If there was one word to describe Maria Menounos it would be, Versatile. Menounos’s resume reads like that of five different professionals combined. In addition to interviewing celebrities on a daily basis for the entertainment newsmagazine Access Hollywood, Menounos is a special correspondent for both of television’s most-watched network news programs, NBC’s Today Show and Nightly News. As if being a journalist didn’t keep her busy enough, Menounos is also a filmmaker, actress, and activist. She has her own non-profit charity foundation ‘Take Action Hollywood’ that she started in order to use the power of the entertainment industry help raise social awareness for causes such as women’s suffering, Diabetes, MS, racism, pet adoption, and many others. One has to wonder how Menounos finds the time for all this and manages to look great and live a healthy life? That is exactly the reason why the multi-talented Menounos has decided to add one more thing to her list of achievements and write a book. Appropriately titled The Everygirl Guide to Better Living, Menounos says she hopes with this book she can show women how best to succeed at maximizing every resource and minute of their day. Just as she did when she generously made time to discuss with me her new book, her passions, and what she would like to do that she hasn’t already!

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You seem to do it all; you report, interview, make films, act, Is there one thing you enjoy the most from everything you do?

Maria-It’s so hard, I think the reason I still do everything is because I do love everything. I do have a strong passion for the news. I also have a strong passion for producing. I just produced a film this summer called ‘Serial Buddies’ and I love it. I love everything, but those two are I think are my strongest passions.

What is your favorite genre of stories to cover in your reporting?

Maria-Human interest stories are what I enjoy most. Like the moms that come back from Iraq, or stories of incredible kids doing incredible things. Anything that’s going to be eye-opening for people is just interesting to me. I mean all of my work with Nightly News has been amazing and I loved every minute of it.
*Maria holds the distinct honor of being the only journalist to ever conduct an interview with the entire Obama family.

What motivated you to write your new book?

Maria-A young career-minded girl will ask me how do you get all done, another woman will say how did you lose the weight, how did you keep it off, how do you fit everything into your schedule, etc so I decided that I would write a book, and not just to write a book because I certainly don’t have time to do just anything, I decided to write a book that was actually going to be helpful. That I would pass on all my tips, and all my advice, and all my secrets to doing it all and looking great and getting everything you want out of your day.

You say that you were once a struggling, unhealthy, and disorganized person, but that you’ve learned so much on your journey on how to strengthen your life. What do you think has been the most valuable thing you’ve learned along your journey?

Maria-You know I have so many things I’ve learned. I mean honestly and that’s why I did the book. I think one of the most important things was learning how to stack my day. You know if I’m going to go to Beverly Hills, I’m gonna make sure that I get done all things I need to get done in Beverly Hills that day. It’s like we’re not going to make five trips into Beverly Hills this week, we’re gonna make one and I’m gonna do everything in one shot. That’s how I kinda get it all done. I have this amazing black book, not a black book like most people would think but it’s a book that keeps all of my information from my sizes, to my flight preferences, to my handyman’s number, everything, and I’m creating a technology to be able to have it in iphone App form and a blackberry. When you get the book you’ll be able to use those applications to be able to put your own data in there with the book and that’s invaluable to have everything in one place.

You had a recurring role on One Tree Hill, what was that experience like for you on that show and having to move to Wilmington, NC to film?

Maria-I absolutely loved it. It was one of the best times I’ve ever had in my life. I loved every minute of it. I loved going to the local ice cream shop. I loved working with everyone there. It was just super fun.

Did you have fun playing the double-sided character of Jules?

Maria-Oh yes! It was amazing!(Laughs)

What would you like to do or explore that you haven’t already?

Maria-I definitely wanna do Broadway some day. It’s something that I’ve always loved. I love musicals and I would love to do a musical. I wanna have a talk show some day. I like to do everything!

If you could go back in time and spend a day in anyone’s shoes from history, who would it be?

Maria-Lucille Ball. She pioneered so much for women in television. I mean she headed her own TV studio! And back then, that was unheard of, she was the first woman to do something like that. It’s just amazing.