Last night, we watched something fabulous on PBS called Pioneers of Television: Funny Ladies. I found it both inspiring and also rather disheartening… how did we go from I Love Lucy & Mary Tyler Moore to Here Comes Honey Boo Boo? (And, for that matter, does anyone else remember when TLC really was The Learning Channel?) Anyway, all that to say, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to draw on a little inspiration from one of my favorite ladies of the past: Lucille Ball.

1.) Whoever said blondes have more fun was dead wrong! Having been many colors of the rainbow myself, I can definitely vouch for the redhead. Despite what Anne Shirley would tell you, everyone should embrace the fun & carefree spirit of red hair at least once!

“Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead.”

Also on that note…

2.) If you are lucky enough to find your signature look young, stick with it. Lucy was not a redhead until she was 32 when she dyed her hair to a flaming red after getting a part in a new MGM picture. However, she was smart enough to know a good thing when she found it and suddenly she went from being known as “Queen of the B’s” (seriously: check out imdb… the girl could own a B movie) to the *Lucy* that we all know and love.

“The more things you do, the more you can do.”

“I’m not funny. What I am is brave.”

3.) Always be willing to try new things. Say what you like about Lucy, but she was never known as ‘timid.’ If only we were all so brave.

“I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.”

4.) Play the part of devoted wife. This involves patience with your husband when starts pontificating in Spanish, regular visits to the salon, cute aprons and, of course, putting on your pearls & a fresh coat of lipstick before he gets home!

“How I Love Lucy was born? We decided that instead of divorce lawyers profiting from our mistakes, we’d profit from them.”

5.) No one will ever love you like your pup, so why not have 2?

“The more things you do, the more you can do.”

6.) She may have been a screwball comic, but she was also a great fashionista! Think polka dots, scarves & bedazzled horn-rimmed glasses. Just remember, ladies don’t smoke… and those that do catch their fake noses on fire.

“It’s a helluva start, being able to recognize what makes you happy.”

7.) Share your successes with your friends. While Lucille Ball was initially stand-offish about the casting of Vivian Vance as her sidekick Ethel Mertz, the 2 quickly became friends and remained close until Vance’s death in 1979. (One random fact that’s worth noting: Vance was around Lucy’s age and was really quite a looker so on the show she was made to wear frumpier clothing so that the 2 contrasted a little better.)

“One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn’ t pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself.”