The weather in Baton Rouge has finally turned chilly — and it seemed to have happened right overnight, dropping into the low 30s. I haven’t broken out my winter coat yet, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have my favorite pair of pink argyle slippers right by my bed and the quilt […]
MoreI’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 […]
MoreThis is a fabulous-smelling perfume, and it kind of describes my life lately — Ange ou Demon le secret by Givenchy. I loved it so much, I’m pretty sure there’s not even a drop left in my bottle. As described by Sephora, “Fresh and luminous, the secret of this caressing, fruity floral is its ‘jasmine […]
MoreA 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 […]
MoreI 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 […]
MoreAfter much thought, I decided to forgo a Fresh Friday post, since it’s Halloween — even though I pretty much despise this day… or do I? If you know me personally, you know I’m a scaredy-cat all year ’round. I’m terrified of someone breaking into my apartment, scared of being attacked in a parking garage […]
MoreRecently, Casper, a mattress company that specializes in making outrageously comfortable latex memory foam mattresses, brought forth a good point to me — a good night’s sleep often results in a mess of hair come morning. But so what? Why are we constantly running from the bed head, instead of embracing it? So, Casper, challenge […]
MoreEvery year, my friend Marcy has a Pumpkin Carving Party (BYOP), and this year was pretty special because it was the 5th Anniversary of the party! So, Sunday night, we all gathered at Marcy’s, equipped with pumpkins and carving ideas. As a kid, Halloween was a big deal. My parents really got into decorating the […]
MoreMy overflowing collection of pink lip products has been screaming at me to share another shade of pink with you! For the second shade in this series, I could not help but share “Cosmo Confetti” from Covergirl. Why? Because I’ve been wearing it DAILY for the last two weeks! Cosmo Confetti is from Covergirl’s Queen […]
MoreY’all get the 2-for-1 deal today, as far as the WYSK profile, because it’s two of my favorite Divas of WWE — The Bella Twins! Meet Brie Danielson and Nicole Garcia-Colace. Born just 16 minutes apart, the twins were athletic from an early age. After modeling, and doing promotional work, they were signed to join […]
MoreI have always been interested in astrology, although I don’t live by it, I love reading my weekly horoscope — scoffing when it’s completely incorrect, and gasping in awe when it’s right on-point. When it comes to dating, I’ve discussed matching via personality test, but what about zodiac compatibility? Born on July 2, I am […]
MoreThere’s no way I can complete a perfume series without addressing Justin Bieber — and this won’t be the last time, given he’s got four different ones. I’ve got three of the four, and I love them all for different reasons. I picked Girlfriend, because I have a running joke with my friends that if […]
MoreMonday night, I received some fan mail from a reader in Indianapolis. She, Samantha, drew this after reading my first book, How I Fell, and then she transferred it to Photoshop. Umm… how cute is it?! I actually like it better than my original cover, but don’t tell anyone. Without even knowing it, Samantha drew […]
MoreA few weeks ago, I noticed a new morning radio show had taken over one of the stations I listened to (104.1 New Orleans). The show was a syndicate, Johnjay and Rich. It’s two guys and a girl, and the show revolves around calling people, although each day, it’s a different bit. Monday: Machaca — […]
MoreWhen I was in middle school, I remember watching lots of dating shows on TV. These shows weren’t quite like the ones on now, these were more like game shows… you know, “Bachelor number one, what is your dream date?!?” Bzzz! One of my favorites was a show called Bzzz! While I loved it, apparently not […]
MoreI know, I know, Abercrombie & Fitch fragrance is nothing new (although from the looks of their website, they’ve got some new scents), but I just couldn’t resist featuring the fragrance from the Home of the Hunks on my blog! I swear, I’ve got good reasons for it, so let’s get this started. The Hotties. […]
MoreI’ve dated several men who are obsessive over work. I’m talking always working late, working on the weekends, using work as an excuse as to why we can’t meet for lunch or why it takes him 8 hours to respond to a text message. And while the men of my past are probably horrible examples […]
MoreNope, I’m not getting married. But I am judging a Pop Culture Hair Show on October 17, right here in Baton Rouge and I’m SO (or should I say “SEAUX”) excited! Join me, along with the amazing team at The Garrett Neal Studio (yes, this is where I get my hair done) Friday, October 17, […]
MoreHobby Lobby has officially dumped the contents of its shelves into my apartment — and it is a beautiful, sparkly mess — which, is actually really exciting for my kitty, Blanche. After that crappy week I told you all about, I was really excited to get involved in a good craft project. Every year, one […]
MoreDolce & Gabbanna ads — much like Michael Kors ads — seriously send me into a frenzy of wishes, often leading to a quarter-life crisis. Everyone is so beautiful, on an island, with a hot guy, never mind that it’s not real. Dreams! But for the last week, I’ve been wearing Desire by Dolce & […]
MoreLast week was incredibly rough. Nothing traumatic happened per se, it was more about the impact of several events all rolled up and combined with my case of the blues. Even though my blog has “Bitter” in its title, I do try and keep things on the uptick ’round here. But the truth is, things […]
MoreUgh. As much I love to Tweet in my daily life, when it comes to dating, social media can be a pain in the ass. I’m not really talking about meeting people via social media, although I’ve heard of this happening (ending in successes and failures alike). I’m really talking about how our use of […]
MoreIf it weren’t for Justin Bieber (also one of my celeb crushes), I’d probably have no fucking clue who Scooter Braun is. But when I saw Bieber’s first movie, “Never Say Never,” I couldn’t help but look at Scooter and give a little — Damn, who is that? Scooter is the talent manager for Bieber, […]
MoreI’d be lying to you if I said I didn’t spend the greater part of my Sunday in bed, pouring over all of the magazines that featured inside info about fashion designer and reality star, Lauren Conrad, and her wedding with the sexy-musician-lawyer, William Tell. Why am I so obsessed? Honestly, I’ve always been a […]
MoreTHAT’S RIGHT — my 3rd book, Lemon Drops, is finally here! This is the first time I’ve really felt relieved that a book of mine is published. The writing in Lemon Drops is some of my most personal. There’s stories in there I haven’t told anyone, and there’s poems that are very dear to me. […]
MoreThank God it’s Friday, right? Well, it’s actually Fresh Friday ’round here, and today we’re profiling Dior’s Hypnotic Poison. I have always admired Dior fashion, but of course, have never been able to afford it — but I’ll enjoy the samplings of perfume while I’ve got them! Sephora describes Hypnotic Poison as, “Mysterious and mesmerizing, […]
MoreI know I’m a little late to the party on celebrating the life of the one and only Joan Rivers. Originally, I was going to use this edition of WYSK to talk about my two favorite Total Dives: Nikki & Brie Bella. But I changed my mind, and decided to talk about a different kind […]
MoreAs 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 buy just about everything on Amazon.com. Cat food, clothes, books, gifts, protein powder, makeup — I don’t know about you, but with the bargains, plus free shipping over $35, shopping in the store just isn’t worth it to me…especially with Baton Rouge traffic. So, I thought, wow I love Amazon… but do I love […]
MoreWe use all sorts of tools — from horoscopes and compatibility tests (Which Harry Potter character are you?) to discover what our perfect match is going to look like. Does it work? Perhaps, but I’m still trying to figure it out. At work, my coworkers and I completed a Strengths Finder test to determine our […]
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 […]
MoreUgh. Getting the news about an ex getting married (especially when you’re still single) can be a bitch. I can’t speak for everyone, but even when I didn’t have feelings for the person anymore, it’s still rough news to get. All of my exes are married, except my most recent (although he might be, who […]
MoreAfter one week off (to announce my next book — out September 22), Fresh Friday is back! … And I think you’re going to like this one. This week’s scent is White Woods by CLEAN. As described by Sephora, “CLEAN White Woods is a warm, luxurious scent that embodies the pure essence of natural light […]
MoreShannon Maker is a blogger and freelance writer in Des Moines, Iowa, with a passion for photography and cooking. She has a degree in Journalism and Spanish. She fell in love with different kinds of authentic European cuisine while backpacking and studying abroad in Spain, France, and Italy during her senior year of college and […]
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 […]
MoreThe fade is more than just a haircut. In dating terms, the fade is when one person in the “relationship” (it could happen during the earlier stages of a relationship) disappears. Basically, they fall off the face of the earth. I know I’m not the only person this has happened to — I’ve got audio […]
MoreI’m skipping Fresh Friday this week to make an announcement: MY THIRD BOOK IS COMING YOUR WAY. That’s right, my third book is on its way — mark your calendars for September 22, 2014, which is EXACTLY one month from today! At that time, you’ll be able to purchase digital copies through Amazon Kindle (which […]
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 […]
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 […]
MoreI’m so glad that it’s Friday, for obvious reasons — the weekend is about to get started, AND, it’s another scent profile, this time for Peace, Love, & Juicy Couture by Juicy Couture. You may have already known that Juicy Couture knew how to make a damn fine velour tracksuit, but did you know they can […]
MoreAnother summer read: down! But I will have to admit, I read this book, Starstruck by Lauren Conrad, out of its proper order. You see, this Fame Game series is the second series (I’ve already read the first set), but Starstruck is the second book in the set of three. However, no offense to Ms. […]
MoreAbout a year and a half ago, I was on-assignment for the magazine I write for. I watched a performance, and then hit up the after-party to interview some of the performers. While I was there, I met this guy… Mark. He was incredibly attractive, funny, and was wearing one of those blazers with the […]
MoreAfter writing part one (and watching a ton of QUALITY chick flicks), I knew a part two was in order — so let’s do this! Sex & The City (2008) Plot: Our favorite New York writer Carrie Bradshaw gets engaged to Mr. Big, and when the wedding plans change, her beloved friends Charlotte, Samantha, and […]
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. […]
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 […]
MoreThe first guy I fell in love with cheated on me. We were best friends before we started dating, but our relationship was long distance, and there were 15 hours between us. We had a rocky breakup, and he coincidentally had a new girlfriend right afterward. They are married now, so good for them. A […]
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 […]
MoreMany years ago, when I was a different person, I was seriously in love with a man I loved to cook and bake for. I felt like if I did things that a perfect girlfriend would do, then he’d see that I could be a perfect wife, too. But my plan failed miserably. However, I’m […]
MoreSusie 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 Development from […]
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 […]
MoreWhen I heard the song, “Rehab” for the first time, I thought Amy Winehouse was a smart-mouthed, bad ass bitch, just making fun of pop culture and it’s celebulites, of the Lindsay Lohan-sort. So, I bought “Back to Black,” unaware that it would be an album that changed my world — not unlike Lauryn Hill’s […]
MoreThe winner from Tuesday’s giveaway is posted below, if you’re interested… Last weekend, I finished reading, “Girls in White Dresses” by Jennifer Close, a book that’s been on my reading list for awhile (I think it’s been years). Here is what Amazon says about the book: Isabella, Mary, and Lauren feel like everyone […]
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 […]
MoreLast weekend, I was flipping channels, searching for something I could get lost in for awhile (one of my favorite hobbies), when I came across the movie, “Definitely, Maybe,” starring the one and only Hottie With A Body, Ryan Reynolds. Good Lord, that man is fwwiiiinnne. Aside from boy band crushes, Mr. Reynolds might just […]
MoreBoy do I love curling up on my couch for a self-made marathon of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” built using my collections of seasons on DVD. “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” ran for seven seasons, beginning in 1970 — a time when America was going through political change, and women were beginning to experience […]
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 […]
MoreA few months ago, I thought I was getting knocked into the friend zone, when really the guy was just dating someone (and essentially cheating on her) — read about it here: Part one & Part two. But, the friend zone is a real thing, and one thing’s for sure about the friend zone: it […]
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 […]
MoreManipulate (verb) — to manage or utilize skillfully; to control or play upon by artful, unfair, or insidious means especially to one’s own advantage; to change by artful or unfair means so as to serve one’s purpose. I was manipulated in relationships before I even knew what it was; that it was even something that […]
MoreNo, seriously. Cancel the damn thing. There’s many-a-wedding I’ve heard about that should’ve been cancelled, and there’s a few coming up this spring that really just should NOT be happening. The thing is, most people think canceling a wedding would be too much of a hassle — even more than a divorce. Or, sometimes, let’s […]
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 […]
MoreThey say, “When it rains, it pours,” and I’ve noticed this saying to be true when it comes to dating. You get one date—you get five dates. You have one breakup—you get a string of let downs. And while the latter example certainly sucks, there’s something good to be said when it comes to having […]
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 […]
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 […]
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’m not huge on flavored crap, especially when it comes to alcohol. However, I could probably go for a lemon drop martini (or a shot, your choice) just about any day. As a former bartender, I feel confident in the way I make a perfect lemon drop—however, I won’t be offended if you change things […]
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 […]
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