Most people get flustered around the holidays doing their gift shopping, making their lists and checking it twice. Lori Loughlin, best recognized for her role as Rebecca Donaldson Katsopolis on Full House, discusses tips with all of us to make the holiday hustle and bustle a little easier.
Walgreens is teaming up with Loughlin during this holiday season to make our gift-giving craziness possibly a little less crazy. Loughlin, being a mother of two and a busy actress shares these ideas about finding the “little somethings” that spread joy this season.
Aside from tips, she talks about different gifts that Walgreens offers and the gifts she's excited to give this year. When asked what she wants to see under the tree for herself, she has the most delightful response.
If you were wondering what Loughlin has been up to these days in her career, she shares snippets about reuniting with some of her Full House family for Netflix's Fuller House and her projects with the Hallmark Channel. We even take her for a stroll down memory lane.
TheCelebrityCafe.com: It must be really early by you on your end, isn't it?
Lori Loughlin: Yes, it is. Let me tell you what time it is by me. Oh, its about 6:45 a.m. here. You know what, I've been up since like 2:30 a.m. so its like the middle of the day to me now. (Laughs)
TCC: It's a wonderful thing you're doing with Walgreens.
LL: Oh yes, Walgreens. I love Walgreens and I want to get the message out there that this holiday season you can go there to get these wonderful things to bring unexpected joy to your loved ones life and it takes some of the stress off of you because Walgreens is a one-stop-shop, you can go in there and cover a lot of ground from gifts for grandparents, hostess gifts, stocking stuffers... You name it, they got it.
TCC: Fascinating. What gifting ideas do you have that you can you tell others?
LL: One of my favorite gifts are the photo gifts. Let's say you have a grandparent, you can take a picture of a child and put it on a Christmas ornament. That is an amazing gift. It's something they will treasure forever. You can also put a photo on a mug, on a t-shirt, on a calendar, so that's one of my personal favorites. There's also great stocking stuffers. I have a younger daughter who loves make-up. I was on Walgreens.com last night and I was perusing in the beauty section and I saw these really cute make-up brushes and those are perfect for her. I'm going to buy those for her and put them in her stocking. She's going to be so excited.
What else I love about Walgreens is that you can get many amazing items, some for under $25. I think that's an important thing because it's the holidays and we're all watching our money. Gifts can be expensive, so it's just the thought, you can get a great quality gift and its the thought that counts. You're getting someone a gift and you're letting them know what they mean to you. Just reaching out to them and like I said, bringing unexpected joy to those in your lives and I think Walgreens is a great place to go to find so many wonderful items that you need to buy gifts for.
TCC: That's wonderful. You've given me some great ideas.
LL: Yeah, Walgreens is great. Go to you local Walgreens, go online to Walgreens.com, also many stores are open 24 hours. They're staying open later for the holidays. They're trying to make it easier for their customers and take a load off of them and make holiday shopping a little more fun.
TCC: Of course. Now other than your daughter, what other gifts are you thinking of getting for family and friends this holiday season?
LL: The other night I was going out to a Christmas party and I realized that I didn't have a hostess gift so I stopped by Walgreens and got this amazing box of chocolates for the hostess. There's so many items you can pick up. There's music accessories, headphones, speakers. I think that's something my son would really like. He's 24-years-old and he's really into music. There's little somethings that you can find for everybody at Walgreens.
TCC: Wow, definitely one-stop-shop.
LL: It is. It's a place that will help get the stress off. They have great quality items. You don't have to spend a fortune and it will just make your life easier. I love going into Walgreens. Every week there's a new special and there's really good buys, just check it out. There may be something you need or a great gift at a really nice affordable price.
TCC: What do you wish to find under the tree for yourself?
LL: Oh my goodness, I'm pretty easy. I just love being around my family. I actually love giving gifts over getting them. Im truly happy seeing someone get a gift from me, but if someone wants to get me a gift...I'll take a puppy. (Giggles)
TCC: Puppies! I love puppies.
LL: (Laughs) Just gimme a puppy.
During the holidays, it really is about that gift that gives you memories whether its created by you or found in Walgreens. As Loughlin states, "it could be baking some cookies. Letting people know you're thinking of them and it can make them feel special. People just want to feel needed and appreciated. We all do."
Talking to Loughlin about these holiday ideas make me think of important people in my life especially my mom which I told Loughlin at that moment.
LL: Well, then go take a picture of yourself and put it on a Christmas ornament and give it to your mom. (Laughs)
TCC: I'm going to take a moment and take you back now. I have been a fan of your work for years. I used to watch the movie, The New Kids, on VHS all the time.
LL: Wow, VHS, today people are like, "VHS, what is that?"
TCC: The role of Abby to me was that of a young girl who is taught to stand strong and then is put in situations that make her stronger. Did it ever occur to you back then that you would be a role model for some people who seen the film? What memories can you share from back then?
LL: Oh my goodness, you're going back many, many years. I don't think it ever occurred to me that I would be someone's role model, but I like the idea that the character was strong and that she was not intimidated by this tough gang of guys.
I loved working with James Spader and Eric Stoltz. We had some really great actors in the film. It was fun. We were shooting down in Homestead, Florida. I believe that's where we were shooting. I think we were staying at the local Holiday Inn. I remember we were probably in our late teens so it was fun to be on the loose with those guys shooting a film. I remember we had a lot of laughs and a lot of fun. It definitely was a good time.
By the way, I haven't talked about The New Kids in a long time. (Laughs) I mean I get alot of different films, but New Kids is not one that comes up very often.
TCC: Maybe I'm unique. It was one of my favorite movies growing up. I really related to it.
LL: Oh my goodness, that's so funny. What did you like about it? Was it because of these kids standing tall and tough? Could you relate to it? Is that what appealed to you?
TCC: The whole thing was even at a young age, I think I was about feminism and I seen your role in a very different light from other roles out at the time.
LL: That's nice. Well, that's interesting. Thank you for sharing that with me.
TCC: Even though it's been years since Full House has been in production, you will remain Aunt Becky to many. For nostalgia purposes, can fans get a “Wake Up San Francisco” for old times sake?
LL: Wake up, San Francisco (Laughs)
TCC: Full House and the original 90210 were hot shows on prime time in the same decade, when you took on the role of Debbie Wilson in the 90210 reboot, what kind of nostalgia, if any, did you experience?
LL: For 90210? For me, that was like a new show. I didn't watch the original 90210. I was aware of it. I knew all the actors on the show. I think I was a little older, well, older than the demographic watching that show. For whatever reason, I didn't watch it. I actually watched Melrose Place.
When we started out, we had Jennie Garth on the show so that was fun, but again it wasn't like I watched the original and was like oh my gosh. I didn't know any of the story lines. I really wasn't familiar with it.
TCC: Is there talk of expanding your episode appearances on Fuller House?
LL: I have already done three. They did 13 episodes and I did three of them. The Fuller House spin-off is being released I think March 2016. That's kind of a rough idea. It could be earlier or it could be later, but sometime in 2016.
TCC: Can you tell our readers and your fans what your upcoming projects are?
LL: I do a series called When Calls the Heart for Hallmark and we have a two hour movie coming on Dec. 26 which is a Hallmark film and then the series will be back on in February. I also have a Garage Sale mystery movie and that will be on the Hallmark channel Jan. 3, I believe. I have been busy. I have been doing movies and a series for Hallmark.
TCC: It was a pleasure speaking with you and I am sure your fans look forward to seeing you in more work.
LL: Oh thank you. Thank you for having me and don't forget, everyone, go to your nearest Walgreens or go to Walgreens.com and make your shopping a lot easier this holiday season.
Even during the holiday season, celebrities like Loughlin know how crazy the season can get. Take it from the actress and mother who has a busy schedule and still makes time not only to talk to us, but to do her holiday shopping. Listen to her tips and make Walgreens part of your holiday shopping destination this season.
To listen to the interview audio, click below: