Home Care In Bethany, LA

Bethany Joy Lenz says she was part of a “cult” for 10 years, and she's mentally steeling herself to open up publicly about her experience.

The One Tree Hill alum told her former costars on Monday’s episode of the Drama Queens podcast that she’d write a book about her experience in the undisclosed cult — which captured a decade of her life.

“I was in a cult for 10 years,” she told Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton Morgan. “That would be a really valuable experience to write about, and the recovery — 10 years of recovery after that. So there’s a lot to tell.”

Jana Kramer and Former Costar Bethany Joy Lenz Open Up About 'One Tree Hill' 's 'Very Divided Set'

Lenz, 42, didn’t share any further details about the cult at this time, though she said she writes about the experience privately. When asked by guest host Michaela McManus if she’d like to be an author, Lenz said “for sure.” However, she feels, “the pressure of getting it right and everything having to be exactly real and all the people that are involved.”

The actress added, “Also, I don’t know how much I can say because there are still people and legal things in place that make it more complicated for the timing of that. But I do write. I write all the time.”

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Though Lenz has never publicly identified the “cult” she was a part of, she speaks against other organizations that she sees as potentially problematic messaging. In 2021, Lenz called out the Mosaic Church on her Instagram for alleged negative behaviors. “The hierarchy in this “church”, the level of abuse that I’ve consistently heard goes on behind the scenes and how everything centers around the Leader is textbook 101 of cults,” she wrote in an Instagram caption. “And usually, unless you’re in the inner circle, it’s much harder to spot.”

Lenz said she was only an attendee at the church “on and off for two years.”

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Truly, Bethenny Frankel knows what’s up in the beauty and style-shopping department. She knows the best of the best drugstore picks to get radiant skin, and now, she knows the best drugstore creams that are similar to the $100+ La Mer cream!

In a previous lifestream via New Beauty, Frankel said this $7 drugstore cream is “similar to La Mer.” She added, “I think [this product] started because La Mer makes ‘soft’—they’re very similar products with very similar ingredients. I like Nivea Soft a lot.”

And did we mention, it’s only $7?!

Nivea Soft Refreshingly Soft Moisturizing Cream

$7.19

on Amazon.com

The Nivea Soft Refreshingly Soft Moisturizing Cream is a refreshing and ultra-hydrating cream that you can apply all over your body to have the softest, most supple skin texture. Made with vitamin E and jojoba oil, this moisturizer is good for softening all skin types, both on the face and body. And playing it is so easy since it quickly absorbs anyplace on your body that you put it!

Along with Frankel, shoppers seriously adore this cream! One shopper said, “i love this cream so much it comes in 200ml which will last you a super long time. use this cream after you have exfoliated/cleansed your face and it will feel amazing. i usually exfoliate towards the night time and then apply this cream before i sleep as it works its magic while you’re asleep! 10/10 keeps my skin feeling amazing.”

Another shopper gleefully added, “This lotion is amazing for everyday use. It makes your skin really dewy and hydrated. It also doesn’t make your skin super shiny as other lotions do. I would definitely recommend this lotion.”

Before you go, click here to see the best products for frizzy hair:

With educational excellence being the driving force, a dream of a facility became a reality for Bright Star Schools, Bethany Baptist Church and the Baldwin Bethany Community Development Corporation.

The partnership between the organizations led to the dedication of the permanent home of the Stella Middle Charter Academy, which is located on the campus of Bethany Baptist. Community members, church leaders, school officials and Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas celebrated the academy’s opening during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Feb. 22.

“Today’s celebration represents a remarkable collaboration among various parties, including the partnership between Baldwin Bethany Community Development Corporation (BBCDC), Bright Star Schools and the County of Los Angeles,” said Ridley-Thomas. “It is partnerships such as this that produce transformational results and continue the work to develop today’s youth for tomorrow’s future.”

The road to securing a permanent home for the academy took many years, said Hrag Hamalian, executive director of Bright Star Schools. “The school is 17-years old, but we were not able to get a permanent home for it,” he said. “Thanks to the partnership with Bethany Baptist Church, we were able to construct it. We are very thankful to them and really glad to be in this community.”

Uniting with Bright Star to build Stella Middle Charter Academy also fulfilled the vision of the late Rev. Dr. Rocellia Johnson, the founder of Bethany Baptist. According to Pastor L.A. Kessee and BBCDC Executive Director Rod Miles, Johnson revealed his idea of a school in 1986 to provide activities for youth focused on leadership skills, academic excellence and increasing their future potential.

“He foresaw that we would build an educational building and we acquired the property 10 years later. Now, we are a partner with Bright Star and today, we see that Pastor Johnson’s dream has come to pass,” noted Kessee.

“This was a long time coming, but we have a great partner in Bright Star,” said Miles. “God has blessed us tremendously.” Miles also shared a congratulatory message from Dr. Michael T. Brown, provost and executive vice president of the University of California.

Citing the success of UC’s past partnerships with BBCDC, Brown wrote, “May Bethany and Bright Star continue to cultivate their shared community for many years to come! The University of California is proud to support this endeavor and will do its part to educate, guide and nurture the students who come to us from your programs and schools.”

The program also included remarks by Jane Han, principal of Stella Middle Charter Academy; Albert Lord, deputy to L.A. Council President Emeritus Herb Wesson; and Rosalyn Adams, daughter of Johnson. In addition, Adams received a dedication plaque in honor of her father.

After the program concluded, community leaders and families toured the school as well as enjoyed games, refreshments and vendor booths.

To learn more, visit brightstarschools.org.

AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar --

After nearly five hours of flying above Afghanistan, the call finally came. “Alright guys, the first receivers are about 10 mikes out. Let’s get ready to do this,” announced the KC-135 Stratotanker pilot to his team.

As aircraft quickly approach, the 28th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker’s aircrew carefully complete the necessary checklists to ensure they can accomplish their mission of delivering fuel to U.S. and coalition forces and, in turn, enabling war-winning airpower.

“We provide fuel for warfighters, bombers, transportation and cargo jets,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Jordan Paragoso, a pilot assigned to the 28th EARS. “We also provide fuel for fighters conducting over-watch of U.S. Navy ships and U.S. Army troop movements. By refueling other flying units, we extend their missions and provide them extra time to help our forces on the ground.”

To enable these warfighting capabilities, Stratotankers function with at least a three-person crew consisting of a pilot, copilot and an enlisted in-flight refueling specialist who operates the extended ‘gas pump’ from the tail of the aircraft.

“Success of the mission requires each crew position to understand and be proficient in their own responsibilities,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Joshua Kruenegel, an in-flight refueling specialist assigned to the 28th EARS. “My job is part loadmaster and part refueling expert. What I really love about my job is that I’m a backup for the rest of my team.”

In January 2020 alone, the 28th EARS offloaded approximately 50 million gallons of fuel to U.S. and coalition aircraft, and Kruenegel isn’t the only one who thinks the unit’s success rates reflect their emphasis on teamwork.

“I couldn’t do these missions without the rest of my team,” Paragoso said. “Our crew has such a brotherhood because of how we communicate and trust one another.”

Flying above ever-changing and sometimes hostile areas, the Stratotankers’ aircrew members each have distinct responsibilities, but operate under a system of checks and balances to ensure their safety and mission success.

“When I’m in the back during a refueling, they can’t see and I have to be their eyes, ears and voice,” Kruenegel said. “They put a lot of faith in me to go back there and be successful, because at the end of the day without this jet fuel, aerial missions couldn’t happen.”

It deeply cleans without causing breakouts, rashes, or irritation.

Bethenny Frankel does not hold back when it comes to publicly sharing her candid opinions. Whether she’s spilling hot takes on celeb drama or opening up about her personal life, the entrepreneur and former Real Housewives of New York star always keeps it real with her following. And, in speaking about beauty products, her approach is no different. If there’s one thing we can count on from Frankel, it’s that she’ll be honest about the effectiveness of products whether they’re drugstore finds or high-end customer favorites. The queen of TikTok beauty reviews recently told Shape about her go-to La Roche-Posay cleanser, and it’s just $16 at Amazon.

Not only is Frankel a brand owner and beauty lover, but she’s also a mother to her 12-year-old daughter, Bryn. Frankel said that she’ll only buy gentle products for her tween’s fair, sensitive skin, and when Bryn needed a face wash, Frankel opted for the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Gentle Cleanser. “Little kids’ parents don't really care about what their little kids are putting on their faces because they're tweens and around crappy makeup,” Frankel said, but when it comes to her daughter, she wanted to give her “something that's not going to irritate her or give her a rash.” She trusts that La Roche-Posay is the perfect pick for Bryn’s delicate complexion.

Shop now: $16; amazon.com

The gentle facial cleanser is formulated with skincare hero ingredients including: niacinamide, ceramide-3, and glycerin. This trio, paired with La Roche-Posay’s prebiotic thermal water, works to soothe and hydrate skin while maintaining a healthy skin moisture barrier. The product gently yet deeply cleanses the skin of dirt, makeup, and impurities, and it’s recommended for normal to combination, and dry skin types. Plus, its non-harsh formula is the perfect match for sensitive complexions.

RELATED: Bethenny Frankel's Anti-Aging Skincare Routine Is All About Hydration

Celebrities, teenagers, and those with mature skin alike rave about the cleanser, which has a near-perfect rating on Amazon. One shopper with dry, sensitive, acne-prone skin said it’s hard to find cleansers that work for them, but this La Roche-Posay pick “exceeded [their] expectations.” They went on to compliment its hydrating, breakout-clearing results. Another reviewer said that “within just one use, [they] were sold,” on the face wash, which has a “thick and luxurious,” skin-calming formula. They added that they love the product’s budget-friendly cost, and they’re “already thinking about replacing all [their] other skincare products with [La Roche-Posay],” — including their pricier, high-end alternatives.

As a beauty connoisseur herself, I trust that Frankel buys her daughter nothing but the best when it comes to skincare, which is why I’m adding this face wash to my cart. Check out the rest of the hydrating products she recommends applying after cleansing below. And, don’t wait to shop the popular La Roche-Posay Toleriane Gentle Cleanser directly on Amazon for just $16 before it sells out.

Shop now: $16; amazon.com

Frankel recommends using balms like the Egyptian Magic Skin Cream for ultimate hydration following a gentle cleanser. She warms them in her hands, then layers them with serum, face oil and moisturizer, she said. She says this pick, available on Amazon, is excellent for healing.

Shop now: $34; amazon.com

Another slugging option from Frankel: this L’Oreal Paris Midnight Cream. She loves using this around her eyes and applying it over her other skincare picks to “seal in moisture.” Frankel says these are the products that make others ask her how her complexion looks so hydrated.

So if you’re looking for ever-vibrant skin like Frankel’s, shop these hydrating picks on Amazon today.