first date
Am I lacking ‘girl game’?
Last week, Forbes magazine published an Instagram post revealing the top five downloaded podcasts, which included one called “The Art of Charm”. I checked it out, and noticed the description was geared toward men and how they could improve their lives in all areas, including work, friends, family, and dating, all by the tips in […]
MoreFresh Friday: Cote d’Azur.
Happy Friday, y’all! It has been an incredibly TOUGH week on my end, so if you’re really feeling it today — or if you’re not — I’m wishing you a completely blissful weekend! I’ve got to work a few shifts, but I’m hoping it’ll be sunny outside so I can pull out my beach chair […]
MoreFresh Friday: Someday.
How CUTE is little Biebs in that picture? Ah, the old days. Anyway, we’ll get to that in a second. Because it’s Friday, and that means Jurassic World comes out (!), and hey, I’ve got the day off, AGAIN! I wanted to feature Justin Bieber’s earlier scent, Someday, for two reasons: 1. it was the […]
MoreFresh Friday: La vie est belle.
It’s Friday and — I’m not sure if I’ve ever said this — I have the day OFF! So, if you’re in the mood to binge-watch The Real Housewives of Orange County and/or join me in a beach chair on my roof for some tanning, then come on over. I’m here all day. Today’s Fresh […]
MoreSetting up friends, for a date.
A post on my Timehop app the other day reminded me of a few dates I went on with a guy who was introduced to me by a mutual friend. For some reason or another, our relationship didn’t work out — but the dates we had were absolutely fantastic! Being set up by a friend […]
MoreFresh Friday: Yogini.
I 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 […]
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 […]
MoreFresh Friday: Ezra.
IF 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 […]
MoreStill at it: online dating.
I’m SURE you heard all the hooplah in the last few weeks: Hilary Duff joined Tinder. I suppose the real craziness over The Duff joining Tinder — I swear I heard this news at least a dozen times — is that she is actually taking it seriously, and is actively going on dates. I have […]
MoreFresh Friday: Very Irresistible.
Well y’all, we’ve survived yet another week! There are times when I just can’t believe I’ll get through another busy week, and then Friday rolls in like nothing else. A week from today I’ll be on the beach at Hangout Fest, so I’m keeping my eye on the prize! This week’s Fresh Friday scent profile […]
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 […]
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 […]
MoreFresh Friday: Lovely.
Hello my LOVELY readers! This has certainly been another crazy busy week for the books, but I always feel so good after I’ve conquered a packed week, what about you? While I’ve still got to work this weekend, I’m looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow (getting up at 6am everyday is truly for the birds)! […]
MoreSingle Girl Recipe: Eggs.
I know everyone’s got different opinions about eggs; and the health benefits of them are always in question. Is it the good cholesterol or not? What about the fat content? Well, I’m of the school of thought that eggs are a great source of protein (did you know one egg has 12g of protein and […]
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 […]
MorePic of the Week.
Thursday night, I could not wait to finish with work, jump into my sweats and walk right on over to the movie theatre for the midnight premier of “The Longest Ride,” a film adaptation of the Nicholas Sparks bestseller. I was really excited for several reasons: 1. the book was fantastic. I have very, very […]
MoreFresh Friday: Bright Crystal.
Whew, made it to Friday! I feel like every week is a complete roller coaster — it starts one way, and ends up completely different. On Mondays, I always feel so overwhelmed when I look at my to-do list for the week. I often wake up SUPER early on Mondays and stay up late to […]
More7/50 Shades: Girl Next Door.
Although shade no. 7 is a gloss — I just cannot pull myself away. I blame this completely on Bonne Bell, for getting me addicted to shiny, glitter glosses delivered to my lips via sponge applicator. Girl Next Door by Hard Candy is sheer, with a touch of silvery shimmer. It doesn’t have a scent […]
MoreDating on Instagram.
I recently got an iPhone, after being a Blackberry user for years (it’s about time, right?). Since making the switch, I’m really trying to embrace the world of apps, especially dating apps. I’ve already tried Tinder, and within three minutes I managed to play with fire and get burned. I saw my crush’s picture, and […]
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 […]
MoreFresh Friday: Warm Cotton.
“Inspired by soap,” is what the package says, and that’s certainly what it smells like! Warm Cotton by CLEAN reminds of the way it smells outside, in the summer, when someone is doing their laundry. Very fresh, clean, and cozy, in a sense. As described by Sephora, “Cozy up to CLEAN Warm Cotton Eau de […]
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 truth on birth control.
I know birth control can be a little bit of a touchy subject for some, but as a relationship blogger & columnist, I feel it’s almost irresponsible if I don’t at least mention it. Let’s just get this out of the way: yes, I’m on birth control. I have been for about 8 years. I […]
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 […]
MoreFaith in the face mask(s).
Right after college, I had TERRIBLE acne. I’m not talking a few zits here or there, I’m talking — it was really bad, like the “before” pictures on a Proactive commercial. Not only was it embarrassing and painful, but I worked in the service industry, and I needed to look presentable, so I often wore […]
MoreFresh Friday: Pink Sugar.
Ta-da, it’s Friday! Pay no mind that it’s Friday the 13th… because it’s the freakin’ weekend, and even though I have to work all weekend, Friday still makes me pretty happy (mainly because every Friday, there’s a CSI marathon on FX). Anyway, I’ve probably had a sample of Aquolina’s Pink Sugar in my bin-0-perfumes, and […]
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 […]
MorePic of the Week.
It seems like so long ago that I had an 8-5 office job — and really it was four months ago. While I am still working out details of my life nearly every week, in ways it seems like things are going along okay, and in other ways, it feels like I’ve got no direction […]
More6/50 Shades: Blushing Sequin.
I know I can’t be the only one dragging ass this morning after LOSING an entire hour yesterday — so sad. But the good news is, spring is on the way, and that means summer is just around the corner (especially true if you live in the South. Spring is, like, a day). Regardless, I […]
MoreFresh Friday: Betsey Johnson.
I don’t know about you, but this week has been kinda rough — maybe it’s the weather, maybe it’s the sheer fact that my most recent crush is dead to me (I’m currently looking for a new one), or perhaps it’s that damn Daylight Savings Time coming up, but in any case, I’m so glad […]
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 […]
MoreA Review: ‘Maine’.
I picked up a copy of Maine during a library trip — I had written down a list of authors I wanted to check out and J. Courtney Sullivan was definitely one of them. Maine is Sullivan’s second novel (the first one is Commencement), and it’s got all the good stuff rolled into one: the […]
MoreFresh Friday: Light Blue.
Another Friday is among us, and I can’t say I’m complaining! I’m still in the need for a hot guy, so per usual, I’ll turn to the ads of another classic fragrance — I know you know this one — Light Blue by Dolce & Gabanna. Truthfully, I’d never worn this perfume until this week […]
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 […]
MoreFresh Friday: 8.
It’s Friday, and I don’t know about you, but I could use a little dose of HOT GUY. Thank you, Abercrombie old school ads. Actually, the other day, I spritzed on a little 8 by Abercrombie and Fitch just for old time’s sake, and I was surprised at how wonderful it was. As described by […]
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 […]
MoreSingle Girl Recipe: Snack edition!
For the last month, I’ve been trying to get back into a somewhat healthy routine. When I worked Monday-Friday, 9-5, it was pretty easy for me to meal plan, pack my lunch, and hit the gym every day at 5:15. But my schedule is so different everyday now, and slowly, I’m finding ways to make […]
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 […]
MoreWorkout playlist.
If you had a New Year’s resolution to workout more, get fit, lose weight, etc., now’s probably the time you’re losing a little steam on the motivation front, right? Because of my career-change, my schedule changed with it, and I took a solid month (okay, more like five weeks) off in order to adjust. But, […]
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 […]
MoreThe heart at home.
One of the best parts about my job as a journalist is being able to meet all kinds of different people; hear their stories; their struggles and triumphs. In the mix, I often end up in spots I wouldn’t normally be. A few weeks ago, I was in a flower shop, talking to a man […]
MoreFresh Friday: (BR) Classic.
It’s about time we go back to the basics and remember a classic scent — literally, Classic by Banana Republic. I bought a bottle of this perfume YEARS ago, and it’s still a go-to for me when I need a light, lasting, and fresh scent. It’s perfection! As described by Fragrantic, “Banana Republic Classic is […]
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. […]
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 […]
More5/50 Shades: Tulip.
I’m still on the hunt for a great (or a few great) shades of pink to add to my makeup collection — and I recently tried CoverGirl’s Natureluxe Gloss Balm #205 in Tulip. I feel like a majority of the “shades” I’ve tried have been glosses/balms, and I think that’s just proof of my fear […]
MoreMinted love.
I’ve always been a little obsessed with my birthday — not celebrating it — more about, what I’ve got in common with others born in July, or things only associated with July birthdays, like the lucky number seven or rubies. I’ve got a few pieces of jewelry that feature rubies (or faux ones) and I’ve […]
MorePic of the Week.
I’ve been on The Hunt for comfortable flats to wear to work since I started in retail three months ago. At my previous job, I spent lots of time in a chair, so wearing incredibly high heels was pretty easy. I only had two pair of flats in my closet. Truth be told, I don’t […]
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 […]
MoreFresh Friday: Nirvana (black).
A few weeks ago, I told you all about Nirvana White by Elizabeth and James. Can’t have one without the other, right? In the perfume sampler pack I got for Christmas, there was also a bottle of Elizabeth and James’ Nirvana Black. As described by Sephora, “Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black is an addictive blend […]
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 […]
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 […]
MoreFresh Friday: Reb’l Fleur.
Most of the time, I don’t believe that the celebrities who make perfumes and scents actually wear them — except maybe J-Lo (“Are you wearing Glo??!”), but I actually think Rihanna would wear her scent: Reb’l Fleur. As described by Fragrantica, “‘Daring, sexy and truly memorable, Reb’l Fleur is as much in tune with Barbados-born […]
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 […]
MorePic of the Week.
Okay, so one thing I’m working on is maintaining SOME sort of schedule. My hours at my retail jobs are sometimes as early as 7am, or sometimes as late as 6pm (working until 10pm). I have other things going on — like freelance work, blogging, being social — so I’m trying really hard to still […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
MoreBubbly basics.
Ah bubbly, champs, champers, pop bottles, sparkling… whatever you call the stuff, it’s delicious. And while most people reserve the fizz for special occasions and New Year’s Eve, I’ve come to enjoy it all year ’round, just when I’m in the mood for something fantastic. So, I’m taking it upon myself to share what I […]
MoreFresh Friday: Guilty.
I’ve only got a sample bottle of Guilty by Gucci, but I’ll say it’s lasted me quite awhile — the bottle is substantial. Now, this is going to sound really corny, but every time I get a good sniff of this scent, it makes me think of everything luxurious (particularly diamonds). I’m not sure why, […]
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