This season of Home Savvy, we’re bringing our viewers behind the scenes footage/pictures for each new episode. In our special casting episode, 4 lucky finalists competed in our final casting challenge that took place at The Home Depot. Take a look at some cool pictures of the crew and you can even watch their full 2:00 demonstrations that they performed in front of a live panel of judges.

 Home Savvy Branded Cards for the Judges

Director of Photography Bryon Summers framing his shot

Home Savvy Producer Raven Carter getting camera ready

Finalist Aliah Davis-McHenry posing for the camera

Makeup artist Mimi Kamara putting the finishing touches on finalist Sherie Graves

Homer Woody Simeon getting camera ready by makeup artist Kimberly Wynn

For the full 2:00 demonstrations from each finalists, click on the links below:

Finalist #1 – Aliah Davis McHenry | The Savvy Search for a New Host – Home Savvy

Finalist #2 – Sherie Graves | The Savvy Search for a New Host – Home Savvy

Finalist #3 – Patrice J. Williams | The Savvy Search for a New Host – Home Savvy

Finalist #4 - Brandhyze Stanley | The Savvy Search for a New Host – Home Savvy

WANT MORE HOME SAVVY? WATCH THESE EPISODES:

SEASON 3

• Episode 1: The Savvy Search for a New Host

SEASON 2

• Episode 1: How to Install a Bathroom Vanity
• Episode 2: How to Install a Bathroom Faucet
• Episode 3: How to Save Money on Your Home Energy Bills
• Episode 4: Home Decor Tips
• Episode 5: How To Decorate For The Holidays
• Episode 6: How to Light Your Home For The Holidays

SEASON 1

• Episode 1: Creating a Container Garden
• Episode 2: How to Grow Vegetables at Home
• Episode 3: Interior Painting
• Episode 4: Closet Makeover
• Episode 5: Kitchen Backsplash

Brandhyze Stanley is an NYC based actress/on-camera host.  She is currently a How-To Instructor for the popular site, eHow and a freelance fashion writer and video journalist for Newsday Westchester. In addition to this, she is also a hosting instructor at TVI Actors Studio in NYC and the resident DIY girl at Mood Fabrics.

WANT MORE HOME SAVVY? WATCH THESE EPISODES:

SEASON 3

• Episode 1: The Savvy Search for a New Host

SEASON 2

• Episode 1: How to Install a Bathroom Vanity
• Episode 2: How to Install a Bathroom Faucet
• Episode 3: How to Save Money on Your Home Energy Bills
• Episode 4: Home Decor Tips
• Episode 5: How To Decorate For The Holidays
• Episode 6: How to Light Your Home For The Holidays

SEASON 1

• Episode 1: Creating a Container Garden
• Episode 2: How to Grow Vegetables at Home
• Episode 3: Interior Painting
• Episode 4: Closet Makeover
• Episode 5: Kitchen Backsplash

Patrice J.Williams is a freelancer writer and creator of the website Looking Fly on a Dime. In addition to the website she’s also hosted recurring fashion segments for Today Show, WE TV and the Nate Berkus Show. Previously she was the Savvy Shopper reporter for WPIX-NY where she wrote and produced weekly fashion and lifestyle pieces.

WANT MORE HOME SAVVY? WATCH THESE EPISODES:

SEASON 3

• Episode 1: The Savvy Search for a New Host

SEASON 2

• Episode 1: How to Install a Bathroom Vanity
• Episode 2: How to Install a Bathroom Faucet
• Episode 3: How to Save Money on Your Home Energy Bills
• Episode 4: Home Decor Tips
• Episode 5: How To Decorate For The Holidays
• Episode 6: How to Light Your Home For The Holidays

SEASON 1

• Episode 1: Creating a Container Garden
• Episode 2: How to Grow Vegetables at Home
• Episode 3: Interior Painting
• Episode 4: Closet Makeover
• Episode 5: Kitchen Backsplash

Sherie Graves is a native of Oakland, CA with a BA in Radio & Television. She was Associate Producer and Reporter on “The Lady of Soul Awards”, hosted various television shows such as “HYPE” and Fashion Buzz”. For years she has also worked in interior design with a gift to create new and exciting designs within the home. Watch the video above to see her full 2:00 demonstration for our final casting challenge.

WANT MORE HOME SAVVY? WATCH THESE EPISODES:

SEASON 3

• Episode 1: The Savvy Search for a New Host

SEASON 2

• Episode 1: How to Install a Bathroom Vanity
• Episode 2: How to Install a Bathroom Faucet
• Episode 3: How to Save Money on Your Home Energy Bills
• Episode 4: Home Decor Tips
• Episode 5: How To Decorate For The Holidays
• Episode 6: How to Light Your Home For The Holidays

SEASON 1

• Episode 1: Creating a Container Garden
• Episode 2: How to Grow Vegetables at Home
• Episode 3: Interior Painting
• Episode 4: Closet Makeover
• Episode 5: Kitchen Backsplash

Aliyah Davis-McHenry is a mom of two, wife, business owner, blogger, and volunteer on several nonprofit boards. She recently bought a home with her husband in New Jersey and they have put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into making this house a home and would love to show the tips and tricks that they have learned along the way. She is also the founder of The Get Fit Diva. Watch the video above to see her full 2:00 demonstration for our final casting challenge.

WANT MORE HOME SAVVY? WATCH THESE EPISODES:

SEASON 3

• Episode 1: The Savvy Search for a New Host

SEASON 2

• Episode 1: How to Install a Bathroom Vanity
• Episode 2: How to Install a Bathroom Faucet
• Episode 3: How to Save Money on Your Home Energy Bills
• Episode 4: Home Decor Tips
• Episode 5: How To Decorate For The Holidays
• Episode 6: How to Light Your Home For The Holidays

SEASON 1

• Episode 1: Creating a Container Garden
• Episode 2: How to Grow Vegetables at Home
• Episode 3: Interior Painting
• Episode 4: Closet Makeover
• Episode 5: Kitchen Backsplash

About This Episode

We’re back with season 3 of Home Savvy and this time we’re in search of a brand new host! MadameNoire, in conjunction with The Home Depot, sought out engaging, dynamic candidates with passion and personality. After a full day of in-house auditioning at our NYC studio we’ve narrowed down our list of finalists to five lucky ladies who have moved to our final casting challenge.

In this episode you will see the finalists compete to be the next host and who the judges selected to be our lucky winner!

Finalists

Aliah Davis-McHenry

Aliyah Davis-McHenry is a  mom of two, wife, business owner, blogger, and volunteer on several nonprofit boards. She recently bought a home with her husband in New Jersey and they have put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into making this house a home and would love to show the tips and tricks that they have learned along the way.

Sherie Graves 

Sherie Graves is a native of Oakland, CA with a BA in Radio & Television. She was Associate Producer and Reporter on “The Lady of Soul Awards”, hosted various television shows such as “HYPE” and Fashion Buzz”. For years she has also worked in interior design with a gift to create new and exciting designs within the home.

Patrice J. Williams

Patrice J.Williams is a freelancer writer and creator of the website Looking Fly on a Dime. In addition to the website she’s also hosted recurring fashion segments for Today Show, WE TV and the Nate Berkus Show. Previously she was the Savvy Shopper reporter for WPIX-NY where she wrote and produced weekly fashion and lifestyle pieces.

Brandhyze Stanley

Brandhyze Stanley is a NYC based actress/on-camera host.  She is currently a How-To Instructor for the popular site, eHow and a freelance fashion writer and video journalist for Newsday Westchester. In addition to this, she is also a hosting instructor at TVI Actors Studio in NYC and the resident DIY girl at Mood Fabrics.

WANT MORE HOME SAVVY? WATCH THESE EPISODES:

SEASON 3

• Episode 1: The Savvy Search for a New Host

SEASON 2

• Episode 1: How to Install a Bathroom Vanity
• Episode 2: How to Install a Bathroom Faucet
• Episode 3: How to Save Money on Your Home Energy Bills
• Episode 4: Home Decor Tips
• Episode 5: How To Decorate For The Holidays
• Episode 6: How to Light Your Home For The Holidays

SEASON 1

• Episode 1: Creating a Container Garden
• Episode 2: How to Grow Vegetables at Home
• Episode 3: Interior Painting
• Episode 4: Closet Makeover
• Episode 5: Kitchen Backsplash

Source: Wenn

It looks like everything Sloane Stephens and Serena Williams are BFFs again – or at least they can stop giving each other the stank eye.

According to Sports Illustrated, Stephens, who is a rising star in the tennis world, tweeted out on Tuesday that she and Williams had “straighten[ed] out the controversy” around comments she made in ESPN The Magazine in which she denounced media reports that two had a close friendship. In fact, Stephens said that after pulling an upset over Williams in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, the two hadn’t spoken and Williams had even stopped following her on Blackberry messenger and on Twitter. From the ESPN article: “She’s not said one word to me, not spoken to me, not said hi, not looked my way, not been in the same room with me since I played her in Australia,” Stephens says emphatically. “And that should tell everyone something, how she went from saying all these nice things about me to unfollowing me on Twitter.”

When asked about the Stephens comments, Williams took a different, more oblivious stance, telling reporters, “I don’t really know. I don’t have many thoughts….I’m a big Sloane Stephens fan and always have been. I’ve always said that I think she can be the best in the world. I’ll always continue to think that and always be rooting for her.”

To be honest with you, outside of hearing about the Williams sisters domination in the sport, I have no interest in tennis. With that said, this sort of situation that transpired between Stephens and Williams is not exclusive to the tennis world. And I don’t want to make this a gender thing but it has been my personal experience that women tend to have these sort of weird beefs, which seem to materialize out of what a person hasn’t said or done. I used to think that it was because women were crazy. But now I think it is a matter of good old fashioned competition.

And I’m not talking about the competition most think of when they think of women. You know, the kind which usually spawns out of mutual interest in the same men or the same outfit; I’m talking about women trying to out-do each other in the workplace; in schools and even in the club.

Like a few weeks ago, I was dancing with a bunch of friends at a club and I must have been really getting my two-step on that night because this young woman came out of nowhere and started dropping it all hot in front of me. At first I thought she was just being a hype white girl, trying to do that whole ‘look-at-me-dance-with-black-people-’ thing that they do. But the expression on her face as she dipped it low – and struggled to bring it back up again – told me that she was really serious. She was subtly trying to challenge me to a dance-off. I turned my back on Ms. Save the Last Dance.

Part of me was flattered as maybe those Zumba classes has given me better hip to foot coordination. And truthfully, there is nothing wrong with competition. It’s good for business, particularly for customers as it helps keep the prices low. And men are regularly praised for their competitive spirits. And in my younger years – and if I really knew how to dance – I would have probably playfully given Ciara’s illegitimate sister a run for her money and likely not sweated the outcome.

But we also have to recognize when our natural competitive spirit is becoming unhealthy. And that’s the other part, which had me annoyed by the situation. Like why did this stranger approach and challenge the only black girls dancing, in a sea of non-black girls dancing? I wasn’t even the best dancer in the place. There were a group of white girls on the other side of the room, getting it in way better than any of us black girls were at the time. So why did she have to try to take my shine from me?

I definitely sense some underlying competitiveness in this Stephens and Williams situation, which might have more to do with off-the court than on. Part of this is fueled by the media’s constant comparison of the two, particularly christening Stephens as the next Williams. I mean, just because they are the only two black high-profiled tennis players outside of Venus (who folks rarely talk about these days) in a sport dominated by non-black women, doesn’t mean they have to be compared to each other. I mean is it inconceivable to compare Stephens to Maria Sharapova or a Victoria Azarenka? Or better yet, let her be great on her own?

(AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Verizon is ready to make big noise with this year’s How Sweet the Sound gospel choir  competition. According to the company, the competition will be bigger than ever.

Donald Lawrence and Yolanda Adams are back as hosts. The popular competition is now in its seventh year.

The winner will receive a How Sweet the Sound/eOne recording contract, up to $50,000 in cash and prizes, and the title, “Best Gospel Choir in America.”

The winners last year were the 90-member Dexter Walker & Zion Movement Choir. The Chicago-based choir received a recording contract, $25,000, smartphones and gift cards. They also got a chance to tour across the country in select cities, performing to sell-out crowds.

Know a great gospel choir? Maybe they should get in on this.

Shutterstock

Have you ever been in this situation? You go to work on your very first day, eager and mentally ready to finally conquer Excel. You get signed in by security and enter the elevator, maybe meeting a smiling face or two. You walk through the doors of your new job, greet the receptionist, get ushered in and quickly notice that mostly everyone around you is of the same racial or ethnic makeup.

It can be disheartening to work in a corporation that offers amazing benefits, but very little of diversity within. But we shouldn’t be too hard on HR; some businesses just may not understand the various ways in which diversity would truly benefit them beyond gaining Multicultural Excellence Awards for their advertising campaigns. Here are the top nine ways that diversity benefits businesses:

BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins. AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Chris Young

Okay. We know BlackBerry and Apple are rivals when it comes to smartphones. But now Thorsten Heins, CEO of BlackBerry, is taking things to another level. According to Forbes, Heins is taking  “potshots” at Apple in an interview with The Australian Financial Review.

“[H]is comments that Apple has lost [its] edge and isn’t innovating in the smartphone market come at a particularly worrisome time for the iPhone,” Forbes writes. Heins is right about one thing: people aren’t too excited about the upcoming iPhone 5. In fact, experts say shipments might fall below street expectations this quarter.

“History repeats itself again I guess… the rate of innovation is so high in our industry that if you don’t innovate at that speed you can be replaced pretty quickly. The user interface on the iPhone, with all due respect for what this invention was all about is now five years old,” he said. “The point is that you can never stand still. It is true for us as well.”

But Heins isn’t the only one talking bad about competition Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller criticized Google’s Android mobile operating system the day before Samsung’s Galaxy S4 was unveiled, reports Forbes.

Trash talking the competition isn’t a good thing to do, says business consultant Mary-Frances Winters, CEO of The Winters Group,  a 28-year-old organization development and diversity consulting firm. “Never bad mouth the competition. It is not good business practice. Most of us learned if you can’t say anything nice about somebody, don’t say anything at all,” she advises.

Business and life coach Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe agrees. “A business owner should always remain focused on maintaining the stellar quality of his or her product or services, the provision of memorable customer service, and demonstrating value added benefits,” she says.

Talking bad about your competition will actually make you look bad. “Bad mouthing the competition puts your business ethics into question, and in the end taints your appeal to a prospective customer. In most cases, the potential customer already has some knowledge of businesses in the industry that provide both good and bad service, and if you are in the room discussing a possible deal, concentrate on outlining what your business can deliver and refrain from focusing on what the competition can not.”