments below.

This week's playlist pick has a pretty interesting backstory. Singer-songwriter Josh Rouse started off as an alt-country singer in Nebraska moved to Tennessee and embraced the A.M. radio sound of Carole King and now lives in Madrid where he's picked up a bit of bossa-nova lounge.

His latest album Turista is the perfect soundtrack to listen to while sipping lemonade and kicking back. Check it out below:

What's your perfect laid back summer song or album? Let me know in the comments.

I want take a minute and share with you a PSA I am part of for Veteran's Suicide Assistance. You can learn more about the work Blue Star Families provides to veterans and their husbands wives and children at their site.

Here's some more information: National statistics show veterans constitute about 20 percent of the 30000 to 32000 U.S. deaths each year from suicide. On average 18 veterans attempt suicide each day. Seven of them will actually succeed. Suicides are also increasing among military family members who are the support system of our service men and women.

Feel free to share this video with your friends and family.

While it's true that summer is the one time of year you probably don't want to wear a suit whether it's for work or entertaining you're going to find yourself in need of one. It's important to own at least one summer suit otherwise you'll find yourself overdressed and uncomfortable. Here are four things Esquire recommends you look for when shopping for a summer suit. I agree.

1. Construction - Forget the padding and choose a light lining. I think an unlined jacket can look fresh in the right situations as well.
2. Cloth - Lightweight wools and silk are the way to go.
3. Color - It's summer so lighten up your wardrobe. Not only does it look more appropriate the lighter color will reflect the sun when you're out on the street.
4. Technology - Avoid new-fangled technology. Stick to classic lines and tailoring.

Do you have any tips or advice for looking stylish in the heat? Let me know in the comments below.

I know many of you are not only interested in musical theatre but aspire to perform on stage as well. One of the best ways to make that dream happen is by attending open calls. I ran across this announcement for the new Broadway-production of Godspell:

"Directed by Daniel Goldstein and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli Godspell is scheduled to begin previews on October 13 at Circle in the Square Theatre and will open in November 7. Broadway hopefuls should prepare 16 bars of a pop song or contemporary musical theater song to be sung a cappella and arrive at the audition with a photo and resume stapled together.

Hint: Stephen Schwartz’s Tony-nominated score features hits including “Day by Day” “Turn Back O Man” “Learn Your Lessons Well” “Prepare Ye the Way” and “Light of the World.”

The auditions will be held July 7 at the Actors Chapel 239 West 49th Street from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. I don't have any involvement with the production but Godspell is a great opportunity for anyone looking to take their first step onto Broadway.

The show is famous for finding new talent: Victor Garber Martin Short Geoffrey Rush and Jeremy Irons all got their first big break with the show. And while I am more a spiritual than a religious person it has a great message.

Have any audition tips or stories you want to share?

Can't say I agree with everything here but it's pretty funny and worth checking out. Let me know what you think.

via Sonos Blog

What's happening people? This week I wanted to share with you the gospel soul sounds of Martin Luther. You might recognize him if you saw the Beatles-inspired Across the Universe. He played Jo-Jo a sort of Jimi Hendrix cat who sings While My Guitar Gently Weeps.

It was a pretty wise casting choice I think. Martin's sounds like Jimi's mix up rock R & B gospel and funk.  On top of that he has one of the smoothest voices in the business. Check out a few tracks from his latest album Love Is the Hero below:

Let me know what you think and also who I should be listening to next in the comments below.

Real quick I wanted to share with you some summer music festivals I think are worth checking out. I don't know I'll make it to all of them but I was going through the line-ups and locations and thought they looked pretty fresh.

Summerfest
June 24 - July 4
Milwaukee WI

It's the world's largest music festival. Any kind of music any kind of genre; you'll find it here.

The Setlist: Modest Mouse the Hold Steady the Roots Passion Pit Public Enemy Devo B-52s Against Me! Tokyo Police Club N.E.R.D. Cypress Hill Weird Al Yankovic Usher

Quebec City Summer Festival
July 8-18
Quebec City Quebec

If you've never been Quebec is one of the most beautiful and romantic places in the world.

The Setlist: Arcade Fire Andrew Bird Passion Pit Konono N°1 Fool's Gold Think About Life Jimmy Cliff Great Lakes Swimmers Ethiopiques Kid Koala Staff Benda Bilili Iron Maiden

Newport Folk Festival
July 30 - August 1
Newport Rhode Island

This is where Bob Dylan famously went rock and made music history and it's still the best place to hear and see not only folk traditionalists but musicians pushing the boundaries of the scene as well.

The Setlist: Andrew Bird Yim Yames Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings the Avett Brothers Calexico Blitzen Trapper the Swell Season Levon Helm Steve Martin

Are any of you going to any of these festivals? What are some summer concerts I should check out?

With Private Practice and film shoots and taking some time to spend with my family I've been busy the last few months but I just heard today that The Book of Mormon soundtrack is 3 on the Billboard charts.  Not 3 on the musical/ soundtrack charts but 3 on the main charts. That hasn't happened since Hair debuted.

Which made me think it's time to make a theatre run to Broadway. Have any of you seen the show yet? Heard the soundtrack?  Should I check it out? I'm sort of curious to see how they handle the whole "Mormons in Africa" thing. Also I heard that the show makes fun of musicals. Have to wonder if that includes any of the shows Idina and I have been in.

What other show should I check out?

Mixing and matching: Don't be afraid to do it. Whether it's with differing patterns between shirt and tie sport coat and shirt vest and tie you can add interest to an outfit by playing around with patterns. Though if you're going to go crazy with patterns keep your color palette similar otherwise you risk looking like a circus clown.

For women mix scarves and blouses or tops and bottoms. I've always thought it adds a little extra something. It makes me feel a little daring. As long as it's not too extreme I'm cool with it.

If you've got a great mix and match outfit tell me about it. Or better yet upload a photo and send it to me. I'll check it out and maybe feature it in a future post.

I'm a big fan of old school style with new school flair. When I was younger I was way into 'prep.' I came from no money so I bought all my gear secondhand. I saved up my biweekly paychecks and would raid Marshalls.

Back then I'd stick to the basic principles of the 'preppy' style and then riff on it and as a style gameplan it works as well now as it did then.  

At any given point in my life you'll be able to go into my closet and find various amounts of chinos and khakis white and tan bucks oxford shirts and a navy blazer. I mix and match and keep these items current with tailoring and other staples like sneakers white tees vests suspenders and such. Since fashion is constantly changing and since I'm getting old it's hard to keep up. I choose to always lean on the classics and make necessary adjustments when I see fit.

As a style 'prep' is such a part of our culture that it really never goes out of style.  They key to making it work is to find the version of 'prep' that suits your personality.  Do you call yourself a 'preppy?'  How do you make the look your own?

Every week I want to share with you the music that I'm listening to now. This week I wanted to share with you the music of David Ryan Harris.

David Ryan Harris is a friend of mine. He worked with my wife musically. I love the quality and tone of his voice and he's an amazing singer-songwriter. He does an amazing job of melding soul with folk and funk. He's one of the few artists I could listen to any time of the day. He's just one of the best out there.

True story: He used to be in a band called Follow For Now which is how I first heard him in college.  And then years later I discovered him again not realizing that this great singer-songwriter was also in my favorite band in college. Follow For Now was like a black funk band; kind of like Fishbone. 

Check out one of his tunes below:

Yesterday Shutting Down by davidryanharris

What do you think of his sound?  What artists should I be checking out?

2.    Click on “Photos” on your profile page.

3.    Next click “Upload Photos” and select where you would like to upload photos to – you can either add photos to an existing album or create a new album.

4.    Once you have selected where you want to upload your image you will be taken to a screen that looks like this:

5.    Click the blue “Select File” button and pick a photo to upload from your computer.

6.    The screen will look like this showing you which photo will be uploaded:

7.    Click the green “Upload File” button to upload your selection to your TayeDiggsOnline.com album.

8.    A pop-up box will appear letting you know your photo has been uploaded successfully. Click “OK.”

9.    Next to submit your photos for contests/to be used on the site click the photo and select “Submit this photo” on the right side of the page.

Something that I get asked about is “When it comes to color do you mix it up or go with just one?”

I used to be the matchy match king if only because I grew up with that being the style. And it is still the style if you're honoring the original hip-hop game. Every once in a while I will rock an Adidas sweat suit with stripes that match the stripes on my Adidas kicks.

Don't get it twisted.  I will take it back to The Old School because I come from that era and I'm very proud of it.  

When it comes to a more contemporary feel however I prefer mixing up the color palette as opposed to matching. Nowadays if I find myself matching my tie to my vest or sweater or anything like that I end up looking like I'm in kindergarten. Other people may be able to pull it off but not me. I prefer to mix certain colors that I feel go together.  It's more exciting to the eye.  

Figuring out what makes up your own wardrobe palette is up to you but I find it much more fun to mix it up. What about you?

I wanted to share with you a little bit about a trip Idina and I just took.  To celebrate her birthday I decided to surprise her with a trip to Sorrel River Ranch in Moab Utah.  We rode horses did some whitewater rafting and spent some quality time together.

If you've never been to southern Utah I really reccomend it as a worthwhile destination.  The area known as the Colorado Plateau is made up of some of the oldest rocks on the planet all weathere and erodes into canyons arches and hoodoos on a scale that is otherworldy.

Regardless of your religious or spiritual background being there forces you to realize how small we are as humans. There's something comforting in knowing that for all the talk of saving the Earth it has endured for eons. When we talk about saving the world we're really talking about saving ourselves.

In Moab you see the beauty that exists in the world without the touch of man's hand and it reminds me of just how fragile we all are.

What places have moved you?  Is there a special place you go to recharge your batteries?  I'm always looking for new places to visit. Share your thoughts in the comments.

Pants length. This seems like something everyone has trouble with at one point or another.  Not just everyday guys either.  A lot of times I'll walk the red carpet and see someone in a tux with their pants either too baggy or too short.

This is a personal preference thing but you never want to go too far in either direction. I prefer one break the point where the pants touch your shoes for formal wear. A little longer for jeans especially if you 'sag' them. Summer pants can be a bit shorter if you enjoy showing some ankle sans socks.

The general rule you can live by is: Pants should break midway between the top of your shoe and the sole. It's called a 'medium break' and you can ask your tailor to do it to any of your business or formalwear.

You can play around with the length if you're going for a specific look but if you're just looking to look good without too much thought a medium break is the way to go.

What's your preferred pant length?  Have you tried different styles and do you have a preference?

Hey people

Did you check out the Tony awards last night?  I have to say they were one of the best awards shows I've seen in a long time. I've found some clips from the show to share with you but would like to hear from you what you thought were the best parts of the show. 

I especially liked watching Neil Patrick Harris and Hugh Jackman have some fun in the clip above.

The Book of Mormon definitely owned the night.

And I have to say I am a big fan of the new production of Anything Goes. For the Tony's I was pulling for Laura Benanti. She's a good friend of the family and is pretty brilliant in everything she does. I was also pulling for Joe Mantello. He directed Idina in Wicked and hasn't acted in years. His performance was heart wrenching.  

What were you favorite parts of the show?  Were you surprised by the wins?  Do you think anyone was left out? Let me know in the comments below.

I saved the best for last.  This wraps up my "Day in the Life of Private Practice" series and I hope you've enjoyed seeing the show through my eyes.  You can watch the first part here.  And you can watch the second part here.

If you have questions for Taye about Private Practice put them in the comments.  He'll answer some of them in a future post.

What's going on people?

Today I want to switch things up a bit. One of the reasons I started this site was so I can hear from you. So I'd like to know "What questions do you have for me?"

Whether it's about my life Private Practice being a father or even asking me for style tips I want to start answering your questions on a regular basis.

So let's get started. Ask me anything. I'll take a look at your comments below and will pick a couple questions to answer in a future post. I'm very curious to see what you'll come up with.

I'm proud to have a section dedicated to African-American leaders be they civil rights advocates entertainers thinkers or icons.  I find the ‘unsung heroes’ especially interesting because they don’t always show up in textbooks.

It’s important to know our history as Americans and know the people who helped shape it.  This week I wanted to take a look at Irene Morgan who in 1944 refused to sit at the back of a segregated Greyhound bus 11 years before Rosa Parks.

Who:

On July 16 1944 Irene Morgan a 27-year-old mother boarded a bus in Gloucester Va. bound for Baltimore. Like any ordinary African-American passenger she went to the rear almost as far back as she could go. Equally ordinary for the time the bus driver asked her to relinquish her seat after a white couple boarded the crowded bus.

She refused.  Then the bus driver decided to ask another African-American mother with a child in her arms and Irene snatched her back saying "Where are you going with that baby in your arms?"

Money Quote:

“He put his hand on me to arrest me. So I took my foot and kicked him.”

Unlike Parks Irene wasn't non-violent.  When the deputy sheriff arrived and tried to arrest her she kicked him.

Legacy:

Her case caught the attention of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People lawyers Thurgood Marshall William Henry Hastie and Spotswood Robinson. They took her case to the Supreme Court arguing not that segregation was immoral but that Jim Crow seating on interstate buses and trains violated the Constitution’s commerce clause as an “undue burden on commerce.” On June 3 1946 the court agreed ruling 6-1 that segregation in interstate but not intrastate transportation was unconstitutional.

Unfortunately Southern states did everything they could to refuse to comply with the law and Irene's courage did not get its due until late in her life when historians and civil-rights advocates recognized how she helped pave the way for people like Rosa Parks.  She passed away in August 2007.

Taye would love to hear what people inspire you.  We all have heroes and while sport stars rappers and well — actors — get a lot of attention there are many people who do great things out of the limelight. Tell Taye about your unsung heroes.

I've always been a fan of Bill Cosby as an entertainer and as someone who has spoken up about the importance of fatherhood. Bill Huxtable on The Cosby Show really was America's Dad and the lessons learned from that show apply as much now as they did when the show first aired.

But I wanted to talk a minute about Bill Cosby's style.  I came across a site the other day called The Cosby Sweater Project and I think it's worth checking out.  I'm not sure who's behind it but I think it's very clever.  Cosby sweaters are turned into drawings based on the patterns that are on them.  It's a cool way of turning Bill's fashion style into something new.

You can view even more of these drawings here.

Do you have a favorite Cosby sweater?  I'm kidding but maybe you have a favorite Cosby charater or episode?

Even though it's been decades since their last record The Beatles still have style that feels modern.  It's proof that good style really never goes out of fashion.  When Apple released all the Beatles albums on iTunes they used this band photograph to promote it.

I recommend always staying true to your own style but I really liked the shoes that Paul John Ringo and George were wearing.  As an experiment I looked around online to see if I could find them.  

Not all of these are exact replicas but I think they're pretty close and I like the idea that you could be wearing a reminder of your favorite Beatle on your feet.  It probably won't help you write the next "Let It Be" but at least you'll look good trying.

Check them out:

• George: Converse Jack Purcell’s. Available here.
• Paul: Purplow Wing-Tip Leather Oxfords. Available here.
• John: Spring Court B2 Canvas Mid Cut. Available here.
• Ringo: Robert Wayne Shearling Zip Boot. Available here.

Do you have a favorite Beatle? Beatle song? How did I do at picking out matching shoes?

Stevie Wonder the living legend who recorded “Talking Book” “Innervisions” and Songs in the Key of Life” first walked onto the stage of the Apollo Theater in 1962.  He was 12.  On June 13th he’ll be inducted into the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame joining the likes of Michael Jackson Aretha Franklin and Smokey Robinson.

So why is the Apollo Theater so important?  While most people know the popular Showtime at the Apollo which sadly stopped running in 2008 but may return according to rumors the Apollo isn’t so much a place as an institution for anyone who wants to make it in music.

The thing that makes the Apollo a legend is Amateur Night. Starting in 1934 at the height of the Harlem Renaissance Apollo’s Amateur Night is the granddaddy of all talent shows and launched the careers of Ella Fitzgerald James Brown Mariah Carey The Jackson 5 Lauryn Hill Jimi Hendrix and of course Stevie Wonder.

At Amateur Night the audience doesn’t phone in their favorites — they applaud or often boo.  Get enough boo’s and you’ll get swept off stage literally.  A man with a broom called “the executioner” waits in the wings.

If you’re in New York you can check out Amateur Night at the Apollo every Wednesday. I recommend it to anybody.  They don’t call the Apollo “the soul of American culture” for nothing after all.

Have you ever been to the Apollo? I'd love to hear any stories you may have. Also are there any Stevie Wonder fans on the site?

I'm excited to share with you the next part of my video tour of Private Practice today. You can watch the first part here. I really enjoyed putting together this behind-the-scenes look of the show and hope you'll let me know what you think about it in the comments below. Plus send me your questions about the show. I hope to answer them in a future post.

Hi everyone

My first love has always been dance and that's something I want to share with you quite a bit on the site.  As some of you may know I am the co-founder of dre.dance along with Artistic Director Andrew Palermo.  I thought it would be best to let Andrew talk about the company in his own words so I asked some of the people helping me out with this site to interview him. I hope you enjoy.

-Taye

How did you and Taye meet?

Andrew Palermo: High school. We both went to the School of the Arts in Rochester NY and lived happily ever after. That's where we both originally met and we did summer stock together there.  I think the first time we ever performed together was in 42nd Street at the Rockport Summer Theatre. It was pretty excellent. Taye didn't even know how to tap at the time and I got to tutor him. And we've stayed friends ever since.

Can you tell us a little bit about dre.dance?

It was kind of a long time coming. Like I said Taye and I were always great friends and over the years we would teach master classes together at the big studios in New York and L.A.

We both always really respected each other's style and when I decided to focus on choreographing full-time I actually went to Taye and said "This might be a great opportunity for us to present a whole evening of work." So we went to Dancers Responding to AIDS which is an arm of Broadway Cares here in New York and said to them "We'll do this concert for you guys if you can help co-produce it."

They were cool with that but their one condition was that they wanted us to be more than just Taye and Andrew that it would be cooler if we were some sort of entity so that's sort of where dre.dance began.

What sets dre.dance apart from other dance companies? 

That's a good question. I'm always listening to what people say about the company because it's always hard to define your own work.  You just do what you do.  That's something from the beginning that Taye and I told each other; that we would not set out to define what we do.

That said we both have a really strong basis in modern dance and theatre and we also love hip-hop and contemporary movement so we have always felt like we are a bit of a hybrid.  People say that our stuff is very powerful and athletic.

Get a taste of their work in this video montage of dre.dance's work dre.diohead set to the music of Radiohead:

What sort of dance have you seen and like? Let Taye know in the comments.

Trying to pick the perfect tie should be fun but rarely is. While most of us are smart enough not to wear a novelty fish tie the urge to grab the safest looking tie on the rack means you often end up looking like the person standing next to you.

Designer Becky French started off as a blogger documenting her thrift store finds of vintage ties in the UK. She then started sketching ideas based on classics from the 50s 60s and 70s that didn’t have that “lounge lizard” look and posting them to her site. She described her blog as “a quest for the quintessential tie.”

People loved the designs Becky was turning out so she started making them. Last year she turned her blog into Marwood a company focused on creating ties that capture her “passion for pattern color nostalgia and detail orientated design.”

The collection is available starting tomorrow at selected shops but Becky’s taking personal orders on her site now.

What do you look for in a tie? Any suggestions for great places to get one?

Hi everybody

I know most of you are off spending the weekend doing barbecue's and spending time with your family but I wanted to wish you a happy Memorial Day. How are you spending yours?

Today’s playlist pick is a bit more obscure by design.  Neo-soul singer Lewis Taylor retired from performing in June of 2006. As Andrew Taylor he’s been working as a music video director bassist for Gnarls Barkley and guitarist for The Drivers. Just goes to show you that there are second acts out there for everyone.

Let's talk about his albums.  He's been compared to Prince and everyone from Elton John to David Bowie has praised him. If you've never heard of him it's because his influences are so wide ranging — soul classic rock psychedelic that nobody knows quite where to place him.

He has a real energy that's a hybrid of urban mixed with a little Euro. He’s a British cat bringing a little bit of that U.K. sensibility that I really enjoy.

Because Lewis left the scene just as the Internet was taking it off it’s hard to find music or video of him online. However you can get a sense of his style from "Lovelight" as song he wrote that was performed by Robbie Williams.

You can check out his albums on Amazon or iTunes as well. Plus you can hear samples of tracks.  I’d love to hear what you think? Maybe it’s time for a Lewis Taylor comeback?

One of the questions I am often asked is what it's like to work on Private Practice . Rather than tell you I thought I'd show you. I put together a short video tour of a day in the life of Private Practice . Here's the first part.

If you have questions for Taye about the show let him know in the comments!

Quick simple and easy: Here are my five steps to the perfect shaved head. In television commercials they always say that the closer the shave the better but that's because most of the people in these commercials are white.  For people with coarser or thicker hair if you shave too close it becomes very easy for the stubble to curl back into the skin and get ingrown. Hopefully some of these tips will help.

• Get your stubble on.

Before all else get rid of most of the hair you already have.  You can go to a barber and have it done there but some people find it cathartic to do it themselves.

• Get wet.

The wetter your hair is the softer it will be.  This is important.  You don’t want to get ingrown hairs or razor bumps.  The easiest way to do this is to take a long hot shower.  You’ll want to wash off all the extra hair you buzzed off anyway.

• Slick up your head.

The most overlooked step is actually the most important.  If you don’t use a shaving gel or oil you will regret it.  This is the ‘secret sauce’ when shaving.

• Shave it.

If you can use an electric razor instead of a straight blade you can cut down on ingrown hairs because it doesn't shave as close.  And even then shave in the direction of the grain since it will make it harder for the hair to turn back and grow into the skin.  You want to shave the lighter softer areas first and then follow-up with the coarser parts like the back of your head. Take your time as well. This is your head after all.  I would suggest always going with the grain though it depends on how sensitive your skin is.

• Clean up.

If you followed the steps above chances are you won’t need any aftershave. Just some soap and water. I use Tendskin as well.  Once you’ve dried off your shiny new head be sure to moisturize and if you decide to use an aftershave make sure it’s alcohol free.

What are your experiences with shaving?  Any tips?

“Only black people look good in hats.” 

“I look too stupid/young/tall in a hat.”

"I could never pull off a hat."

"I don't have the right head."

I’m a big fan of the chapeau. It may be a bit of an obsession but I refuse to buy into the idea that any one guy can't pull off wearing a hat. I’m here to tell you otherwise.

There was a time where everybody wore hats. It wasn’t an issue; it was just what everyone did.  In fact for most of modern history hats were a requirement not an option.

Perhaps if people can revert to the perspective that hat wearing isn’t even an option the world would be a more styling place.  If you overcome this fear and move into finding the right style you'll be cool.   As far as I’m concerned everyone can be a hat person.

They just need to find the right hat. 

Next week Taye’s going to start showing off some hats for different personality types but first he wants to hear from you.  What kinds of hats work for you and why?  If you own a hat you love take a photo of yourself wearing it and upload it to your profile with a little bit about the hat.  Taye might just want to feature you and your chapeau in a future blog.

I have dry skin.  This is one of those things that seem more like a hassle than anything else but I have to moisturize daily.  Simply put dry skin accelerates the aging process. Here are three body lotions that I use regularly. I prefer them really thick which obviously helps for drier skin:

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter — Old School This is the thickest lotion I use and it’s on the cheaper side too. It may take a while to break down to a smooth consistency in your hands but it gets the job done.

Body Shop Cocoa Butter — While still on the thicker side it's easier to apply than Palmer's and comes with a recognizable coconut fragrance.

Kiehl’s Creme de Corps — For people who avoid fragrances this is your choice.  It’s a bit pricier than the others however.

What’s your skin care routine?  Do you have any favorite products Taye should check out?

I love music. I plan out the artists I listen to on my playlist pretty regularly.  James Vincent McMorrow released his first solo album this year and I'm a fan.  I first heard him on an episode of Parenthood.

Early in the Morning was recorded by himself in an isolated house by the sea.  This is reflected in the sound of the album.

I feel he has a very emotional sensibility and I relate to his soul and folk influences. Finding an artist with all three is hard to come by.

He's obviously a very imaginative guy. Here’s his cover of Willow Smith’s “Whip My Hair" where he transforms the song into a melancholy ballad.

James Vincent McMorrow - Whip My Hair by partisanpr

And for something more serious here’s “The Old Dark Machine” off the new album.

James Vincent Mcmorrow - This Old Dark Machine by partisanpr

What do you think of his sound?  What artists do you think Taye should listen to next?

I'm proud to have a section dedicated to African-American leaders be they civil rights advocates entertainers thinkers or icons.  I find the ‘unsung heroes’ especially interesting because they don’t always show up in textbooks.

It’s important to know our history as Americans and know the people who helped shape it.  We'll start off with Charles Hamilton Houston the man who killed Jim Crow.

Who:

Born in Washington D.C. Houston attended Amherst College where he graduated valedictorian in 1915.  After college he returned to DC to teach law at Howard University but when the U.S. entered World War I he enlisted as an officer in the racially segregated army and served in France.

When he returned Houston had found his calling and as a lawyer was involved in nearly every major civil rights case arguing before the Supreme Court from 1930 ‘til 1954’s historic case: Brown v. Board of Education which outlawed the South’s racial segregation laws once and for all.

For this Houston became known as “The Man Who Killed Jim Crow.”

Money Quote:

"The hate and scorn showered on us Negro officers by our fellow Americans convinced me that there was no sense in my dying for a world ruled by them. I made up my mind that if I got through this war I would study law and use my time fighting for men who could not strike back."

Legacy:

Houston was also the mentor and teacher to future Supreme Court justice Thurgood Marshall the first black man to join the nation’s highest bench.

Houston played a role in nearly every civil rights case before the Supreme Court between 1930 and Brown v. Board of Education 1954.

Taye would love to hear what people inspire you.  We all have heroes and while sport stars rappers and well — actors — get a lot of attention there are many people who do great things out of the limelight. Tell Taye about your unsung heroes.

Tuxedos. Whether you own or rent it's all about the fit. Chances are you don’t have one hanging in your closet but at some point you’re going to need one.  Maybe it’s for a wedding a special event or a party and at least for me when that happens the easiest option is to just rent one.

Here are some of the things I’ve learned about rentals that I’d like to pass on.

I don’t wear a tux all that often and my weight sometimes changes.  You don’t want to be stuck with something that is ill-fitting.  If you have an event where you have to rent a tux you should try the suit on a couple days before the event so the rental store can make any adjustments or if necessary switch out the suit.

Make sure it's pressed properly.  I went to the SAG awards but upon putting on the tux I realized I had left the pants on the hanger the wrong way. As a result there was a crease in the wrong place. One of the most difficult things was rushing around at the last minute trying to steam it myself and I felt less than together. Ironically somehow I wound up on a Best Dressed List. Maybe they were distracted by my dazzling smile.

These little details really add up especially with a tux.  Get everything right and you’ll feel it — and you’ll project that feeling onto those around you.

Do you have any tips and routines for renting a tux?  Have you ever had any tux disasters you want to share with Taye?

What's happening people?

Welcome to TayeDiggsOnline.com. I've wanted to do this for a while and I'm very excited that it's finally up.  My inspiration for the site comes from questions I've been asked about my life style and the arts and I wanted a place where I can share some of the things I've learned and hopefully learn some things from you as well.

It's important to me that this site can be a place where I can share some of the experiences I've had in my life and hopefully you'll find some of it helpful in yours.  Yes you're going to hear me talk about things ranging from style to behind-the-scenes looks at Private Practice but my inspiration comes from being a husband and a father. My family is where my heart and soul are at.

This is your site too.  I'd like to hear from you and hope you'll take the time to sign-up and create a profile.  Ask me questions. Tell me what you'd like to know whether it's thoughts on what's happening in the theatre I just saw The Normal Heart and it blew my mind or my different ways to tie a necktie.

Thanks for stopping by and I look forward to seeing you here.

-Taye

I take pride in my appearance and I’m always on the lookout for interesting or unique looks. I also think that being sophisticated doesn’t mean being boring. In this section we’ll talk about finding fresh and easy looks for the modern man.