breakup
The other side of heartbreak.
I promised I’d fill you in on my love life as of late, and well, I’m a woman of my word. And yeah, I’m going to somehow try and explain this as honestly as possible, without going off the deep end. Here goes. I’ve known this guy for 16+ years (ugh, I’m so old), and […]
MoreThings I’d tell you if I could.
If we were talking, there’s so many things I’d tell you; but I know the chances of that happening are slim-to-none, and for good reason. I’d like to think that our hurtful actions toward each other came from places we don’t venture often; places of anger and insecurity. But nevertheless, we are here, apart, not […]
MoreSorry don’t make it right.
When I was in elementary school, I had this board game called “Forbidden Bridge”. The concept was pretty simple: get your plastic hiker safely across the tattered bridge and, in return, you were rewarded with red, plastic jewels. The catch? The bridge was controlled by an evil statue that came to life at the unlucky […]
MoreMaybe we’re all to blame…
A 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 […]
MoreLosing hope is easy.
It’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 […]
MoreYou got exactly what you asked for.
Every 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 […]
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Coping with the split: Gavin & Gwen.
I swear I didn’t intend for these “coping” posts to become a series, but what the hell, Hollywood? Why is everyone I love breaking up? I cannot take it! Yes, I was sad and disappointed when we heard the news about Blake and Miranda (read the guide on How to Cope), but this — Gavin […]
MoreLearning to Forgive.
“I definitely miss talking to you,” his text read. “I have some things in my past I need to work on. I took it out on you and I sincerely apologize.” Those were the words I’d wished for, for months after this guy told me he didn’t want to talk to me again, with no […]
MoreCeleb crush: Nick Jonas.
Good morning! If you’re in need of a “Hot Guy” does, I’m your gal. If you’re new to the blog, welcome. The Bitter Lemon has been providing pictures of hot dudes for those in need since 2010. My latest celeb crush is Nick Jonas. Truth be told, I never aid a bit of attention to […]
MoreSingletons do Baby Showers.
Last weekend, I drove the 800 miles to my home state of Indiana. I was invited to a baby shower for one of my best friends; a girl I’ve known since 6th grade. In December, I offered to host a shower for her, but she told me it would be easier for her other friends […]
MoreAbout that spark…
I’ve been on OK Cupid for almost a year. It’s not my favorite way to meet a potential boyfriend, but I just look at it as having another stick in the fire. A few weeks ago, I met up with guy no. four from Ok Cupid. We messaged for a few weeks before meeting face-to-face, […]
MorePic of the Week.
I spent a decent amount of my weekend driving to and from Indiana. I got up Friday morning around 3am and drove the 12 hours to Bloomington, spent Saturday attending baby showers, treated myself to a day of Sunday drinking, and hit the road Monday morning at 4:30 to make it back to Baton Rouge. […]
MoreBecoming Strangers.
I’ve had a crush on this guy, Brian, for more than10 years. He went to my high school, and last year we reconnected. He lives in Indiana, and we had a date night when I was in town last summer. It was fantastic. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wonder about the potential […]
MorePic of the Week.
I’ve been wearing Younique Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes all week! My friend Kendra sells Younique and asked me if I’ve ever tried any of the makeup. I hadn’t. While I’m open to trying new things (I LOVE getting things in the mail, too), I’d heard the Younique products were expensive, and if you know anything […]
MoreIntroducing the friends.
Alright, I’m going to admit that I’m really bad about this whole “Introducing the significant other to your friends” thing. In the past, I get really excited when I meet a new guy and we start hanging out (who doesn’t?), and I want him to meet my friends, whom I love so much. I don’t […]
MoreExes: Married With Children.
Sometime last week, I wandered over to my ex-boyfriend’s Facebook page. It’s something I do when I’m feeling rather low about myself, even though looking at his page usually makes me feel worse. Call me a masochist. Right away, I saw what I figured would be there: his profile picture was a tiny baby. His […]
MoreMe & my bullshit, part two.
Read part one of “Me & my bullshit.” I find a tiny bit (okay, a medium bit) of comfort in recognizing the fact that the road many writers, amateur and professional, travel is one that’s alone. The craft of writing is introspective — even fiction writers often say their stories come from some place real […]
MoreMe & my bullshit, part one.
“You’re the girl from the magazine, right?” he asked. It was a guy I recognized from my gym. I shrugged. “I guess…” I said, not really sure what he meant. “Yeah, you write that bullshit column,” he said. That bullshit column. Three little words that pretty much sum up my insecurities — especially lately. Let […]
MoreOn Baggage: Give Me Back my DVDs.
I watch a lot of TV. Not in the sense of me, sitting on my couch eating popcorn while binging on hours of TV, but if I’m home, my TV is usually on. I’ve got one TV in my living room and one in my bedroom. The one in my living room is a near-60-inch, […]
MoreA Review: ‘Looking for Alaska’.
I’m sad and happy (all at once) to announce that I’ve got NO more John Green books to read! I saved Looking for Alaska for last, because while I was excited to read it, I was also sad knowing that I’d have no more books of Green’s to read! Looking for Alaska was Green’s first […]
MoreThe Lifetime of a Crush.
You know that feeling you get when you start dating someone new? The stomach flip, the tingles, it seems like the sun is shining all the time; it’s exciting and everything seems right. That’s how I feel when I’ve got a crush. This is probably because I don’t know much about those I crush on, […]
MorePic of the Week.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, y’all! Today is probably the busiest day I’ve got planned this week, partly because I’m prepping for a fun little event here at The Bitter Lemon HQ: Drumroll… Starting at midnight tonight, I will be TWEETING the entire contents of my very first book, “How I Fell.” Remember that one? My […]
MoreSurvival Guide: Dieting.
We’re well into March, which means if you had a New Year’s Resolution of “sticking to a healthy diet,” then you’ve probably crashed and burned a few times by now. And no, it’s not that I don’t have faith in you! I just know that making changes, especially when it comes to food (delicious food) […]
MoreLuv vs. Love.
The day after Valentine’s, I got a text at 4:30 am. “Love you.” It was from a guy I went to high school with; we’ve kept in touch over the years, and have hooked up a few times. Given the timing of the text, I figured it was a drunk thing and I just didn’t […]
MoreI’m single, stop asking why.
“So, have you found anyone yet?” It was a question from my coworker whom I’d just met. “What does that mean?” I asked her. She found it difficult to believe I was still single. I told her to believe it, because I am very, very single. “That’s good,” she said. “Wait until you’re like, almost […]
MorePic of the Week.
Lately, I have been basically living off protein bars. Seriously. I take them to work and eat one when I don’t have time to break for an entire meal, or just pack them in my lunchbox so that when I do sit down to eat, I can get protein without the use of a fridge […]
MoreThings I’ve learned from watching: ‘Boy Meets World’
I’m not afraid to admit that I watch a lot of stupid shit on TV. I work hard, every single day, I do “serious” things all the time, so when it comes to TV, I don’t mind a little brainless action. “Boy Meets World” is one of the less-stupid things I watch. I’m the lucky […]
MoreAccepting my Dating Past.
Every couple of years, I meet someone that makes me wish I could change a few things about myself. Often these things are impossible to change, things in my past. About three years ago, I had a giant crush on my neighbor, John. He was incredibly sexy, even when wearing sweatpants. We bonded over our […]
MoreSurvival Guide: Meeting the parents.
It’s been a really long time since I’ve met someone’s parents, but it’s always something I’ve considered myself good at. Why? Mainly because I’m an only-child (I’m not spoiled, swear) and growing up, I spent more time talking to adults than kids my own age. Plus, I love hearing stories — and parents are full […]
MoreCelebrating John Hughes.
Today, I wanted to celebrate my favorite screenwriter, John Hughes, as today would’ve been his 65th birthday! Hughes wrote two of my favorite movies — Home Alone and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off — among many others, including The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Uncle Buck, and National Lampoon’s Vacation. He went to high school in Illinois […]
MorePic of the Week.
I’ve discussed a little about the trouble I’ve had with sleeping over the years. From what I remember, the trouble started during a bad breakup I had several years ago. He was cheating on me and I had these terrible nightmares of him having sex with other women. They were vivid and would wake me […]
MoreEven singletons have love.
As a child, Valentine’s Day was marked with gifts. There was a party at school, my dad would buy something for my mom, and my parents would get me one of those heart-shaped boxes of truffles. Since then, my parents divorced, my dad decided that Valentine’s Day was “just for women,” and he quit talking […]
MorePopping the question.
Every year around the holidays, it seems like everyone I know — who’s not already married — is getting engaged. Of course, if it wasn’t for social media, I probably wouldn’t know about 85% of these said proposals, but it’s 2015 and I guess I’ve got reality to deal with. The thing is, I’m not […]
MorePic of the Week.
This weekend, I finally got around to doing something I’ve wanted to do for a long time: I made Valentines! As February crept around, I realized that I’ve spent way too many Februaries being pissed or upset that I didn’t have romantic love in my life to celebrate the holiday with. Some years it bothered […]
MoreOn the rebound.
A few years ago, I came to an ugly realization: most of my relationships have been rebounds from the previous one. There’s even been rebounds for rebounds. It’s not a fun thing to admit, but hell, admitting it is the first step, right? A “rebound” is a relationship that comes right after another has ended. […]
MoreThe dating age.
I work part-time at a shoe store in the mall. It’s not my dream job, but it provides cash, plus I get to meet all kinds of different people. About ¼ of the customers I meet are hot guys. When a hottie comes into the store, I think, “Yes! A hot guy!” And then I […]
MoreCeleb Crush: Justin Bieber.
I know, I know, everyone hates The Biebs. But I just can’t! Truthfully, when Bieber came on the scene, I wasn’t falling for it — even though he did have a cute face. But then, I went to see “Never Say Never,” the Bieber tour documentary (I love a doc), and it was then that […]
MoreThe Column: Sweaty is the New Sexy.
The shiny sweat, a shortness of breath, muscles tightening… it’s your workout routine, and it’s (apparently) sexy as hell. Pickup any magazine, ask any fitness professional, and they’re going to tell you that couples who sweat together, stay together. A lot of things that happen to the body — the aforementioned sweat, short breaths, muscle […]
MoreFresh Friday: Florabotanica.
How did I miss the fact that K-Stew was the Face of Balenciaga’s Florabotanica? Hmm. Regardless, I’ve been rocking this scent all week and I smell like spring. As described by Sephora: “Florabotanica evokes ambivalent bewitching beauty. Velvety and thorny, flirting with hemp and vetiver roots. The scent is flowery, developed on a rose note […]
MoreA Review: ‘The Uncoupling’.
When I got my library card last year, I pretty much threw myself a party (a quiet one inside the stacks), and I made a giant list of books and authors I wanted to read — The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer, was one of them. Well, one of the adventures that comes with a library […]
MoreThe Column: Dating in the ER.
I was about two months into dating this guy I met through some friends, when he started acting distant toward me. He stopped answering my calls, it took him longer to respond to text messages, and instead of multiple dates a week, we barely saw each other. I called him out on it, and he sent […]
MoreBack to it: Online dating.
I recently logged into my OK Cupid account after not touching it for two months, because 1. I was seeing someone that I thought would turn into something, and 2. The email account which I signed up with was definitely one I don’t have access to anymore since “the incident.” Oops! I joined Ok Cupid […]
MorePic of the Week.
I’ve got a TON on my mind this week, so grab a cup of coffee. For starters, this whole to-do list thing is really working out for me! For some reason (and this has always been the case for me), if it’s on a list, I will not rest until the list is completely checked […]
More90’s beauty trends I totally tried.
Every decade has its own style — granted bits of it always come back around — but 90’s style holds a special place in my heart, as I was just coming into my own, getting a grasp on who I was, and I was obsessive over pop culture. While I’d never consider myself daring in […]
MoreThe Column: Love & Unemployment.
A few weeks after I’d met a guy named Justin, we’d already been on several dates, and I was really starting to like him. But one day at work, I was called into a meeting and told that my services were “no longer needed.” It was the job I’d had for almost seven years; the […]
MoreThings I’ve learned from watching ‘Laguna Beach’
Oh, Laguna, how I love (yes, still do) thee. In late 2004, MTV capitalized on the popularity of The OC, making a reality show based at Laguna Beach High School — claiming it was the story of the REAL OC. And hell, I don’t know how much of it was real, fake, scripted, or whatever, […]
MoreCocktail King.
Baton Rouge bartender and chef George Krause was waiting for the book to drop. At eight years old, a cocktail book fell from the “booze side” of the cabinet to the “game side.” “It was now fair game to grab it and read it, and I did,” Krause said. “I enjoyed it.” His parents found […]
MoreArgh! Dating pet peeves.
As a singleton still in the dating game, I am constantly given unsolicited advice from couples. What I often gather is that couples seem to think dating is just SO fun! Newsflash: it ain’t. Actually, most of the time, it’s pretty annoying. So, I’ve put together a list of MY dating pet peeves (some of […]
MoreFresh Friday: Body.
Known for its signature plaid, Burberry also has a collection of fragrances. I got Burberry Body for Christmas, and I fell in love with it at first whiff. As described by Sephora, “Wrapped around a woman, the iconic Burberry trench coat evokes sensuality, femininity, and luxury. In this fragrance, an eclectic composition of fruity-chypre notes […]
More4/50 Shades: Spun Sugar.
Not sure when, but some time ago, Sally Hansen created a lip gloss known as Moisture Twist, which is said to have moisture, plus shine and color, as well as serve as a primer for the color. Wow! When I bought a tube of Moisture Twist, in Spun Sugar, I had never tried any Sally […]
MoreThe Column: Sleeping W/Someone New.
A few days after a great first date, I joined a guy named Justin for a second date. We met through mutual friends, and bonded over weird relationship stories. For our second date, he invited me to his house for a casual night in. While I’m a fan of a relaxing night at home, I […]
MorePic of the Week.
I really thought I was going to have something cool for my first Pic of the Week for 2015, but truthfully, this is as exciting as it gets right now. This is the first week that I actually have time to tend to other things aside from work — I’ve been averaging 50 hours a […]
MoreA Review: ‘Paper Towns’.
Shocker: another fantastic book by John Green, author of The Fault in Our Stars, Paper Towns is addicting. No, seriously, I read it in one day. Set in Orlando, Florida, Paper Towns is the story of Quentin Jacobsen — a less-than-popular high school senior, who has spent a majority of his life being obsessed with […]
MoreHappy New Year!
YASH! I made it to 2015! I swear, there were times when I didn’t think this day would ever come — I have never been so excited for a new year, in hopes that it will bring new opportunities, new memories, perhaps new places, and new people. I am so excited! Last year, I mentioned […]
MorePic of the Week
Wow, it’s the LAST pic of the week for 2014! It’s hard to believe I actually have 52 pictures that represent my year — one full of nothing and something all at once. I really thought I was going to have something representative for this last one, but when this magazine came to my mailbox, […]
MorePic of the Week.
Late last week, I decided to bake some holiday cookies from a kit I bought a few months ago — an Ugly Sweater Cookie Kit. It was just too cute to pass up. The kit had nearly everything I needed: dry ingredients for the cookie dough, a sweater cookie cutter, food coloring for red and […]
MoreThe Column: Single Bells.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year… or is it? The holidays are often associated with cheer, get-togethers, and gifts, but for singletons, the holidays can be a lonely reminder of what we’re missing. Blame it on the chilly weather or the party invitations, but it often seems like the holidays are made for […]
MoreWomen You Should Know: Lisa Robertson.
Lisa Robertson, former Miss Tennessee, recently retired from her 20-year run on QVC — a channel I’ve come to love over the years. Lisa is one of the reasons I’ve loved QVC so much; she’s got a clear style and hosted many of her own segments on QVC to share/sell products that reflected her interests. […]
MorePic of the Week.
In the first volume of The Lord of the Rings (The Fellowship of the Ring), J.R.R. Tolkein wrote a poem: All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light […]
MoreWhen you’re not invited…
Over the years, I’ve been to some really great weddings… and I’ve been to some not-so-great weddings, of course. But now that we live online — we can see everything anyone we even slightly know does — it’s easy to see when someone gets married. Which, in turn, makes it easy to figure out when […]
MoreSurvival Guide: Solo and Sick.
It’s that time of year, and by that I mean: cold and flu season. Yuck! If there’s one thing worse than being sick, it’s being sick with no one to care for you. When I’m sick, which is at least once every fall/winter, I throw a massive pity party for myself. Let’s face it: getting […]
MoreThe Column: One New E-Male.
Thanks to spam email, my inbox always has at least 50 unread messages. I usually use my elevator rides to delete them in what seems like a never-ending game. Goal for 2015: unsubscribe to Target, Victoria’s Secret, Macy’s, Restoration Hardware, and Barnes & Noble email lists. I was about to delete one, when I realized […]
MoreWas Harry right about the friends thing?
“You realize of course that we could never be friends… What I’m saying is — and this is not a come-on in any way, shape or form — is that men and women can’t be friends because the sex part always gets in the way.” —Harry, When Harry Met Sally Harry might have been the first […]
MoreGirlfriends’ Guide to Divorce.
After seeing (what feels like) a million previews for it, Bravo debuted their FIRST scripted series, Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce, last night. Based on the Girlfriends’ Guide series by Vicki Iovine, the show revolves around Abby, the author of said Girlfriends’ Guides. Though she writes about all things related to family, in last night’s episode, […]
MoreThe Column: Presence Over Presents.
Given that there’s a giant, decorated tree at the end of my street, and bins of cinnamon pinecones at my neighborhood market, it would seem the holidays are here. I’ve only spent one Christmas with a boyfriend. We’d been together for three years, and had yet to take things seriously – we hadn’t exchanged gifts. […]
MoreI want your love (story).
It wasn’t long ago that I obsessed over Lauren Conrad’s wedding, and purchased all of the magazines that mentioned it so I could get all the pretty details. One of those magazines was Martha Stewart Weddings — my first time purchasing a wedding magazine — and I found that it was filled with non-traditional stories […]
MoreSurvival Guide: The Fade.
I’ve gotten The Fade many times in dating — and I know I’ve already made it quite clear that I hate it, and it really sucks (read this if you really want the scoop). If you’ve never gotten The Fade — when a guy starts taking longer to reply to your texts and then eventually […]
MoreCeleb Crush: Bradley Cooper.
I recently did one of those quizzes, “Who is your celeb boyfriend?” And although I didn’t get my ultimate crush, John Mayer, I did get a fine-looking fellow: Mr. Bradley Cooper. Uh, YUM! Bradley Cooper is most recognized for his work in films such as Silver Linings Playbook, Limitless, The Hangover (parts 1, 2, & […]
MoreGuest Blog: In response to Susie Patton…
Susie Meredith is an HR professional for one of the world’s leading online retailers. She currently resides in Nashville, TN with her Golden Retriever, Sadie and her two cats, Vinny and Joey. Susie saved Vinny and Joey from a hard life in the cat-mob on the streets of Tennessee. She received her Bachelor’s in HR […]
MoreIs THIS why I can’t get a husband?
A reader in San Francisco brought to my attention an article in the New York Post, “8 Reasons Why New York Women Can’t Get a Husband.” Obviously, I don’t live in New York, but I’m always willing to consider ANY reason as to why I don’t have a boyfriend/fiance/husband, etc. The article is based around […]
MoreHow to fight right.
I really hate fighting. And, over the course of my years in the dating game, there have been many-a-time when I’ve simply ignored things that were probably worth a fight, simply because I just wanted to play it cool. But, no matter how cool you are, something is likely to piss you off. And sometimes, […]
MoreOh, there goes my self-esteem.
I know that everyone has their “thing” — the thing that makes you insecure in the blink of an eye. Chances are, it’s illogical, it’s all mental, whatever it is. But it’s there, and mine has been bugging me for years. My thing? It’s those perfect girls. The ones that seem like they just have […]
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