I'm so highly competitive: I just want to win.
— Busy Philipps
I went to public high school in Scottsdale, Arizona, and I certainly wore a lot of makeup in high school. I experimented with a cat eye for a semester, and then, you know, a strong red lip because Courtney Love in Hole was all the rage.
I think people find a lot to relate to in my social media, being a mom, and trying to live my best life, and I'm a fan of Oprah and other things people are fans of, and my heart breaks when there are tragedies, like everyone else, and I want to help.
I try to be aware of my kids' autonomy in terms of my Instagram, but I do post them a lot. I would never want to post something that would embarrass them or that later they'd feel some sort of shame for.
You just have to focus on what's really important in life, and that's your friends and your family and the life that you build.
As an actor, it's always fun when you're able to feel like there's freedom to explore things and try out jokes and be funny.
Everybody asks me questions about the inside of James Franco's mouth.
I'm flattered that people want to hear me talk about nothing.
I love proving that I can do something.
I love Banana Boat's brand. They don't test on animals; they're natural. Their kids' products are amazing.
It is important to give your kids that individualized attention while also making time for your marriage and for yourself.
I'm a big believer in letting kids have as much responsibility as you can give them in terms of helping around the house and getting themselves dressed.
Very quickly, kids take your plan and say, 'Ha!' so you have to learn to be adaptable, or you will be literally miserable.
I talk a lot. I'm very decisive.
I'm an actor who works, and a lot of this is luck for me, that I get to be a part of really great shows that have these cult followings.
It's hard to find a way to be good to your husband, be good to your kid, and be good to yourself.
Ever since I was a teenager, I always had a very strong sense of my own personal style. Kind of for better or for worse - actually I don't think it's ever been for worse. The way that I dress has always been a pretty accurate reflection of my personality and my life.
I love Mexican food.
When I was a teenager, I used to watch 'Beverly Hills 90210' - which is totally aging myself - and I'd try to recreate the makeup that they did on Jennie Garth at home.
As parents, you want to try to mitigate your children's pain.
In your early 20s, it was maybe acceptable to have a friend who was taking all of your time and energy and exhausting you and always a drama. When you're in your 30s, or you're starting to have babies, you just can't put up with it anymore, and that's okay, because I think your priorities shift.
I've always liked being funny and making people laugh. I was a cut-up when I was a kid and was always doing bits for my friends and family. I remember doing pratfalls on the playground in fourth grade for my friend and really hurting my hip.
I just like working with people that I respect and think are really funny.
I remember dealing with bullies in high school and being put down because I was different.
Honestly, I don't have time for a lot of TV. And it's unfortunate, because I love TV.
If you're not in a place where you're grateful that your show keeps getting renewed, and you can't figure out a way to keep it fresh, you should pick another career.
I make sure that I'm not focused on other things when I'm spending time with my children.
It's not all Instagram worthy!
I called my mom sobbing when Birdie was a few months old and said, 'I'm sorry. All this time, I had no idea how much you loved me.'
It can feel isolating to be a mom. I've been one and felt isolated.
Six years of your life is a long time to do anything, and especially in this business, where you get so used to being nomadic and moving on to different jobs.
As a television actor, when we work in TV, what we're doing is making a product so that networks can sell ad space.
It's sad to me we can't be in a place where we can acknowledge we're all doing our best and respect the decisions other women make and even offer to help out.
A dress is so great because you can grab a dress, then you either wear it with tights or no tights, depending on what the weather is outside. You can throw a little jacket over it; you can take the jacket off. It's very easy.
I've been going to the same dermatologist since I was on 'Freaks and Geeks.'
I'm really into makeup. I love it! I think it's so trendy to be like, 'Oh, I don't ever wear makeup,' but it's super fun, and I've always enjoyed it.
In public, when my kids have not been behaving great - because that's life, my kids are not perfect, okay - I've noticed other people watching me. And I felt judged, because I'm obviously in the public eye. So that's been hard.
For the most part, these awards shows, while they are fun, they're high-pressure for the people who are nominated and for those walking the red carpet.
My husband has no desire to work with me; don't get it twisted. He gets paid a lot of money to write giant movies. He's not into humoring me with my projects. But, that being said, I did have the story credit on 'Blades of Glory,' and writing is something that I've always been interested in pursuing more.
I love that we've chipped away at the celluloid closet and have wonderful programs that feature gay and lesbian characters in really rich, fully developed ways.
It's nice to have the support of the LGBT community, because they're loyal, and they'll follow you down any career path.
The idea that we all have to be Pinterest-perfect, killing it on all fronts, drinking our probiotics, remembering to have Rishi, and putting all these things in our kids' lunches - there's a lot of pressure to do all of the things. And we can't do all of the things. I can do a few things, and I've got them nailed. I think that's more realistic.
I wanted a half-hour, single-camera comedy with a great lead where I could be No. 2 or 3 on the call sheet, and it was going to get on the air. Those were my criteria, and they sent me 'Cougar Town.' I read it and loved it.
I have had moments where I've felt like, 'I'm going to feel a little guilty if I don't put the baby down for her nap today, but I really need to go to that spin class. And that's good for my health and my mental well-being, so I think the nanny can put her down for her nap, and I'm going to be OK with that.'
I have my own grown-up versions of temper tantrums, too. I have a hard time not getting hurt when my kids have meltdowns.
I had really specific ideas of what kind of mom I was going to be and what kind of things I was going to provide for my child - even down to the organic, wooden toys Birdie was going to be allowed to chew on. Then cut to my daughter being obsessed with every plastic, 99-cent store toy.
There's no one right way to be a person, we're all just doing our best. So the same thing should apply to parenting and raising your children and the things you go through.
Anybody who works with me knows this: I always repeat wardrobe in my characters. We're trying to play real people.
I certainly know women who had children, quit their jobs, and still have full-time nannies. That's who these women are: Even to the detriment of their own relationship with their kids, they want to appear perfect Martha Stewart moms.
This isn't just 'Scrubs' with new actors. 'Cougar Town' has a heart to it that's all its own.
