Tiffani Thiessen’s First Cookbook Is All About Classics With a Twist

Not only does Lana have to navigate her relationship drama, but she also has to deal with the fact Emma's wedding is totally taken over by social media, a concept that was really appealing to Brooke Shields from the beginning.

"It has to unfold, not necessarily in the way that it would have organically unfolded with a mother and her only daughter going to pick out the dress and going to plan the napkins and all those things that you sort of dream about doing for your daughter," Brooke says. "So that was a really interesting thing, for that to be usurped and sort of [replaced with] somebody else's ideas."

"The script I read, [Emma's] vocation was creating this amazing website that all the sponsors were excited about," Benjamin Bratt says. "But over the course of shooting it, I think the filmmakers recognized that it's not about websites anymore, it's actually about TikTok and social media."

Ironically, the cast didn't find themselves online too much during filming! "I used my phone a lot less than I would have," Sean Teale says. "Especially during the shoot, we spent our whole time messing around if we weren't working."

"Especially with the time change too," Miranda Cosgrove adds. "It took a while to get used to that. So it kind of just makes you feel like you're off the grid. Being in Thailand was like a little getaway."

The fact that Emma is basically a social media star means I HAD to ask Miranda about iCarly, and whether Emma and Carly would get along. "I definitely think that they would be super close," she agrees. "But I think that Emma would probably wanna, like, manage Carly or something. Like she'd wanna manage her social media and come up with ideas and stuff for her channel."

Miranda Cosgrove (and Brooke Shields for that matter) isn't the only member of the cast who's experienced the limelight from a young age. The cast also includes Chad Michael Murray, and as a One Tree Hill and A Cinderella Story STAN, I had to ask what it was like working with the Gilmore Girls actor. "You know what, I'm like 'Those abs have got to be painted on,'" Brooke jokes. "No, you know what was amazing was seeing him with his family and his stunning wife...It's picture perfect."

"[The story is about] that bond between parents and children, and many of us, including Chad, are kind of on board with it from our own personal experiences," Benjamin Bratt says. "A rom-com doesn't really succeed unless it has that very delicate, hard-to-achieve balance of outrageous humor that's gonna make you laugh out loud and real humanity."

"Brooke is...one of the most generous kind, empathetic, inclusive, enthusiastic actors I've ever worked with," he continues. "She loves what she's doing, she's always checking in with everyone, not just with other actors, but with the craft service person, 'Are you okay?' She's so maternal in that way. And it's really not an exaggeration, but it creates an environment where you really feel supported."

"For me, it's like, ok, it's pretty great to have Chad and Benjamin vying for your attention," Brooke adds. "To be this age of an actress and sort of be like, 'Oh my God, not one but two of them get to fight for me?' Like, that's sweet and funny."

"I have worked with men in the past and they're threatened by a female lead or there's a delicate nature to it," she continues more seriously. "It's tricky. And you see these two beautiful men who take their job really seriously bring brilliant nuance to the dramatic scenes, the funny scenes, all of that, who are okay also being a bit more of an object of desire as well. I mean, the slow motion of [Chad] putting spray on his body and [Benjamin] coming out of the shower, it's something that you don't see a lot, you usually see it in the reverse."

"Feel free to objectify any time," Benjamin jokes. "If Brooke is gonna [do it] I have zero issue with that."

“I feel great. I’m somewhat reluctant to share very much about my personal life ‘cause I feel like so much has already been shared, but it just seems like I needed to do this,” Whoopi said when I ask her how she’s feeling about sharing a very special part of her heart with readers. “I try to listen to my instincts and everything said, ‘Now’s the time. You might as well do it,’ and so I wrote it,” she continued.

And while that passionate impetus ignited the flame, she also admitted that she was beginning to forget things, so she wanted to make sure she remembering as much as she can by telling these stories now.

One thing that hasn’t changed for the actress is how much she sees and hears her mother, not just in herself, but in other family members. “I see it all the time. I hear her, and now my grandkids hear her as well. I have a great-granddaughter — who’s 10 and never got to meet my mother — but my oldest granddaughter talks to her like she is my mother,” she said with a fond smile. It never ceases to amaze me how connected we are to our ancestors even if we’ve never had the pleasure of being in their company.

Whoopi feels incredibly fortunate she was able to have grown up in a household where her mother and brother were. “Listen, I’m really lucky that she was my mother. I feel like it was a good pairing. Same with my brother. I just don’t know what life would’ve been like had I been born to different people with all of my idiosyncrasies,” she said.

And that’s one of the things that stood out to me throughout Bits and Pieces. Whoopi’s mother truly created an environment that fostered the individual personalities of her children, while also teaching them valuable lessons that still live within Whoopi today.

“Most of my being is a product of growing up in this particular household; how I listen to people, why I listen to people, how I will and will not allow people to speak to me,” she stated without hesitation, “All of these things that go into her raising children who were aware of themselves and where they might fit in the universe, and her knowing the universe was much bigger than even she understood, so that I could end up anywhere on any planet; the same with my brother. We could end up anywhere and we’d be alright.”

Her mother also made sure that Whoopi and her brother knew not to judge people at first glance until you actually spent time with them, and to be unafraid to disagree with people. “If people don’t want to be your friend after you disagree, then they’re not people for you to be with,” she shared.

The other thing Whoopi recalls about her mother is how intentional she was about not allowing herself to be boxed in by her circumstances as if they were the beginning and ending point of her life. “She just never would accept the world other people kept trying to put her in. She was like, ‘Look, I will do whatever I need to do to get away from this and elevate myself.’ Her attitude was if you’re not curious, you’re not living,” Whoopi said.

The more we talked, the more she expressed her gratitude for her mother and brother again. “I don’t know how it could’ve been any better,” she said with pride. “We were three strange people who really loved each other and because she [her mother] loved us, we knew we weren't different like people thought we were,” she reiterated.

She then briefly addressed her dyslexia with me. While that could bring many down — especially actors young in their career — Whoopi's didn't.

“Dyslexia didn’t mean I was not smart. Dyslexia meant that I perceived things differently. She [Whoopi's mother] said, ‘There’s nothing wrong with that. You just have to get used to teaching people because they don’t know how to listen the way you do. You’re listening with different ears. You have to know that everyone is trying to absorb the information that’s out there, but we don’t all hear it the same way…’” Whoopi pointed out.

Before our conversation comes to a close, I can’t help but talk about our shared love of all things horror. I literally clapped with delight when I came to the part in the book where she mentions it because it’s something I used to think I had to apologize for as a kid.

Yet, here’s this monumental actress who loves the genre just as much. When I ask her which three horror movies she’d watch back to back, she lit up before saying, “The Haunting — Robert Wise’s version, The Exorcist — a quintessential horror movie in her opinion, and Poltergeist, or Nightmare on Elm Street.”

She recalled that horror movies used to come on television every Saturday night, and she’d watch them because she was too young to go to parties. “I love all of the old Universal monsters, all the Hammer monsters. I want a movie about all of them.”

When she’s not watching horror movies, Whoopi feeds her imagination by listening to audiobooks at night. She said, “For me, imagination still comes from someone telling me a story and I can end up wherever I end up in the book.” As far as whether people allow themselves to be in touch with their inner child, she said people can lose it because they don’t realize how important that inner child plays.

“But they find it. They go looking for it,” she said with that familiar smile I can’t believe has followed me from my television to my computer screen.

Based on our conversation and the way she poured her love into Bits and Pieces, it’s easy to understand that the timing of her memoir couldn’t be more perfect — that intention plus action matters.

My own childhood is full of memories where my mother and older sister were the center of my universe. For a while, it was just the three of us in our small home before my stepdad and stepbrother came into the picture. The days spent with with them consisted of free trips to the library, Wild Adventures, feeding ducks at Lake Ella in Tallahassee, Florida, and so much more — not that different from Whoopi's days with her family.

It's always heartwarming when you get a chance to talk to other people and realize that our experiences aren't always that different. It's why I can confidently say that readers will be surprised at how full their hearts are by the time they reach the last page of Bits and Pieces. It’s a beautiful look at not just Whoopi's soul, but the endearing moments she shared with her family, her ancestry, and ultimately with all of us along the way.

Pre-Order Whoopi Goldberg's Memoir "Bits and Pieces" Today:

Bits and Pieces

Be sure you order your copy of Whoopi Goldberg's memoir Bits and Pieces today. You're truly in for a treat — and just in time for Mother's Day!

What causes weak fingernails?

But first, what causes unhealthy, brittle, breakable nails? A lot of factors that may not instantly come to mind. According to WebMD, these factors can contribute to weak nails:

• Aging: As we get older, our nails get thinner and can crack or peel.
• Harsh nail products: Both nail polish and nail polish remover can have strong chemicals that can damage and dry out your nails, leading them to break.
• Wet nails: Consistently have your hands in water, maybe doing the dishes or bathtime for the kids? This could be drying out your nails.
• Underlying health issues: Vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune diseases, and many other health issues could be the cause of nails breaking.

How can I strengthen my nails?

Dealing with some of these factors? While we can’t help you with the underlying health issues (please see a doctor if you think you may be dealing with something!), there are many easy things you can do to improve your nails and encourage growth.

• Cuticle oil
• Biotin
• Diet
• Nail protection
• Avoid picking and peeling

Find a Cuticle Oil

You may only use cuticle oil when your manicurist applies it, but that doesn't have to be the case. Cuticle oils are an inexpensive and easy way to promote nail health and growth by keeping your nails hydrated. Cosmetically, cuticle oils encourage longer-lasting manis and leave your nails looking shiny and polished. But they do much more below the surface: cuticle oils create a healthier environment that allows strong growth for your nails.

Interested in adding cuticle oil to your beauty routine? Check our a few of my faves:

• Cuccio Naturale Revitalizing- Hydrating Oil
• Olive & June Cuticle Serum
• OPI ProSpa Nail and Cuticle Oil

Explore Biotin

Biotin is an important type of B vitamin that helps our bodies turn food into energy. It’s also one of the top recommended supplements for hair and nail growth, and for good reason. Many scientists say a daily biotin supplement can improve nail strength in as little as a few weeks.

“Since it is water soluble, biotin (or vitamin B7) can’t be stored in the body and must be acquired from diet or through supplementation,” shared Rachel Kilroy, Director of Product Innovation at Solaray, the original pioneers in supplement health and wellness. Solaray has developed a new supplement that provides biotin in a unique way.

“Solaray’s Timed Release Biotin strategically supports nail health with a powerful 5,000 mcg of this important nutrient, delivering half of the biotin rapidly and the other half gradually over a period of up to 8 hours for sustained support,” Kilroy continued. “With consistent use, this vegan formula—lab verified for purity and potency—can provide comprehensive support for longer, stronger nails.”

Supplements not your thing? Biotin can be found naturally in many foods, like cooked eggs, whole grains, soy and other beans, nuts and nut butters, salmon, mushrooms, and cauliflower.

Eat A Nail Friendly Diet

Nails require a balanced, healthy diet for proper growth and strength. According to Medical News Today, making small tweaks to your diet can make a big impact on your nails. Adding in nutrients like more iron or calcium in your diet will have your nails growing long and strong.

Dieticians recommend a colorful diet for nail growth consisting of colorful fruits and veggies, nuts, seeds, eggs, lean meat, avocado, sweet potato, and whole grains.

Protect Your Nails While Wet

Constantly doing dishes, managing bath time, gardening, or swimming? The water may be the cause of your breakage.

Your nails are like sponges, constantly expanding and contracting when water goes in or out of the nail cells. This can strain your nails, causing them to weaken, peel, and then break.

When possible, grab a pair of rubber gloves to wear while cleaning to protect your nails from the water and make sure to fully dry your nails after they’re in water. Hand creams are also a win for your nails after water exposure.

Avoid Picking, Peeling or Biting

Bad habits that are addicting. While peeling off your gel manicure can be so satisfying, it’s one of the worst things you can do for your nails. Same with constantly picking or biting your nails. As someone who used to constantly bite her nails down, I can assure you my nails are much healthier and stronger after kicking that habit.

Want to quit that habit? Try a nail bite deterrent, like this one from ella+mia or this one from LONDONTOWN and watch your nails grow before your eyes.