The White House, just yesterday, released the first official photo of First Lady Michelle Obama — lookin’ all kinds of fine — in a beautiful sleeveless black dress by Michael Kors … which I present to you here:

Michelle Obama’s first official portrait as first lady was released by the White House Friday. She appears in a Michael Kors black shift dress and pearls in the photo, taken in the famed home’s “Blue Room” by White House photographer Joyce N. Boghosian. Obama is also featured on the March cover of Vogue. She’s the second first lady — after Hillary Clinton — to appear on the front of the magazine. In the interview with Andre Leon Talley, she opens up about helping Sasha, 7, and Malia, 10, adjust to life in Washington, D.C. “I’m going to try to take them to school every morning — as much as I can,” she says. “But there’s also a measure of independence. And obviously there will be times I won’t be able to drop them off at all. I like to be a presence in my kids’ school. I want to know the teacher; I want to know the other parents.”

Wow. She looks stunning. The woman is the epitome of class and style … this is an amazing photo. And those arms, she just looks spectacular. CNN, of all outlets, published a story on how YOU can have strikingly toned arms just like the First Lady:

Those toned arms are becoming a trademark. And a source of inspiration for some women. Rylan Duggan, a personal trainer who runs Go Sleeveless, a blog that instructs women how to tone up flabby arms and “eliminate bat wings,” said that in addition to asking how to get “Madonna arms” or “Kelly Ripa arms,” clients are now asking about getting “Obama arms.” “The Obama effect has been that women of all ages have been inspired to take responsibility for their health and their body,” said Duggan. “As the first lady of the United States, at 44 years old, and with two young children, Mrs. Obama has shown the world that you are never too busy to take care of yourself and look good doing it too,” he said. Exercise advocates are also fans. “She’s a great role model,” said Jessica Matthews, a continuing education coordinator for the American Council on Exercise. “Women shy away from strength training, because they’re afraid of big muscles. She shows nice toned arms and that it’s not going to lead to this myth of a bodybuilder type.” Women don’t have the hormones to develop huge muscles by strength training, unless they’re working out to an extreme or taking steroids, Matthews said. Obama has said she exercises in 90-minute workout three times a week with a personal trainer. The first lady told People magazine that during an average day in the White House, she and the president get up at 5:30 a.m. and usually work out and have breakfast. When Obama emerged with uncovered arms on Tuesday, some grumbled about her showing too much skin on an occasion where other women were wearing long sleeves or suits. Boston Herald columnist Lauren Beckham Falcone wrote to Obama, “It’s February. Going sleeveless in subzero temperature is just showing off. All due respect.” But others were amazed, like 25-year-old Jessie Rosen. After seeing Obama at the speech Tuesday, she went to the Adidas store in New York and bought two five-pound dumbbells. “It was her arms being so toned in spite of her life,” she said. “This woman is redecorating White House, trying to raise two children and backseat driving the nation,” Rosen said. “She seems to have time to keep her arms toned, so why can’t I?” It’s only the second day of Rosen’s new dumbbell routine. She does 15 minutes with four to five different exercises in front of her television, before going to bed. She hopes the arm exercises will get her ready for beach season and upcoming weddings. But personal trainers say arm exercises alone are not enough to get toned arms. First, a person has to get rid of body fat from the body, meaning “you can’t spot reduce and just eliminate fat from the arms,” Duggan said. Also, an exercise program has to target all major muscles of the body. Personal trainer Matthews recommends moderate intensity cardio for 30 minutes, five times a week or vigorous intensity cardio for 20 minutes, three times a week. Both cardio exercises and strength training are needed to speed up metabolism and burn body fat. “Even if the goal is just the upper body, you want to train all major muscles,” said Matthews. “If you fail to strengthen the entire body, it limits lean mass. When we strength train, we are building lean body mass and decreasing body fat.” Strength training increases muscle mass and revs up the body to burn fat at a higher rate, allowing for the lean muscle definition to show. Matthews recommends strength training twice a week, on nonconsecutive days to allow muscles to repair themselves. “Women are just really terrified of weights,” she said. “They’re on cardio machines, elliptical for 60 minutes and wondering why they don’t see definition and tone. The missing link is strength training.” The arm exercises sculpt the muscle underneath, which should protrude as the fat fades. It’s unclear what kind of exercises Obama does to maintain her buff arms, but it appears to be both back and arm workouts, said Michele Vourliotis, author of “Amazing Arms: Get Toned Triceps, Beautiful Biceps, and Sexy Shoulders in Just Minutes a Day.” “She may be working out on machine, dumbbells, bands or using her body weight,” Vourliotis said. Pick the option that seems most suitable to you, she advised.

Whew! That sounds like a lot of hard work … but sometimes that’s what it takes to get in the shape you want to be in. The CNN article goes on HERE and offers general advice for a beginner interested in starting a work-out routine to try and tone up their arms. Getting back to the First Lady, I’m not at all surprised that she is getting some flack from folks for her style choices … in her high profile position, it’s to be expected. I, for one, applaud her physical fitness and love seeing her proudly looking her stylish best. While I look forward to the day (hopefully soon) when the discourse on our First Lady can turn to her professional achievements, I don’t really mind that some focus centers on her classy style. I just love her. I’m really glad that the White House and First Lady Obama saw fit to release this image as her first official photo.

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First Lady Michelle Obama is featured on the cover and in the pages of the new issue of Vogue magazine, becoming only the second First Lady (after Hillary Clinton) to grace the cover. Here is Michelle’s very lovely magazine cover where she is rockin’ a hawt PINK dress designed by Jason Wu, the same designer who created her fabulous Inauguration dress:

Michelle Obama is in Vogue. Literally. As President Obama deals with crises on various fronts, the first lady follows tradition and steps into the March issue of Vogue, on stands in New York and Los Angeles Feb. 17. The magazine has photographed nearly every new first lady since Lou Hoover in 1929. Bess Truman is the only first lady since that has not appeared in Vogue, and Jackie Kennedy opted for a drawing by René Bouche. Only Hillary Clinton and Obama have made the cover. Wearing a magenta silk dress by inaugural gown designer Jason Wu on the cover, Michelle Obama’s image is captured by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz, who also shot inside photographs for the article by Andre Leon Talley, who discloses that he is a “passionate supporter” and “volunteered in the campaign trenches.” And while other friends and supporters emphasize Obama’s priorities as far as daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, and her desire to make the White House more inclusive, the first lady talks about those ideals when it comes to fashion. “First and foremost, I wear what I love,” she says. “That’s what women have to focus on: what makes them happy and what makes them feel comfortable and beautiful. If I can have any impact, I want women to feel good about themselves and have fun with fashion.” Vogue notes that Obama’s “lithe frame — an uncommon figure for an American First Lady” and her leanings toward new names in American design, such as Wu and Isabel Toledo, who created the lemongrass ensemble she wore at the swearing-in, have prompted some to dub her the “new Jackie Kennedy.” Vogue insists that Obama’s style is more “pragmatism, not glamour.” When she wore the black cardigan over the Narciso Rodriguez dress during the president’s Nov. 4 acceptance speech in Chicago’s Grant Park, she received some harsh criticism. “I’m not going to pretend that I don’t care about it,” she says. “But I also have to be very practical. In the end, someone will always not like what you wear. … I was cold; I needed that sweater!”

OMG, I love her. She deffo has the right kind of style and altho some of her outfits have drawn criticism, I think that she generally gets it right. While I contend that a woman as intelligent and as accomplished as Michelle Obama should FIRST be lauded for her talents, I absolutely understand why so many people are to taken with her sense of style as well. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a faboo First Lady in the White House like Michelle :) After the jump, check out a couple other photos of Michelle Obama from this new issue of Vogue magazine …

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Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum in Washington DC unveiled last month a new exhibit that featured wax statues of now President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton posing with Xmas gifts in the Oval Office of the White House. Today, the museum has announced and released photos of their newest wax statue exhibit which is currently in production. First Lady Michelle Obama is the latest person to be immortalized with her own wax statue:

The First Lady is already getting her first statue: Madame Tussauds Washington, D.C., will unveil a wax figure of Michelle Obama in March. In this photo (released Wednesday), Madame Tussauds senior sculptor Colin Jackson touches up the clay mold of her figure’s head. When complete, Michelle’s figure will join her husband Barack Obama’s wax figure, which was unveiled in February 2008, in a replica of the Oval Office. Obama is the third First Lady to be immortalized in wax by Madame Tussauds Washington D.C., joining Jacqueline Kennedy and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Even tho the statue is in the very early stages, the likeness is really pretty remarkable. Not all of the wax statues that the Madame Tussaud’s sculptors create are perfect likenesses of real people they represent … but sometimes, like in this case with First Lady Obama, they get it pretty perfect. I had no idea that the museum had only previous created likenesses of former First Ladies Jackie O. and Hillary Clinton (I assumed that all First Ladies were immortalized along with their president hubbys) … I guess it’s quite an honor to have a wax effigy created in your honor. Michelle Obama is such an amazing woman, I love that she’s being honored in this way (if, in fact, a wax statue of one’s self is an honor). So far, it looks pretty good … I can’t wait to see the final product — and what outfit from J. Crew it’ll be wearing.

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

I think it’s pretty safe to say, by all accounts, that yesterday was an historically momentous day. The swearing in of Barack H. Obama as our 44th President of the United States of America was a day that was a long time coming … and when the moment was at hand, the US and the world at large paused to bear witness. A lucky 2,000,000 were able to attend the Inauguration swearing in ceremony in person in Washington DC … including my dear friend Jordan, who made the trek from SoCal to attend the Inauguration events in DC. Here are a few photos that Jordan sent in from DC yesterday:

As you can see, Jordan managed to squeeze his way to the front of the podium where President Obama was giving his Inauguration Address. I chatted with him briefly on the phone yesterday morning while we were waiting for the events to get underway and he sounded so happy and excited to be there for the historic event.

Here are a few photos of the Obamas as they made their way in the Presidential motorcade along the parade route after the swearing in ceremony … as you can see, the First Family were stylin’ along in the new Presidential Cadillac Limousine created by General Motors (which we learned a bit about yesterday), straight from Motown — Detroit, MI:

Not only is this Presidential Limo the safest one ever but it, in my estimation, is the slickest ride any president has been fortunate enough to own.

But after the long day’s activities were completed, it was time to get the party started. President and First Lady Obama (who was dressed in a beautiful white gown designed by 26 year old Jason Wu) made their way to 10 Inaugural Balls and both looked stunning as they danced the night away. Here are a couple photos of the Obamas as they made their grand arrival at the Neighborhood Ball, the first of many balls the couple attended last night:

After the jump, check out a bunch of photos (and video) of the First Couple enjoying their first dance together as they were serenaded by Beyoncé who sang the Etta James classic At Last …

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President-elect Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama met up with Vice President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill for an early morning church service at St. John’s Episcopal Church before they met with the outgoing president and the soon-to-be former First Lady for an intimate coffee date at the White House this morning. I understand that the Bidens and the outgoing VP and his wife were in attendance as well. The couples, as is US tradition, spent some time together in the President’s home one last time before the transfer of power. Here are a few photos of the Obamas out doing their thang earlier today:

As massive crowds swarmed the National Mall on Tuesday to witness Barack Obama’s inauguration as president, the man at the center of the maelstrom began the day quietly and reverently, at a church service across the street from the White House. Obama and his family attended a private service at St. John’s Episcopal Church, a tradition for those about to become president. The family of Vice President-elect Joe Biden also attended. Barack and Michelle Obama waved to bystanders, then entered the church to applause from about 200 people. The choir and congregation began singing the hymn, “O God Our Help in Ages Past.” The Rev. Luis Leon welcomed the Obamas and said every president since James Madison has worshipped at the church at least once, “some of them kicking and screaming.” Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr., of Los Angeles, drew murmurs and chuckles when he blessed the Obamas and asked that “they may finish these two terms in office” stronger than they are now. Obama, of course, would have to win re-election in 2012 to serve a second term. Another clergyman, Joel Hunter, offered a blessing to “Barack Hussein Obama.” The Obamas and Joe and Jill Biden were scheduled to have coffee at the White House with President George W. Bush, Vice President Richard Cheney and their wives. Then they would travel the short distance to the Capitol for Obama’s history-making moment. Just beyond the White House fence, huge crowds braved freezing temperatures and jostled for positions to see — with the naked eye or on Jumbotron screens — Obama take the oath of office as the 44th president and the first black to hold the title.

Here are a couple of photos from the National Mall in front of the US Capital where tens of thousands of people are gathering to witness History being made today:

It’s really all very exciting! Michelle Obama and Laura Bush just left the White House together followed by their husbands, Barack and GW. They are all being piled into the new Presidential limo to begin the slow trek along the parade route to the US Capital where the swearing in ceremony will take place in just a short time.

MSNBC is offering a live stream of their broadcast which they are sharing with all of us right here:

And so … we wait. Remember this moment, y’all. It’s one that you’ll want to remember some day when asked, Where where YOU when Barack Obama was Inaugurated?

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On the eve of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day today, dignitaries, politicians, celebrities and everyday citizens convened on the mall in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC yesterday to participate in the We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration to celebrate not only tomorrow’s Inauguration of Barack Obama as our 44th President but to also honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who, very famously, gave his I Have A Dream speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial back in August of 1963. Here are a few photos from yesterday’s We Are One concert event and some info about what went down:

Barack Obama and his family had a star-studded – and musical – introduction to Washington, D.C. On Sunday afternoon, the President-elect was feted on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration. The two-hour event was broadcast live on an open signal on HBO, and it featured a mix of historical speeches, presented by stars like Tom Hanks, and classic anthems like U2’s surging Martin Luther King, Jr.-inspired “Pride (In the Name of Love).” Equally powerful, Beyoncé closed out the festivities with a stately, soaring version of “America the Beautiful.” The singer beckoned all the earlier performers on stage, leading a star-studded sing-along. Said Beyoncé as she concluded, “America, we are one.” Denzel Washington kicked the festivities off with an introduction, telling the crowd, “We are inspired by the man we’ve elected to be the 44th president.” Then, the actor ceded the stage to Bruce Springsteen and a full gospel choir in red robes. Accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, the troubadour performed “The Rising” – and delivered a message of unity. “Come on up for the rising,” he sang. “Come on up, lay your hands in mine.” As he performed, the cameras panned to the awe-inspiring sight of thousands of spectators huddled in the cold, packed around the Reflecting Pool and stretched all the way east to the Washington Monument. Much closer to the action, Obama and his family – including wife Michelle and their daughters Malia, 10, who snapped photos of the massive crowd, and Sasha, 7 – took in the festivities from a front-row perch, in a box just off the stage, next to Vice President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill. Obama also took the stage to thank performers and audience members for sharing in the celebration. “Welcome to Washington, and welcome to this celebration of American renewal,” he said. “As I stand here tonight, what gives me the greatest hope . . . is you: Americans of every race and region and station who came here because you believe in what this country can be and because you want to help us get there.” Mary J. Blige got concert-goers dancing – even Obama, who grooved in his seat – during her soulful version of “Lean on Me.” And Jamie Foxx inspired plenty of laughter – including a chuckling Obama – with his pitch-perfect impression of the President-elect as he recited lines from Obama’s post-election victory speech in Chicago’s Grant Park. Sheryl Crow teamed up with jazz legend Herbie Hancock and will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas for a spirited take on Bob Marley’s “One Love.” “Let’s get together and feel all right,” they sang while audience members frantically waved their hands in the air. Later, during his performance, Garth Brooks sang his Obama-inspired original composition, “We Shall Be Free,” which the country star melded into a medley of recognizable favorites like “American Pie” and “Shout.” And Usher took the stage with Shakira and Stevie Wonder for the soul luminary’s “Higher Ground.”

I was able to watch a small portion of yesterday’s celebration and it was quite a sight to see … the party was jumpin’ and it’s only the beginning. Our President-elect was deffo in fine spirits at yesterday’s event as he spoke to the assembled crowd about how hopeful he is for our country on the eve of such a monumental achievement:

Barack Obama said he’s “as hopeful as ever” about the future of the U.S. as thousands of Americans converged on Washington’s Lincoln Memorial for a free concert to celebrate his inauguration as the first black president. “Only a handful of generations have been asked to confront challenges as serious as the ones we face right now,” Obama said today. “Despite the enormity of the task that lies ahead, I stand here today as hopeful as ever that the United States of America will endure, that it will prevail, that the dream of our founders will live on in our time.” People gathered hours in advance for the event at the same site chosen by civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. for his 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech. The concert featured songs by Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Sheryl Crow, U2 and Mary J. Blige; Martin Luther King III spoke, along with actors including Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks. Obama sang along as Garth Brooks performed “American Pie.” He and his wife, Michelle, rocked along to Blige and jumped to their feet as Wonder sang and played the keyboard. Interspersed in the event were clips of past presidents, including the inaugural addresses by John F. Kennedy and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Obama and his wife followed incoming Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, down the steps of the memorial and waved to crowds that stretched down the National Mall to the Washington Monument before the concert. They took seats to the side of the stage with the Obama children, Sasha and Malia. “Change has come to America,” actor Jamie Foxx told the roaring crowd, quoting Obama and doing an impression of him that drew laughter from attendees and the president-elect himself. Biden spoke about 40 minutes into the program about the value of work, saying it was about dignity and respect. “I see a country built by men and women who believe in the dignity of work, who take pride in providing for their families,” Biden told the crowd. Obama, 47, for the second day chose to invoke the spirit of Abraham Lincoln, the president who led the U.S. through the Civil War and ended slavery. Obama arrived in Washington last night after a “whistlestop” train trip that began in Philadelphia; Lincoln arrived by railroad in 1861 for his own inauguration. Both were elected from their adopted home state of Illinois.

Click HERE to read the full text of Barack Obama’s speech yesterday, in case you missed hearing it aloud. After the jump, watch Beyoncé’s stirring performance of America the Beautiful, she really nailed the song and gave a performance that is not to be missed …

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Parade magazine has published a very sweet, very poignant letter that President-elect Barack Obama wrote for his young daughters Malia and Sasha. In Obama letters to his daughters, he explains to them why he decided to take their family on the extraordinary journey to the White House and shares his hopes for their future and for the future of all children in the US. Here is the Obama family on the cover of Parade magazine and an excerpt from his letter to his daughters:

“When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me—about how I’d make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn’t seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn’t count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that’s why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation. I want all our children to go to schools worthy of their potential—schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill in them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them to have the chance to go to college—even if their parents aren’t rich. And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids and retire with dignity … I hope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs that you see and working to give others the chances you’ve had. Not just because you have an obligation to give something back to this country that has given our family so much—although you do have that obligation. But because you have an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential. These are the things I want for you—to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That’s why I’ve taken our family on this great adventure. I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am grateful every day for your patience, poise, grace, and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the White House.”

What a very sweet letter. At first I thought it was weird for a magazine to publish a letter that was written for the Obama girls but reading it clears up any misgivings I initially felt. The letter is really a letter meant for the children of the US and is a promise for a more hopeful future for our country. Speaking to (and thru) his children, President-elect Obama is trying to remind folks, again, that there is much work ahead for our country to get back on the path to prosperity. After the jump, read the full text of Obama’s letter to his children — and to us as a nation …

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