The Desilu Old Hollywood Effect: Desi Arnaz Was The Man Who Made Television What Know It To Be Today In the 21st Century – And Lucille Ball Was The Woman Who Redefined Femininity And Motherhood In The 1950’s

When talking about Patty Duke and her life, Lucille Ball will always at least be mentioned. Duke was, after all, in a relationship with her son, Desi Jr., and for a very long time, it was believed that he’d fathered her son, Sean Astin. That ended up not being the case, but nevertheless, the Astin and Arnaz have maintained a close bond. Here, we break down Desi Jr.’s parents’ entire marriage and eventual divorce. We explain how Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball changed everything about television and femininity, particularly during their days on I Love Lucy. At the time, and by at the time I mean in the 50’s, when the idea for I Love Lucy was pitched, executives only wanted Ball on board, leaving Arnaz behind; mostly because he was Cuban. They wanted a white man to play the part of her on-screen husband. In turn, Ball said she’d only be a part of the show if Arnaz was hired to play her on-screen husband, Ricky. They agreed And we explore how Lucille Ball failed as a mother in her career accomplishments. In her own words, Lucie Arnaz, her daughter, said, ‘I think because she was a working mom in the 50s, there probably was a lot of guilt involved in not being home with the kids.’ Let’s discuss…

Patty Duke: The Face Of Mental Illness Originated in The 80’s – And The Meaning Behind Sean Astin’s Continued Advocacy Following Her Death

Of his mother’s, Patty Duke, struggle with bipolar disorder, actor Sean Astin said, ‘She realized that her get-out-of-jail-free card, her superpower, was to combine everything she knew about being open and honest. It’s arresting sometimes, but it’s also very compelling. We lived our lives like a hurricane was coming. You could feel the weather change. Instead of feeling like someone who was othered by society, she was lauded because of what she chose to do with it.’ Here, we break down how mental illness was viewed to its entirety, from the very beginning. We explore why Patty Duke revealing her struggle with bipolar in the 1980’s was so groundbreaking and what Astin’s continued work in advocating to bring awareness means to those struggling. And we explain the complexities people with other illnesses and disorders such as cerebral palsy may face at the hands of depression. Let’s discuss…

No Good Nick: Everything That Made Nick A Better Person Than The One She Ever Thought She Could Be – An AU Continuation To Her Story

No Good Nick Was a 2019 Netflix series which starred Sean Astin, Melissa Joan Hart, and Siena Agudong in the title role. It followed Nicole Franzelli, known to others as Nick, a 13-year-old girl whose father, Tony, ran Franzelli’s restaurant, a popular spot in Oregon. After Liz Thompson opened her rival Crescendo Restaurant across the street, the Thompson family used dirty tactics to drive Franzelli’s out of business. Tony borrowed money from the mob in a desperate effort to keep his restaurant afloat and then went to prison for robbing a convenience store to meet his repayments to the mob. Taken into state care, Nick was placed with corrupt foster parents, Sam and Dorothy Harbaugh, who trained her as a con artist. Nick was then placed in the Thompson home under false premises, with the intent of using them to Nick’s advantage in getting revenge for what they did to her father. Here, we break down Nick’s entire journey in the process of her aiming to con the family. We explore why being placed with them became the best thing for her as she became a better version of herself thanks to them. And we bring an AU continuation to her story following the end of season 1. Lets discuss…

Celebrity Recipes We’re Loving (And How to Make Them Healthier!)

I was browsing TikTok/Instragram the other day and noticed so many celebrities sharing their favourite recipes. I was especially intrigued by this as the previous blog entry on this blog had to do with health – both physical and mental. We don’t realize this until we have to, but nutrition has so much to do, far more than we ever imagined, with one’s health.
Have you ever wondered what your favorite celebrities cook at home or what ends up on their perfectly styled plates? If you’ve watched Meghan Markle’s show and seen her flower-topped toasties or heard of Gigi Hadid’s viral spicy vodka pasta, these recipes are more than just click-worthy and they’re totally doable in your kitchen, too.
I invited renowned Women’s Nutritionist, Emma Lisa of Eat Nourish Glow to join me in sharing some of the most popular celebrity recipes making headlines. Emma Lisa breaks down the practical ways to make these celeb recipes healthier without compromising flavour. Whether you’re into clean eating, low-carb swaps, or just looking for inspiration, you’ll find some celebrity-approved deliciousness here.

Alexa & Katie: A Complete Breakdown Of Katie’s Brave Battle With Anxiety – And Why She’s An Inspiration To All Young Kids Watching

One particular Netflix show I absolutely loved was Alexa & Katie, which ran between 2018 and 2020, and starred Paris Berelc and Isabel May in their respective title roles. The show followed two best friends, Alexa and Katie, who navigate life as teenage girls as Alexa goes through a cancer battle and its aftermath. More particularly, the show focused on a teen girl’s cancer diagnosis and its impact on her life and her friendship with Katie, addressing both the physical and emotional challenges. While the show didn’t explicitly delve into deep clinical details of mental health, it did portray the emotional ups and downs, including anxiety, jealousy, and the need for support, that come with a cancer diagnosis and treatment during adolescence. Here, we break down the entire premise of Alexa & Katie, particularly Katie’s anxiety storyline. We explore its significance and why it’s important an inspiration to all young viewers who might be struggling as well. And we explain how her storyline relates to people struggling with a seizure disorder. Let’s discuss…

Hayley Kiyoko: The Lesbian Jesus Disney Never Knew They Needed – And Everything That Makes Her Artistry So Damn Special

Pride month might be over, but that doesn’t mean we need to stop talking about queerness. We’re here to talk about Hayley Kiyoko, a musician and former Disney star. You might recognize her from Disney’s Lemonade Mouth, which was absolutely FANTASTIC. Kiyoko officially came out as gay in 2015 with the release of her song, Girls Like Girls. She also directed the music video for it. And though the song was a smashing hit, Kiyoko was nervous to let the world know of her true identity. She did, and it was a HIT. Ever since then, she’s been dubbed as Lesbian Jesus by her fans around the world. Here, we break down Kiyoko’s entire coming out journey from the very beginning up to now. We explore her hardships of coming out publicly while being employed by Disney. And we explain why she’s the Lesbian Jesus Disney never knew they needed. Let’s discuss…

Ellen DeGeneres: How She Paved The Way For A More Positive Representation Of The LGBTQIA+ Community In Media – And What Oprah And Laura Dern Had To Do With It

Remember when Lindsay Lohan was given a second chance at a redemption arc by none other than Oprah herself? It was the year 2013. Oprah offered Lohan a platform to rebuild her career after rehab. This included an exclusive interview and an eight-part docu-series on Winfrey’s network, OWN,with a reported $2 million compensation package. The show, as well as the authenticity of Oprah’s shown mentorship and public support, was questionable. However, one thing that wasn’t questioned about Oprah was her support for Ellen DeGeneres in her coming out in the 90’s and thereafter. DeGeneres ‘broke the internet’ when she publicly came out in 1997 on her sitcom’s ’The Puppet Episode’. Here, we break down EVERYTHING that had happened leading up to it. We explore how DeGeneres’ courageous decision to come out has paved the way for the positive LGBTQIA+ representation in media we see today. And we explain what Oprah and Laura Dern had to do with it. Let’s discuss…

Georgia Rule: Why The Title Of The 2007 Lindsay Lohan Film Was Actually Brilliant – And How The Movie Wasn’t Actually About Georgia’s Strict Rules, But About ONE Life Hack For Rachel To Live By

Georgia Rule was a 2007 Lindsay Lohan movie that portrayed a VERY dysfunctional family. It explored themes of forgiveness, communication breakdown within families, and the challenges of dealing with past trauma. It followed a teenage girl named Rachel, played by Lohan. After giving her much trouble – more than she could ever handle – Rachel’s mother, Lily, played by Huffman, sent Rachel to a place she never thought she’d ever encounter again in her life – her mother’s home in Idaho. The movie wasn’t received well by fans. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a rating of 19%, and only made $25 million in the box office against a $20 million budget. Many of those who watched the movie questioned why the movie was even titled Georgia Rule when it had very little to do with them. It was thought out that the movie was centred around Georgia’s strict rules and disciplinary methods, like not using the Lord’s name in vain and strict punctuality. These rules were part of Georgia’s parenting philosophy, which she believed would help her granddaughter overcome her rebellious and self-destructive tendencies. Here, we break down the entire premise of the film. We explore the ONE Georgia Rule the film wasn’t received well actually about. And we explain why the title was BRILLIANT. Let’s discuss…

According To Greta: Why Greta’s Story Is One Every Teenage Girl Should See – And How It Chronicled The Realities Of Trauma, Depression, And Suicide

Hilary Duff recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of the release of her album, Breathe In. Breathe Out. It was her last album to date, and probably 4 people bought it in the entire world. It wasn’t bad. But it wasn’t great either, especially considering that there was already so much more competition in place even back then than when she started out in the 2000’s, with the likes of Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, and more. In more recent years, she’s concentrated on her acting career, but she’s always been an actress first, singer second. She’s been acting since her Lizzie McGuire days in the early 2000’s. Being a fan of Duff reminded me more of her lesser-known work, particularly the 2009 film, According To Greta, where she plays…Greta. Here, we break down the movie’s complete storyline. We explain why this little movie is actually one that every teenage girl should see, even now, 16 years after it was released. And we explore how it chronicled the realities of trauma, depression and suicide in the eyes of a young, rebellious teen who just wants to feel like she belongs. Let’s discuss…

Forget You Not: What Le-Le’s Journey Of Self-Discovery And Starting Her Life Over In Her 40’s Tells Other Women About Their Own Lives – And What Her Parents’ Past Mistakes And Choices Have To Do With It

Forget You Not is a 2025 Netflix Taiwanese drama series. It follows Cheng Le-le, a woman in her 40’s who’s rediscovering herself as she navigates her life as a caregiver to her aging father. In the midst of a new career path, Le-Le takes us on a trip through her life in the past and present, and we get to see how the two correlate with one another. We see the break down of her marriage, and we see her complex relationships with her parents through flashbacks and THEIR individual impact on her life in the present day. Her mother struggled with postpartum depression and left the family when Le-ale was 10. Her father was too busy working and providing for her to be the attentive father she needed. Here, we take a deep dive into Le-Le’s life as a woman in her way to rediscover who she is and start over in her 40’s. We explore what how her parents impacted her entire life’s story in more ways than she realized. And we explain what all women everywhere can take away from Le-Le’s journey. Let’s discuss…

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