When I was 16, I went to see a palm-reader. She lived in a semi-sketchy neighborhood, and when my high-school friend and I knocked on her door, she quickly snapped off an episode of “Full House” before tending to us. As shady as it seemed, she told me a few things that proved to be […]
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 […]
More“When a guy’s really into you, he’s coming upstairs.” It was a simple line that Carrie Bradshaw’s then-boyfriend, Jack, delivered to her friend Miranda when she asked for feedback on a date she recently had. That episode of “Sex and the City” originally aired in July 2003, and sparked an entire movement in dating and […]
MoreI feel like I’m constantly going through, what John Mayer would call a “Quarter-life crisis”, when it comes to the state of my life. A few weeks ago, I talked to you guys about settling when it comes to our careers – what’s realistic and what’s… just the sad truth. “Having it all” is not […]
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 […]
MoreThis is going to come out wrong, but I’ve been really lucky to have friends that don’t pressure me to be in a relationship. Of course, my friends are rooting for me – they hope that one day I’ll find Mr. Right, but until then, they’re cool with the solo me. There have been times […]
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 […]
MoreIn 2012, I read a book that really struck me. The book was “A Silence of Mockingbirds: The Memoir of a Murder” by Karen Spears Zacharias. At the time, the book was the featured reading for a community-wide book club in Baton Rouge. In this large club, the author would come speak. So, I read […]
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 […]
MoreAs much as I hate to admit it, I’ve become addicted to watching “Vanderpump Rules” on Bravo each week. I’ve watched this show since its first season (season four just finished airing) and it’s a show that follows the very petty drama of the employees at an upscale Hollywood restaurant called SUR. One of the […]
MoreI’ve been eating 90% of my meals from Green Chef for the last few months (catch a recap of how much I love it here). To say the least, it’s really convenient, delicious, healthy, and affordable. I’ve really come to rely on that box of ingredients at my doorstep every Friday evening. But last Friday, […]
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 […]
MoreA few weeks ago, I was riding in the car with a coworker on the way to a work event. We started at the company around the same time and were talking about our goals in terms of where we want to be down the road in our careers. She mentioned the fact that we’ve […]
MoreI’d be the fabulous poodle, Georgette, from Disney’s “Oliver and Company”. From the looks of it, Georgette is beautiful, with Lily Ghalichi-esque lashes and a built-in blue fur stole to warm her slim shoulders. I’ve always loved performing, so her career as a prize-winning show dog is right up my alley. As Jenny’s first pet, […]
MoreA few weeks ago, I got into a pretty nasty argument with the guy I was “talking” to. Needless to say, we aren’t talking anymore; I even blocked his number. Our argument was so ridiculous, I don’t know if I’ve ever been so mad in my life. I was shaking, and spitting off insults about […]
MoreIt’s been a little more than a month since I went through a… well, I wouldn’t call it a breakup since we weren’t officially together…but let’s just say it was a broken heart, because that’s what it feels like. Every time something like this happens, I’m reminded just how much it sucks. Big time. My […]
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 […]
MoreI woke up, pissed as all hell. It was a Saturday morning, I’d slept in, and for some reason I was in a fit of rage. I was mad at the guy I’d been talking to, mainly because we weren’t really talking to each other anymore. Six months prior to this ugly Saturday morning, I […]
MoreI recently became obsessed with podcasts. There’s about six that I listen to regularly, including “The Jillian Michaels’ Show”. You may remember Michaels as one of the trainers on “The Biggest Loser”. Her podcast is a mix of fitness and health tips, along with life lessons and relationship advice. A few episodes ago, they had […]
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 […]
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 […]
MoreHelloooooo! It’s been a hot minute since I featured two of my favorite pieces of this blog: “Celeb Crush” and a “Boyfriend Recipe”, so I figured why not combine the two for something steamy, plussss…. did I mention I have a giveaway? A FREE FOOD giveaway?! Yes!! But before we get into that fun stuff, […]
MoreRecently, MTV premiered season five of “Catfish”, the show that’s become synonymous with online dating failures. “Catfish” was introduced to the world in 2010 as a documentary, starring Photographer Nev Schulman. The film followed Schulman as he indulged in an online relationship with someone across the country, after “meeting” on Facebook. In the film, his […]
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 […]
More“We’re selfish, so all we want is a girl who’s going to listen to everything we say and act like it’s the coolest thing ever.” A guy friend of mine was trying to explain the inner-workings of the male brain to me. I’d just heard on the radio that the #1 reason a man will […]
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 […]
MoreI’ve been single for almost three years. Of course, during these three years, I’ve gone on several dates, and had many flings and crushes. But recently, I’ve found myself in a situation that rarely happens: I don’t even have a crush. As pathetic as it sounds, this thought disappoints me greatly. While I’ve never considered […]
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 […]
MoreThat’s right, I’m here to apologize… for being inauthentic. Don’t worry, I haven’t lied or covered up any big secrets, I just sort of realized that some of the things I’ve been writing about lately have gotten away from the true mission of this blog. And I’m stopping the madness before it gets any further. […]
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 […]
More“What happened to the days of dating someone just because you liked them?” One of my best girlfriends and I were chatting one night about guys; not an uncommon occurrence with us. It was an interesting question, and truthfully, one I hadn’t thought of. But once my mind started to dive into the subject, she […]
MoreI realize I talk a lot about being a recluse and spending my weekends indoors, and well, part of this is because I find great joy in relaxing at my home, in my sweat pants. Another thing is that, since I’m working all week, I spend a majority of my weekend writing, reading, or attempting […]
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 […]
MoreYou probably already know that Valentine’s Day comes from Saint Valentine. But, I need to know how a Saint caused such a giant mess for singletons each year. I took it to Google. An article I found on History.com says the Catholic Church recognizes three saints named Valentine or Valentinus. There is a legend that […]
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, […]
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. […]
MorePeople often say, “When you’re not looking, that’s when it’ll happen.” These people are usually in a relationship. I get it – just when you’re busy getting your life together instead of obsessing over dating, Mr. or Mrs. Right could be eyeing you from afar. It makes sense, but the most difficult thing for me […]
MoreLast week, I was under the weather. It’s been a LONG time since I’ve been sick; I’d like to think it’s because I’ve been really good about taking my vitamins, eating healthy, getting rest, and using my essential oils. But, lots of people in my office have been sick, so despite all of my efforts […]
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 […]
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 […]
MoreIt’s quite possible I’m still coming off a high from such an incredible weekend. I took my first paid-vacation day at the new job on Friday to travel to Kansas City, Missouri. A little random? Kind of. My reasoning was, I got invited to a wedding there. The groom has been a longtime blog reader, turned […]
MoreI LOVE watching CSI. And of course, I’m talking about the original CSI, as in CSI Las Vegas with Grissom only. I refuse to watch any other city/version/cast. I started watching the show with my dad, when it premiered in 2000. Although I hate everything scary, and some of the show does involve grisly murder […]
MoreHappy Friday! As a start to the holiday weekend, I’m so happy to share something special with you guys today — a Q & A with my friend and actress Courtney Clark, who has a role in Jurassic World, which is currently in theaters. Courtney plays the role of “Sarah,” the park announcer who’s now-iconic […]
MoreWhew! These last few weeks (okay, more like MONTHS) have been really rough. If I continue to be honest with you, I have to admit that this has been the most difficult time of my life. I’m overwhelmed with so much confusion, and emotion — there are days I feel fine, some days I feel […]
More“This is a bit out of nowhere but I may be homeless in Baton Rouge tomorrow…” It was a text I got a few weeks ago from a fellow writer friend who was coming in town from states away. He went on to ask if he could stay at my apartment the following night. It […]
MoreWhen my mom was in town a few weeks ago, she treated me to one of my favorite things: TV on DVD. We went to FYE and I ended up with another season of the Mary Tyler Moore show (love it), another season of The Hills (obsessed), and the first season of House of Cards. […]
MoreEvery night, I set my coffee pot to start brewing early the next morning — 5:47 to be exact — it gives me enough time to hit the snooze button once (okay twice) and still have the coffee brewed and ready for me to drink. When I finally get out of bed, I shuffle to […]
MoreI’ve had a houseguest since Saturday. He’s a coworker, and needed a place to stay for a month while he works to save money for his apartment rent come July. He’s 19. Welcome to Hotel Holly. Well, Hotel Holly & Blanche. When my friend said he needed a place to stay, I wanted to help […]
MoreI know so many of you are AMPED that a 3-day weekend is upon us (not for me, but story of my life) — however, I hope y’all have a happy, safe Memorial Day weekend! And please, eat lots of burgers, because I can’t think of anything better than to kick off summer with a […]
MoreYes, I like Green Eggs & Ham, even in a house with a mouse… okay, so not really. When you actually think about it, green eggs and ham sounds super disgusting. Amiright? I know I’ve been a little slow to add to my collection of Boyfriend Recipes lately, and that’s mainly due to the fact […]
MoreIF YOU’RE READING THIS… I’M ON THE BEACH! And in honor of that, what better way to celebrate hot, shirtless dudes by having a scent profile of Abercrombie & Fitch’s elite perfume, Ezra?! I got a bottle of Ezra when I worked at Abercrombie & Fitch in college (stomping grounds for two years), and I’d […]
MoreI spent all of last week with my mom, as she was in town to visit. I hadn’t seen my mom in an entire year! Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to ask off work, so I still had to put in 40 hours while she was here, and a lot of our visiting time was early […]
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