In connection with Black History Month, Verizon Wireless partnered with actors Morris Chestnut, Lance Gross, Regina Hall and Keke Palmer for...

In connection with Black History Month, Verizon Wireless partnered with actors Morris Chestnut, Lance Gross, Regina Hall and Keke Palmer for their Potential of Us program.

Note: I am a Verizon Wireless lifestyle blogger and will share various brand related information and news. No compensation was received. Any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.

The idea behind Verizon Wireless "Potential of Us" is to inspire the public to give back to the community in various ways.

This weekend is Live Challenge #4 with Verizon Wireless, Morris Chestnut and Black Girls Run founders Ashley Hicks and Toni Carey, partnering to organize run/walk events challenging the community to get and stay physically active.


I had the opportunity to interview Morris Chestnut about this weekend Potential Of Us Run/Walk Challenge and how he stays connected to his family.

My interview with Morris was fun and filled with a lot of humor. While I would love to share all the things that were said during the interview, to save time and keep focused here are the main questions and answers.

Onica (MommyFactor): The Verizon Wireless"Potential of Us" program offers so many ways to inspire the community, what made you pick being part of the run/walk event with Black Girls Run?

Morris Chestnut: Having a healthy and active lifestyle is something that's important. I'm aware that I have lot of female fans and joining the 5k Run/Walk with Black Girls Run is a great way to inspire them to join in. I also have a daughter and I want this to be a example for her to live healthy.

Onica (MommyFactor): How did you prepare for joining in the 5k Run/Walk?

Morris Chestnut: I was already working out and being active so I didn't have to prepare much this time. But if I needed to I'd spend some extra time in the gym.

Onica (MommyFactor): How do you make time for your family?

Morris Chestnut: My family is very important to me. No matter what there's time for them. They keep me grounded and stable so I need them and to be with them.

I really enjoyed interviewing Morris and thank him for taking the time to talk with me. And because he teased me about not joining in the 5k Run/Walk in LA, I promise if there's a 5k Run/Walk in NYC that he walking in, I'll be there!

For now I'll be joining in via the "Potential Of Us" online challenges using the hashtag #PotentialofUs and you can also. The challenges aren't hard and are based on a range of activities from reading to a child to performing a random act of kindness.

I'm excited to join Verizon Wireless, Morris Chestnut and the other actors to celebrate Black History this month, hope you'll join us!

This week posts on the blog will be very light because I'm busy in the isles at Toy Fair 2014. Yes the largest toy show ever held in the...

This week posts on the blog will be very light because I'm busy in the isles at Toy Fair 2014. Yes the largest toy show ever held in the Western Hemisphere is back in New York City at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

Note: I attended Toy Fair as media. No other compensation was received. Views expressed are always 100% my own.

So how was my first day at Toy Fair NY? AWESOME!

During my first day I got to interview Chris Kratt from Wild Kratts about the new toy line partnership with Wicked Cool Toys. I'm a big fan of the show so meeting Chris and having him talk to me about the new toy line was amazing. Look for the toys preview and my interview on the blog next week.

I also snuck in some time with the costumed characters at different booths. By luck I found Homer Simpson but I didn't get a chance to find out the toy connection. I had an appointment to get to but tomorrow I'm going back to find out and report the details!

I also got in a photo with a Transformer Rescue Bot during the Hasbro Preview event. Lots of cool things happening with Hasbro for their My Little Pony, Transformer and Playskool lines! Recap next week!

I saw so many amazing new toys from brands large and small. I can't wait to share. I promise to play with as many toys as I can in the name of "research" so I can come back and blog about them for you!

While at The Queens Zoo for the celebration of the Lunar New Year, we went to the calligraphy class. There we had our name written in Chines...

While at The Queens Zoo for the celebration of the Lunar New Year, we went to the calligraphy class. There we had our name written in Chinese characters.

It's really interesting how a name can look and sound different in another language.

Have you seen or heard your name in another language?