As I write this, I’m sitting in Native Cafe — one of my favorite spots along the Gulf, right in Pensacola Beach (I just ordered a stack of peanut butter pancakes, if that helps at all). This morning, I had to say goodbye to my two best friends, and goodbye to a vacation we’ve been […]
MoreI know we still have (technically) another few weeks of summer left, but tomorrow I’m leaving for the beach with my two best friends, to bid another summer adieu. Although I didn’t find love this summer, it was a good one — and fall is really my favorite time of year. Perhaps this fall will […]
MoreSaturday, the mailman dropped a delivery that made my WEEK — a box of my books arrived! I work really hard on all of my books, but I still get really nervous and excited all at once when the box arrives. For Lemon Drops, I really hoped the cover looked as great in-person as it […]
MoreMy job as an editor has its ups and downs, but one of the coolest things I’ve been able to do in the past year, is edit manuscripts. I’ve edited all sorts of different genres, but my favorite books to edit are the romance ones, of course. While all the books I edit aren’t great, […]
MoreToday marks the start of my fifth consecutive week on the Tone It Up Plan, and I’m proud to report that I’ve lost a little more than five pounds since I started! Sticking to a diet and a workout regimen (which involves at least six workouts a week), isn’t easy. But little by little, my […]
MoreFinally! I just know you all have been waiting for the day when you can show the world just how much you love reading The Bitter Lemon, right? That day is finally here! After a few months of designing, and giving myself a crash course in Photoshop, I’ve created Bitter Lemon merchandise with help from […]
MoreI had so much fun sharing all of the contents of my makeup bag with you last month, I decided to dump out my gym bag and give you the scoop on some of my favorite products I use to get my sweat on! Thirty-One Duffel (similar): My mom originally bought this bag for herself, but […]
MoreLast Thursday night, my friend Marcy and I tried a little something different for our usual girls’ night — a try at the popular “Poppin’ Cookin’.” In particular, I purchased the hamburger set (that looks eerily similar to that of McDonalds). What is Poppin Cookin? It’s a Japanese phenomenon, in which people like myself get […]
MoreThe first time I watched Sex & The City, I was a junior in high school, visiting Miami of Ohio, staying with my ex-boyfriend’s sister (oddly enough, we share the same birthday). At the time, I didn’t think much about it, and I know I drifted off to sleep without realizing that I’d just witnessed […]
MoreIt took all week for me to recover from my trip to the midwest, and of course, I had to work — it wasn’t easy getting back into the swing of things. So, when I got home Friday night (after an 8-mile bike ride and an hour of boxing), I wasn’t ashamed to tuck myself […]
MoreNo, I’m not quite cool enough to be featured on an episode of MTV’s Cribs, but yes, that is the inside of my fridge. After an incredible week back home, it’s time for me to detox and get back on a tight diet — I can’t lie, I’ve put on some pounds this summer, and […]
MoreAfter a pretty epic weekend, it was difficult for me to choose one picture to represent it all — but I can never turn down a sunset (hope you’re not getting tired of it). I got to Chicago Friday morning, and meeting up with one of my best friends. After checking into our hotel downtown, […]
MoreGreetings! I am publishing this post while aboard the Amtrak #58, traveling from New Orleans, LA, all the way to Chicago, IL. With more than 900 miles between destinations — I shouldn’t have to tell you that it’s been an interesting ride on the “Spacious Superliner.” Really, this is my first time traveling via train. […]
MoreI have always loved seeing these types of posts in magazines and on beauty blogs, so I thought I’d give it a whirl. I’m not someone who keeps the same thing in my makeup bag every week, as I like to change things up with the seasons, or with my mood. And let’s face it, […]
MoreSaturday night, my friend Liz was celebrating 10 years living in Louisiana! She invited me to join in her celebration — and it felt special, because not only have I been in Louisiana for ten years, too, but I’ve known Liz for most of those years! I asked my friend and gym-influencer, Derek, to join […]
MoreIf you could only see the happy dance I’m doing right now! I am WAY too excited over my brand new library card! This all started many years ago, when I registered to vote in East Baton Rouge Parish. My voting spot is just down the road from my apartment, at a library. The only […]
MoreWe met on a porch swing after a baseball game. He was tall and tan, and his name was Zach. When I got up from the swing, and walked out of earshot, he told my friends he liked what he saw in my white jeans. He looked pretty good in his baseball pants, too. We […]
MoreThis week’s picture is a little different — it’s a throwback… to probably 2001-ish? The photo is of me and one of my best friends, Angela, on the roof of One Lytle Place (or as Angela calls it, One Little Palace) in Cincinnati, Ohio. I picked this for this week’s photo, because today is Angela’s […]
MoreOne of my favorite movies, “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids,” has a scene that I will never forget — probably because I’m guilty of doing this on the reg. It’s the scene where Amy is mopping the kitchen… but really doing more singing, using the mop as her microphone. Whether it’s in my car on […]
MoreI remember having “Money noise” in college. For my first few years at school, I was working at the school paper, making a few dollars, but it was barely enough money to put gas in my car — shopping and pricy bar tabs were out of the question. During my senior year in college, I […]
MoreA few days ago, I was driving to work, and while looking in my rearview mirror, it appeared my foundation had already smudged near the start of my left eyebrow. At a stoplight, I proceeded to blend the smudge with my fingers. I had no luck, and upon closer inspection, I realized that it was […]
MoreEditor’s Note: The contest winner from Tuesday’s Tattly give away is below… Tomorrow around 5 am marks one entire year that I’ve been single. A party of one. I know that when my ex, D, and I broke up, I was miserable. Even though our relationship was not anything good, I had no idea how […]
MoreLast week, I got my monthly subscription from Tattly in the mail, and I realized that although I am always posting pictures of my Tattlys on Twitter, I have never really mentioned them on my blog. …Which is completely foolish, because getting a pack of Tattlys in the mail makes my day (and sometimes my […]
MoreTomorrow marks the official start of summer, even though Baton Rouge has already been sitting in the 90-degree heat for awhile. When I lived in Indiana, I loved summer. Of course, I was in school, so that meant summers off from class, working shifts at the custard shop, cool night drives on winding country roads, […]
MoreI’m about halfway through the summer semester of my blogging class, Blogging for Beginners (through LSU Leisure Courses), and I received a shipment of my “textbooks.” This book, “Blogging For Beginners: 51 Blogging Tips,” is a compilation of the tips I offer on my class blog, Blogging for Beginners. I know, I get really creative […]
MoreYes! I saw The Fault in Our Stars this weekend! After reading the book, and then seeing the previews, I was seriously counting down the days until the movie hit theatres. Although it’s out of character for me, I didn’t go to the midnight premiere, but I did see it on Sunday, and the theatre […]
MoreThis shot glass has been sitting on my counter for weeks — because what are you supposed to do with a gift someone that you thought was boyfriend-potential got you, and then stops talking to you? The options are as follows: Throw it against the wall, hoping it shatters into a billion pieces Drop it […]
MoreAbout a year ago, I fell into a relaxing (okay, more like lazy) routine of laying in bed all Sunday and watching Hallmark movies (on the Hallmark Channel). They are simple and fun, and I enjoy them in the same way I enjoy curling up with a Nicholas Sparks book. But the ultimate perk of […]
MoreLast week was pretty rough — between trying to get my life back together after four days at the beach and a good dose of dating drama (that’s a post for another day) — so I was pleasantly shocked when my FAVORITE guy, John Mayer, dropped this little tune onto my desktop. Ironically, it’s his […]
MoreMy job as a journalist, an editor provides all sorts of opportunities to meet, or talk to people I would have never expected. Last week, I got to listen in on a conference call with The Bachelorette, Andi Dorfman. While I’ve always gotten suckered in to watching The Bachelor — every season I swear I’m […]
MoreOkay, I know it appears that this is simply a picture of an oversized Bud Light can. While I do love a crisp, refreshing Bud Light, what I was trying to capture was the crowd — and the overall scene — beyond the Bud Light. I spent an extended weekend in Gulf Shores, Alabama, for […]
MoreThis weekend, I joined my friends right down the road from my apartment, for the Louisiana International Film Festival. It was the second annual, and honestly, I didn’t give it a second thought until I was at my weekly poetry open mic night, when someone there was giving away free tickets. Why not check it […]
MoreAnd no, I’m not being ultra-witty and taking about a crush that goes up and down. I’m honestly talking about a guy that I see on occasion, but only in my apartment building’s elevator. Yeah, I probably need to get out more. I’ve lived in my building for almost three years, and considering there aren’t […]
MoreThree years ago, I stepped into LA Boxing (now UFC Gym) for the first time to take a free boxing class—I was going to take the class and write a story on it for Dig magazine (read it here). But in the one-hour class, I realized just how out-of-shape I was. I couldn’t even make […]
MoreToday, I say goodbye to my visions/Of marrying/George Clooney Okay, so maybe/I wasn’t picking out a white gown/But rather/White sheets/And/Tiny/Under-wires But still/Drooling over/Your buttoned up/Look/Even though/I’ll take/Buttoned down,/Unbuttoned/… Fuck the buttons Ah, Clooney/Compared to a classic/Chanel suit/That’ll never go out of style I remember you in ER/Dr. Ross/And that’s a given/Because everyone wants/A doctor… Ross […]
MoreThis week was incredible busy, in the best way. However, I did so many fun things, it was difficult for me to pick just one picture that represented my week. Lately, my job has been incredibly stressful, and I feel like I’m not even fun to be around. But just when I started thinking that, […]
MoreI’ve mentioned on here before that I might be a little bit of a workaholic. Carving time out for myself has proven to be quite a challenge this year, and even when I can make it happen, it is tough for me to really enjoy it and not feel guilty about it. But Sunday, all […]
MoreThis question popped into my head when I started writing about relationships for my college newspaper. In the three years I served as “The” relationship columnist, I went on many dates. And sometimes, the men on those dates asked me: “Is this going to be in Monday’s paper?” Chances are, no, it wasn’t. But if […]
MoreAs I’ve mentioned all year, 2014 has proven itself to be the year of my past. Over the weekend, a friend from high school messaged me, and wanted to tell me about his latest “epic” breakup. But when I tried to call him, I got no reply—a pattern I’ve noticed with this old “friend.” And […]
MoreOn Good Friday, I took advantage of the fact that I had the day off from work, and my CASA boys were off of school, picked them up after lunch, and hosted an Easter egg hunt for them. I spent the week leading up to the egg hunt looking for and purchasing baskets (they were […]
More‘Twas the night before my 26th birthday, making it July 1, 2011, in case you’re wondering. I was at the Houston airport on a layover during my trip to Chicago. Things were not so great. I was in a weird place with my then-boyfriend. I don’t even think he was my official boyfriend at the […]
MoreI have a guilty pleasure of admiring the glamorous lives of others from afar, via Instagram. No, I don’t even HAVE an Instagram account, but I’ve managed to find plenty of profiles, and be jealous of their beautiful lives. God, I’m creepy. Anyway, one of the bloggers I follow (and stalk on Instagram) posts all […]
MoreThere are lots of dates I wish my mind would erase. And by dates, I mean months paired with numbered days of the week. Next week, one of those days is on my calendar. When I was a sophomore in college, I was living in my sorority house, and it was the morning of our […]
MoreWhen I got my first apartment (by myself) after college, my mom gave me an extra crock-pot she had, as all I had was a bed, a dresser, and a slew of clothes. It took me years to get enough furniture to make for a decent home, and lots gifts to fill my kitchen with […]
MoreSunday night, I put the final touches on my first major DIY project—a dresser I keep in my bedroom. I got the dresser before my senior year in college—it was purchased from Target and I put it together, and it survived three moves with me, somehow. It’s original color was white, and I always liked […]
MoreLate last year, I entered a blogging contest for Cosmopolitan.com. The prompt was about the most important relationship you had in college, and what you learned from it. I hated to give a guy that title, yet I probably would have won the contest if I had, because, you know…Cosmo. Either way, now it’s here […]
MorePictures like this could probably be my “Pic of the Week” nearly every seven days. I absolutely love (LOVE) bargain shopping, but I particularly love hunting for beauty products at stores like Dollar Tree and Big Lots. Part of this is out of necessity. I just cannot afford, or justify, spending $20-$50 on a single […]
More[Continued from Part I…] About a week later, Jay and I had plans to attend a birthday outing on a party bus with a group of my friends. As I was getting ready, he sent me a text message saying I had actually already met this girl he’d “gone out with” as she was in […]
MoreI am so, so happy to finally (I’ve kept quiet for a week) announce my collaboration with Dig Magazine, Baton Rouge’s alt-weekly. While I have written articles for Dig before, my new project is dear to my heart, as I’ll be writing a fresh column each week, based on my adventures in dating—very similar to […]
MoreLast week, I was so lucky to have my best friends—Angela and Sheena—in town from Indiana. The two of them were deep in winter depression (I’m really believing that’s a thing) and drove the 12 hours South to get to Baton Rouge. While the two of them have visited me several times before, they’d never […]
MoreI’ve had an off-and-on crush on my friend Jay quite possibly since the day we met, which was almost six years ago. He is uniquely handsome, funny, and smart. All of those things, plus a random spark—like bonding over a bandit mask and Wes Anderson movies—drew me to him. Sometimes, our personalities clashed, though (some […]
MoreDuring my final semester in college, I quit my retail job and went to work as a bartender—something that was on my bucket list. As a foodie, I wanted to learn how to craft and serve some of the best cocktails in town. While the hours were rough and the work was difficult, it was […]
MoreWhen I was in 7th grade, I loved the store Limited Too (now known as Justice, I think). It was—and as far as I know, still is—the place where glitter, sequins, and overall cool shit for teenage girls, came to die. It was a real treat to get new clothes from there, but really, I loved […]
MoreI can’t believe that I’ve made it until March without having a picture of my cat, Blanche, featured in this weekly spot. One week from today, my sassy kitty will turn one (yes, I have a gift for her), although I’ve only had her for about eight months. In this short time, she’s become my […]
MoreEarlier this week, one of my former blog students asked me to write a guest blog for her over at: Southern Sass. Below is my post, but give Southern Sass a visit while you’re at it! Want me to write for you? Send me an email: WittyWriter7@gmail.com Every six weeks, the Cinemark theatre downstairs from […]
MoreLast week, my podcast co-host, Ethan, was so kind as to send me a gift: a Snowball Microphone! Currently, Ethan and I are hosting our podcast, Learning From Strangers, for free, but we are investing our time (mostly Ethan’s) and money (again, mostly Ethan’s) into this, hoping it boosts our numbers when it comes to […]
MoreThis year has been “The Year of Holly’s Past,” and if you have read any of this blog, you know that my past, when it comes to dating, is not anything to be proud of. Before the start of 2014, my ex contacted me via email. This ex isn’t my most-recent ex, but one that […]
MoreSunday afternoon, my friend a I took a sewing class at Jo-Ann Fabrics. I’ve never had a huge interest in sewing, but my friend has wanted to learn for the longest time. Each Thursday night, we get together to watch Project Runway, or now, Under The Gunn, and she always says, “I wish I knew […]
MoreMTV’s series, The Hills, has always been a not-so-guilty pleasure for me. I loved watching Laguna Beach, too. And while, I know you all probably think I’m dumb for obsessing over all six seasons of The Hills, not only while it was on TV, but ever since, thanks to my DVD collection—I’ve learned quite a […]
MoreWhen I think of a Valentine, I think of a nice dinner, wine, maybe even a box of chocolates. And, when I put it that way, I can quickly tell you that I’ve never had a Valentine. But when I stop being so goddamn bitter, I know that’s not the entire truth. As a child, […]
MoreWhen you ask me “Why are you single?” What I want to say is, “Why are you so fucking nosy?” But instead I put on a jacket of societal norms And I just Shrug my shoulders And tell you “I just haven’t found the one yet” But if you want my honest opinion… I don’t […]
MoreLast week, I finally got back into a regular routine of participating in an open mic night. But, my journey to the mic has been an interesting one. When I was in college, I was on a mission to get a degree in journalism. But after applying to my university’s journalism school twice, and getting […]
MoreWhen I was younger, weather talk was boring—a sign that you had nothing else to talk about. But, when Al Roker told me the oh-so-frightening Polar Vortex was actually going to break off and come flying toward Baton Rouge at lightening speed, it became the topic of conversation at my office coffee pot. That damn […]
MoreIt’s quite possible that it’s been an entire year since I’ve given myself a moment. A real moment, anyway. At any given minute in a typical day, chances are, I’m working. Whether it’s at my day job, or an underpaid freelance gig. I’m working (even on the weekends). If I’m not working, I’m at the […]
MoreYes, those would be sequined hot pants. Saturday night, my friend was celebrating a birthday and rented a driver and a bus to tote 20 of his friends around to the finest bars in Baton Rouge (read: The Cadillac). We all planned to wear as much black clothing as possible to “mourn” his 40th birthday. […]
MoreRemember that time I thought I had an STD? Oh right, no, because I have yet to share that story yet…so here goes. About two weeks ago, I stepped out of the shower and felt a sting Down There (yes, my lady parts deserve capital letters). Having just shaved, I figured maybe I got a […]
MoreToday is my 7th day living 100% Paleo! I have joined my two best girlfriends in a Paleo Challenge for the month of January. The Paleo diet is high in protein and vegetables, and without dairy, grains, or beans. Of course, no highly processed foods or sugar (except for those in fruits). I’ve actually enjoyed […]
MoreA few nights ago, I got a Facebook alert that I was tagged in a comment by an old friend, Katie. When I looked at the tag, to my surprise, it was a picture of Katie and I, along with our high school dance teammates. The picture is nearly 12 years old. There, in my […]
MoreHappy New Year! Are you back at work today? I am…and it’s a little rough. But before I go back into my regular-posting mode, I wanted to share with you a few things that have been on my mind regarding this blog. I think it’s time to shake it up a little. As I’ve mentioned […]
MoreI’m sure you are familiar with Charles Dickens’ classic, “A Christmas Carol.” One of my favorite parts is when Ebenezer is visited by The Ghost of Christmas Past, which lets him see his childhood, which was lonely, however he also sees a joyful Christmas party that quickly turned somber when his fiancée leaves him after […]
MoreI know tomorrow is Christmas Eve, making today Christmas Eve-Eve, so this list of my “Holiday Favorites” is a liiiiiitle late. But hey, Christmas came early this year, right? Anyway, here’s a few things I love about the holiday season: 1. Holiday scents. Of course I love buying holiday candles that make my home smell […]
MoreAs the new year approaches, my brain has been brewing up all sorts of new places that I want to take this blog. For three years, the main focus of this blog has been relationships (which it will always be), but I have other passions, too! One of them is baking, and often, I swap […]
MoreI’ve got a new project. Am I crazy? Does it always seem like I’ve got a new project? I will admit, it is a fault of mine that I’m always kind of all over the place. Welcome to the life of a creative—my mind is always buzzing, and in the words of Miley Cyrus, “We […]
MoreDo you watch Ke$ha’s show on MTV, “My Crazy, Beautiful Life?” I watched most of it last season and I try to catch it when I can this season (it’s on MTV, Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m.C). A few weeks ago, the episode followed Ke$ha as she helped her best friend’s boyfriend search for the perfect […]
MoreI’m not a big fan of Taylor Swift. But every now and then, she’ll come out with a song that gets stuck in my head or, in this case, strikes a chord with me. Enter, “Everything Has Changed” featuring Ed Sheeran. The song, as interpreted by me, is about two people who go from friends […]
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