I’ve lived in Austin, TX for 9 months now (time flies!), and I can honestly say, I’m not sure how long I’ll be here. Don’t get me wrong, in general, Austin is pretty freaking cool, but I just don’t know if I’m ready to say, yes, this is the place I’ll be for the rest […]
MoreTODAY is the first day of the BEST weekend ever: Hangout Fest. So, here I am in Orange Beach, ready to get this party started! This is my third year at Hangout, and every year, there’s so many things I look forward to: sipping vodka tonics in the white sand, consuming endless amounts of fried […]
MoreI’m heading to the beach TOMORROW, and yes, this makeup junkie is not leaving home without her stash of cosmetics. I know what you’re thinking – ugh, don’t be THAT girl at the beach. In all truth, I don’t think I’ve ever been to the beach wearing makeup, but I think I’ve just reached a […]
MoreThat’s right, it’s another installment of Blanche’s (non-committal) Book Club! Over the weekend, I finished reading “The Silkworm” by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling’s pen name), and wow was it a great read! “The Silkworm” is the second book in the Cormoran Strike series; where there are currently three books. I would definitely not complain if […]
MoreAs many of you know, I’m currently on the road to getting tan… or at least, I’m trying to be. Awhile ago, I tried St. Tropez’s gradual in-shower tan, and that really didn’t do much (get the full scoop here) for me. So, I have still been on the hunt for the perfect sunless tanner. […]
MoreLast week, I wrote two different posts mentioning a podcast I’ve been listening to. And in one of the posts, I referred to the hosts as bros. This term, “bro” was not taken very well by said hosts, who called me out on Twitter, saying it was a “patently ridiculous” way of describing him. Wait, […]
MoreA few days ago, I finally watched “Nothing Left Unsaid: Gloria Vanderbilt and Anderson Cooper”, a documentary on HBO. I set it to record on the night in premiered in early April, after hearing about it on CBS Sunday Morning. I absolutely love Anderson Cooper, but never knew much about his family, other than the […]
MoreAh Monday, we meet again. This weekend was a decent one, although too short, per usual. But I feel like a lot of things “finally” happened this weekend. Simple things, but they finally occurred. I kicked off my weekend by finally using a coupon for a free meal at Chipotle. I didn’t really celebrate Cinco […]
MoreAs you may recall, I’ve recently become obsessed with podcasts. I listen to them all day, Monday-Friday, and I’ve caught up on most of the archives, so I’m finally at a point where I’m looking forward to new episodes each week. I started off listening to around five podcasts (catch my original list here), but […]
MoreThat’s right, forget summer (not really), ’cause I’ve got fall fashion on the brain. I’m totally blaming “The Real Housewives of New York” for this. Did you guys see last week’s episode? If not, Bethenny threw a birthday party for herself at her fabulous Hampton’s home (so jealous) and it was an outdoor BBQ, complete […]
MoreA few weeks ago, I got a survey from my apartment complex about how I liked living there. I decided to take it, because, well, there’s a few things the apartment could stand to fix. While I like my actual apartment, I felt I got screwed on some of the amenities and they make it […]
MoreLast week at work was quite a doozie – I don’t want to go into details, but let’s just say our staff is dwindling. All for respectable reasons, but it’s always a little sad, and hectic, when people move on. I always look forward to Friday, but last week held an exceptional urge to get […]
MoreSo, Justin Bieber looks like Zack Morris. Like, how did I not notice this before?? This recent, and quite amazing discovery came last week during a random (and kind of drunk) homemade marathon of “Saved By The Bell”. For the first time, I thought, “Damn, Zack is kind of HOT!”…and then I was feeling like […]
MoreI never really know how to handle losses like these on this blog. After all, I didn’t know Prince personally (no one I know did – if you did, let me know), I never saw him in concert, and I cannot rattle of facts about him like I could for John Mayer, or say, Amy […]
More“I feel like a majority of my life is me just pretending like I don’t hate everything.” Sad, but true, I told my friend about a month ago. I’m in a constant search of happiness, and I’ll be searching until I find it. As I mentioned before, I’m still obsessed with listening to podcasts and many […]
MoreI’m not really sure what the Republicans are thinking, but then again, when do I EVER know, or understand, or really care what’s going on there? Meh. But in general, y’all have lost it. We put up with Bush. But Trump? No ma’am. That shit is no joke. Like I am moving overseas if this […]
MoreThat’s right, I’ve been taking Cheerobics. It’s a class offered at the dance studio I’ve been with for six months – they have tons of different types of classes including ballet, jazz, modern, and funk, but I mostly take the hip-hop classes. However, I kept seeing the tail-end of the Cheerobics class as I waited […]
MoreFor the last few months, I’ve been recording episodes of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” on my DVR. There’s only one episode that comes on each week (on Sundays), but I started noticing that, at the end of the show was the beginning few minutes of “Taxi”. I’ve never thought twice about this show in […]
MoreSo, around a month ago I realized two things: 1. I am not really cut out for an “open office” environment. I get really, really distracted, and the sound of other people typing ignites a rage inside my blood that I cannot explain or deal with. And 2., In order to block out all the […]
MoreI know what you’re thinking: “C’mon, Holly, you really don’t have anything better to write about than TOAST?!” And I say, don’t you worry about THAT! If you know me at all, you should see all the crap I’ve got on my list to write about, but I had to interject here and talk about […]
MoreSo… yeah, if you were here yesterday I had to share the news that I’m without a volunteer position (get the scoop here) for the first time in about five years. This means that I’m currently on the hunt for a new volunteer opportunity, and I know there’s lots of choices out there. It’s time […]
MoreOne thing I love about having my own blog is that when I find a new, cool product, I can tell you all about it, my experiences with it, and the best ways to use it. And since my blog is not sponsored in anyway, I can also tell you when a product sucks completely. […]
MoreDid you even KNOW that yes, there is a season of “The Real World” on MTV right now? It’s been on for a few weeks, and I’m pretty much hooked (is anyone shocked)? A few years ago, my friends and I were at Hangout Fest, and MTV was there. One girl said, “Who still watches […]
MoreDare I say “Hook ’em“? Because I am so, SO happy to (finally) announce that my course, Blogging for Beginners is being offered as an informal class at the University of Texas at Austin! Registration started last week, with our first class being held on Wednesday, May 11. My blogging course started at Louisiana State […]
MoreSaturday night, I ventured to Cedar Park Center, home of the Texas Stars hockey team, Austin’s American Hockey League affiliate to the National Hockey League’s Dallas Stars. Hockey has got to be one of my favorite sports, as I grew up at the ice rink, dated a hockey player in high school, and ventured to […]
MoreSo, let’s talk about it: the Britney Spears Sing-a-long at the Alamo Drafthouse. Yes. I went last Saturday night and it was pretty fantastic. I’d heard about it from a coworker, but pretty much everyone I know in Austin (read: 3 people) was busy with other raging Saturday night plans. I wasn’t sure if this […]
MoreIs it just me or is Tuesday night TV pretty much as good as it gets? Probably just me, given that I’m a complete TV junkie. While I’m still pretty wrapped up in “The People vs. O.J. Simpson”, and admittedly, “The Voice”, last Tuesday E! premiered “LA Clippers Dance Squad”, as in a completely behind-the-scenes […]
MoreEvery other Friday, I take an alternate route home from the office. It’s a few miles west of where I live, toward a place Texans call Hill Country. And it is beautiful. The road overlooks dozens of homes made of stucco, usually sitting under a colorful sunset. If you’re new here, you should know that […]
MoreThe following was written based on memories (many of which involve vodka). Names have been changed to protect the author. Catch up on parts one, two, three, and four here. Eric’s message was loaded, and it upset me so much, it was difficult to unpack. But let’s do it, right here: I was not jumping to […]
MoreBa-da-da-da-da!!!! Today is kitty Blanche’s 3rd birthday, so naturally, Blanche and I are sleeping off our raging hangovers (she’s 21 in cat years now, y’all). No, actually, I’m at work and Blanche gets to stay at home, living the life of luxury all day. Lucky duck! To celebrate, Blanche got a special helping of soft […]
MoreI’ll be honest with you, I thought the podcast was dead. Remember when they first came out? If not, it was 2004, and McDonald’s (yummm) was the first to utter the word via print publication (The Guardian newspaper). Podcasts debuted in conjunction with iPods, because people were using their iPods to listen to and create […]
MoreThat’s right, before this weekend, I hadn’t seen “The Breakfast Club” in its entirety. I knew the general plot, and had seen parts of it, but never actually paid attention to it. So on Saturday morning, I started watching it before I headed out for the day. I was excited to see it, given it’s […]
MoreEarly last week, I randomly decided to join Periscope – the live video social media platform. I didn’t have much of a reason for joining other than I wanted to see what it was all about. I’ve heard of people (mostly celebrities or well-known personalities) using the ‘scope for an interview-like setting. Why? Well, because […]
MoreMy great friend Sheena agreed to write a review of “Fuller House” for The Bitter Lemon in trade for SnapChats of me singing the theme song. So, I present to you, a complete review of “Fuller House”: I know I can’t be the only one that rushed home Friday evening (read: left work early) to […]
MoreLast week, MTV premiered season 5 of “Catfish” – the show we all know, and have subsequently turned into a verb. If you live under a rock, I’m not sure why you’d be seeking my blog for news and advice, but a Catfish is someone who lies about their identity and often fakes multiple relationships […]
MoreIf Saturday was the official “Love Hangover”, then Sunday was a performance hangover. Let me back this train up and explain. You may or may not recall that I’m making a big effort to step outside of my comfort zone and do more things alone because, well because I don’t know anyone, and I’m not […]
MoreIt’s FRI-DAAAAAY! If you’ve been here all week, I really hope you’ve enjoyed the blog’s fun little twist. I really had a blast writing these posts and I’m so excited for all of the fun, HONEST content that’s coming your way. But enough business talk, and let’s get to the real shit: it’s the freakin’ […]
MoreIntroducing… drumroll… Blanche’s Book Club! I have been thinking for a few months that maaaaybe I should join a book club. After all, it would serve as a way to meet people AND read a few books. But then I realized, finding the right book club actually takes work, and what if they read books […]
MoreAbout two weeks ago, John Mayer announced he was joining SnapChat. The interwebs completely ATE this up, because: 1. SnapChat is for teens, right? And John Mayer is 38. And 2., What happened to all of that jazz about not making a complete fool of yourself online, Mr. Mayer? Well, hell’s bells. I’m 30 and […]
MoreOkay, so who am I kidding? Obviously your guess is as good as mine when it comes to what the hell is going to happen in Season 5 of “Girls”, but it premiers THIS Sunday night, so let’s get to guessing! Here’s what I do know: when we left off in season 4, Shoshanna takes […]
MoreInstead of it being a “Woman You Should Know”, today it’s more about a Women’s Brand You Should Know, because I sat down with Ashley Stewart, just one of the founders behind The Patent Pump, an all-female powerhouse for branding (located in Baton Rouge, LA) that just reached its two-year anniversary. Very cool. So, here’s […]
MoreHello! Monday is back again, but I’m here to lighten things up with a slew of life lessons I have learned from watching the hilarious show, “Workaholics” on Comedy Central. I came across this show randomly about a year ago, and have anticipated every episode since. If you’re not regularly watching, you’ll want to jump […]
MoreValentine’s Day is two days away, and I’m single, very single. I don’t even have a crush and I ALWAYS have a crush. I mean, I’ve still got John Mayer, so no worries there. So, what does a single girl LOVE on Valentine’s Day? Let me tell you what: Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot […]
MoreMany years ago, I bought a plum lip pot from Victoria’s Secret (similar item here). It was so dark in the little jar, but when you put it on, it was sheer, yet bold. I used it up quickly, because it was an incredibly luxe gloss that I absolutely loved. Ever since, I’m always on […]
MoreOkay, so I can’t complain too much about the cold weather, living in Austin, Texas. But I know many of you, my dear readers, are freezing your little butts off this winter. The funny thing about Austin is that I really never know what the weather is going to be like. When I moved here, […]
MoreThis week, it occurred to me that I’m only a few weeks away from having lived in Austin for six months! Can you believe it? It has really flown by. But, I can say that I am finally starting to feel like things are falling into place. I’m learning my way around, finding my groove, […]
MoreIt’s a new year, a new you… could a new job be in store? Or, perhaps you’re considering an entire career change. If you’re new to The Bitter Lemon (Welcome!), let me fill you in: I unexpectedly lost my job at the end of 2014, spent most of 2015 hunting down my dream job, before […]
MoreI’ve been reading the same book for, like, seven months. And it’s not a thick book, it’s an easy, fun read. I’ve just only looked at it about twice. And why? Let me explain that I used to read ALL. THE. TIME. There were years, not long ago, where I read 25 books a year. […]
MoreYeeeeehaawwww – here we are, yet again, on another fine Friday! The good news is you’ve made it through another week… and I have no bad news because it’s FRIDAY. Between work and dance classes, the weeks seem to fly by pretty fast, but the weekends speed right on as well. This weekend, I’m really […]
MoreThe “Winter Blues” are a real thing (often referred to by smarter people as Seasonal Affective Disorder), and I’m here to report that there’s a way to rid yourself of these doldrums and turn that frown upside-down! Truth-be-told, I got to thinking about things that make me happy, and things that make other people happy. […]
MoreEver notice that my Monday posts are about alcohol? Perhaps it’s because I’m fresh off a weekend of partying (not really), that I really don’t want to go back to the office (maybe), or that I just have a drinking problem (perhaps), in general. Eh, who really cares? Last week, I was super jealous of […]
MoreIt’s FRIDAY! I’ve been feeling a bit under the weather this week, so it’s been a struggle to keep up with work, dance, and well, all the other writing shenanigans I’ve got up my sleeve, but I freaking made it! Monday night was the first OFFICIAL dance practice for my performance at the end of […]
MoreOver the holidays, my mom treated me to an afternoon at the spa (Viva Day Spa in downtown, Austin, if you’re curious). We had manis and pedis, but we also enjoyed organic facials. I’ve had many facials in my life, but this one was fantastic! So much so, that I wanted to get some of […]
MoreIf you’re lucky enough to have today off, I’m jealous. But, maybe it’ll give you a chance to whip up a treat for the man in your life, and his best friend – his dog! Even though I’m currently bitter on the guy situation, I’m NOT suggesting men are dogs and we should bake them […]
MoreI am SO, SO happy today is Friday! This week at the office was a doozy, and I’d be lying if I haven’t been emotionally drained sorting out my own emotions simultaneously – you ever have weeks like that? I’m really looking forward to a weekend on the couch, only emerging for trips to the […]
MoreIt’s Thirsty Thursday (uh, so what if I’m 9 years out of college…), so let’s be adult about one thing and NOT have a hangover tomorrow! That’s what we call t-e-a-m-w-o-r-k. For years, my girlfriend and I have been hosting “Ladies Night,” which basically means we eat delicious food, watch trashy TV, and drink multiple […]
MoreEveryone knows I’m obsessed with John Mayer and Justin Bieber – it’s not like I’ve made any sort of effort to keep that a secret. I was riding in the car a few weeks ago when they said on the radio that Mr. Mayer was spotted getting into a car with Katy Perry on New […]
MoreGiven that I did about ZERO reading in 2015, I only asked for one book for Christmas, and it wasn’t even a novel. Instead, I asked for a cookbook, particularly Haylie Duff’s “The Real Girl’s Kitchen,” which serves as a companion to her TV series on the Cooking Channel. Upon getting with the times and […]
MoreWhoop — first blog of 2016! I thought it would feel more weird writing that number, but I feel like I’ve had my eye on 2016 for awhile now. Perhaps it’s just because a majority of my 2015 totally sucked. But it’s a fresh year, and although I feel like I make New Years goals/resolutions […]
MoreOkay folks, it’s New Year’s Eve, and if you’ve been around The Bitter Lemon for a bit, you know I’m not too big on NYE festivities. I don’t exactly know why – I think the main thing that bothers me is that everyone is out to make it the #BestNightEver …and then it just ends […]
MoreHey gang! Anyone else back at work today? I am, and I can already tell it’s not going to be an easy few days before we get another long weekend (how spoiled do I sound right now?). Anyway, I feel like I’m being annoying and beating this course over your head, but this will be […]
MoreIt should come as NO surprise that the holiday season has got me thinking back (pretty sure I love to live in the past). But the interesting thing is that it was a little candle I got in the mail that really sent me down memory lane. A few weeks ago, there was a tea […]
MoreI KNOW there’s a ton of you out there who are SO amped it’s Friday — teachers, worker-folk, I’m sure you’re all ready for the 5 o’clock hour to strike so you can race out the door to not waste a MINUTE of your holiday break. And I don’t blame you one bit. I do […]
MoreThe holidays are here and that means one thing: DRINKS! Okay, so maybe it’s like that ALL year ’round, but let’s pretend like we’re not all functioning drunks, K? Delish.com has put together a list of wines that you’ll love, according to your zodiac sign. And, I’m not sure what the information is based off, […]
MoreI had every intention of posting a sexy little fiction piece today, but when I got out of my dance class (Twerk and Burn) last night, my passenger’s side window had been shattered. The bastard was after an old (very old) Coach laptop bag, and although inside the bag wasn’t a laptop (thank God), there […]
MoreA few weeks ago, we were #Blessed with the release of Justin Bieber’s latest album, “Purpose,” (his 6th number 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart) and I don’t know if y’all understand just HOW excited I was about it! I pre-ordered the album about a month before its release, and waited until midnight the […]
MoreAlmost 100 days ago, many of you sent your well wishes my way when I announced I was starting a new job (again, thank you). And last Wednesday, I completed my “Capstone presentation” at said job — meaning I’ve completed all of my SEO training and am in this gig for good (or at least […]
MoreNope, not talking about the Adele song (dare I say it, but I don’t think it’s that great…). Now that I’ve chased off all the readers, it’s freaking Friday, and I feel like Christmas is right around the corner, and I put up my Christmas tree last night, and even hung the stockings with care. […]
MoreThat’s right, I’ve got cellulite. While it has an oddly nice ring to it, I freaking haaaaate it! I’ll be honest here, I’ve really never had body issues until the last year or so. Part of it came from being a gym rat, and getting obsessive over what I ate and how often I hit […]
MoreRemember last week? Last week, when I was so excited to join Operation Turkey (the North Austin branch) and hundreds of volunteers to serve thousands of homeless people? Well, the actual experience completely blew. Here’s what happened… After I signed my friend and I up for the volunteer job (for which I signed us up […]
MoreWe are just a few days away from Thanksgiving and I’m so, so excited! Thanksgiving means the official start of the holiday season, and of course lots of food and drink, but I’m also looking forward to donating my time Thanksgiving morning. On Thursday morning, my best friend Sheena is joining me to help Operation […]
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