The following was written in 2010; nothing has been changed. Like what you’ve read? Enjoy my #tb (throwback) blog series as I count down the days until my second book, How to Make Lemonade, is released on December 2nd! DAY 8: DRESS THE PART Thursday, April 29, 2010 I just got home from completing today’s […]
MoreThe following was written in 2010; nothing has been changed. Like what you’ve read? Enjoy my #tb (throwback) blog series as I count down the days until my second book, How to Make Lemonade, is released on December 2nd! DAY 7: TRASH THE EVIDENCE Wednesday, April 28, 2010 Today, I was handed my most challenging […]
MoreThe following was written in 2010; nothing has been changed. Like what you’ve read? Enjoy my #tb (throwback) blog series as I count down the days until my second book, How to Make Lemonade, is released on December 2nd! DAY 5: LEAVE IT ALL BEHIND Monday, April 26, 2010 Monday is looking extra ugly today, […]
MoreThe following was written in 2010; nothing has been changed. Like what you’ve read? Enjoy my #tb (throwback) blog series as I count down the days until my second book, How to Make Lemonade, is released on December 2nd! DAY 3: WORDS OF WISDOM Saturday, April 24, 2010 Today is the day I am to […]
MoreThe following was written in 2010; nothing has been changed. Like what you’ve read? Enjoy my #tb (throwback) blog series as I count down the days until my second book, How to Make Lemonade, is released on December 2nd! DAY 2: YOU CAN TELL EVERYBODY Friday, April 23, 2010 Today is the day The Frisky […]
MoreIn late April of 2010, I went through a breakup that shook me. Even years later, I am still dealing with the baggage from that relationship (it’s a lot less bags, at least). But as usual, I wanted to be open about my feelings during the breakup. So, I followed The Frisky’s 30 Day Breakup […]
MoreA few weeks ago, I was driving to work, when I heard a statistic on the radio: 73% of couples say they didn’t end up with their true love. Yeepers! When I dig a little deeper (ahem, did some Googling), I found a few articles dedicated to this newfound number, including one from Cosmopolitan. According […]
MoreI’m not a big fan of Taylor Swift. But every now and then, she’ll come out with a song that gets stuck in my head or, in this case, strikes a chord with me. Enter, “Everything Has Changed” featuring Ed Sheeran. The song, as interpreted by me, is about two people who go from friends […]
MoreEarlier this month, online dating website OkCupid announced that it was adding a new feature for its users. They are letting their premium (the ones who pay) users filter their potential matches by body type. In order to activate this feature, users will have to pay about $10 per month. After they pay, they will […]
MoreAnnouncing: my second book! My second book, How To Make Lemonade, is my story from the beginning—as far as dating goes, anyway. I tricked him into being my boyfriend. One morning before class began, I took a ring I’d gotten in one of those clear plastic bubbles and placed it in my mailbox. The mailboxes […]
MoreTough Love is baaaaack! It’s no secret that I’ve had a MASSIVE crush on professional matchmaker (and VH1’s Tough Love host) Steve Ward ever since I set my eyes upon him through my television. Don’t even get me started on his adorable Philly accent! Feast your eyes… Anyway, in the previous 4 seasons of Tough […]
MoreSaturday at sunset, my coworker and friend, Ashley, got married! October 19, 2013 marked the 10-year anniversary of her boyfriend turned fiance, and now husband, Barry. And their wedding was beautiful. And yes, I know, that’s what everyone says about every wedding. But this one was different, I swear. Ashley & Barry are dedicated travelers. […]
MoreIf you kept up with my shenanigans on Match.com, you might recall a guy named (or, usernamed) Pookie. He was one of the first people to message and “wink” at me on Match, but despite our 100% compatibility rating, I wasn’t feeling it. Later, I noticed him working out at my gym…like every time I […]
MoreIs it possible to fall in love with something other than a person? I certainly hope so, because I’ve fallen in love with Los Angeles. This love affair has been going on since about 6th grade—before I’d ever even been to the city. But I dreamed about the streets, lined with palm trees and lights, […]
MoreThe first time I went to an “Adult store,” a sex shop, whatever you want to call it, I was barely 18, a virgin in the literal sense, and a virgin to most things. My friend and I were going in for fun. Upon walking into this store, my eyes landed on a glass case […]
MoreAh…breakups. I’ve been through (probably) way too many, that sometimes it seems like a calculated move to get over it: get rid of his stuff + delete his digital history + see new hot guy = movin’ on! But I know it’s not quite that easy. One thing that helps me get through the gloomy […]
MoreLast weekend I saw (hottie) Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s movie, Don Jon. Watch the preview: The flick is about a guy named Jon, who loves his family, friends, church, working out…and watching porn. In fact, he likes watching porn so much, he says he likes it more than actual sex…with a human. Seems a little, wacky, right? […]
MoreYesterday marked three years that I’ve been registered with WordPress.com. Three years ago, I registered this blog space so I’d have a place to keep all of the stories running through my head. I thought I would eventually weave them into a memoir. As you probably know by now, that’s not quite what happened. But […]
MoreOver the summer, Maureen O’Connor wrote an article for New York Magazine, “All My Exes Live in Texts: Why the Social Media Generation Never Really Breaks Up.” Hmmm. Even the title had my gears turning. For starters, O’Connor states in the article that out of her 700 friends on Facebook, 36 she considers to be […]
MoreWhen I started writing the series, How I fell, I had no idea just how long, and book-like it would become. Many of you asked me for a book. Well, ask and you shall receive, because How I Fell is now an ebook. Of course, I know you’ve already read the series. But the book […]
MoreTruthfully, after I met the Tall Guy and didn’t hear from anyone else, I was pretty much ready for my 30 days of Match to be over. I reached out to 4-5 more guys that I found interesting and never heard back from them. As much as I tried to tell myself that it wasn’t […]
MoreOne thing I’ve learned in my years as a single person is that love doesn’t just come from dating someone. Love comes in all forms. One thing I love is fall, and all kinds of goodies that come along with it. Here are a few of my fall loves: 1. Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte This […]
MoreWith each day that I was on Match, I felt like I had viewed so many (hundreds) of profiles, that I was confusing people that I met with people on Match. When I’d see a waiter at a restaurant, I wondered if I’d seen him on Match, or was I just insane? Or did I […]
MoreAlthough we decided to meet at a coffee shop at 4:30, I showed up an hour early. This is just the kind of person I am. I am incredibly paranoid about being late. I hate it. And 2., I wanted to avoid that whole, “Lost puppy look” as I was searching the coffee shop for […]
MoreOnce I “Favorited” the 12 guys, it didn’t take long before a few of them sent me messages. The first guy, one I called “The Ginger,” was attractive, and worked as a freelance photographer. Creatives attracted to creatives—no surprise there. We emailed back and forth 3 or 4 times, and I was ready to meet. […]
MoreThe very first message I received on Match was from a 56-year-old man. Mind you, I put my age range from 28-36. However, if someone puts their age range as 25-60, then my profile would come up in their search results. His message said, “Beautiful smile, wish I were younger.” Uh yeah, me too. Unfortunately, […]
MoreMatch.com lets you create your entire profile before you subscribe (ahem, pay). So, I uploaded 8 pictures (you can upload up to 25) and filled out my profile: DETAILS: Relationship: Never Married Have kids: None Wants kids: Not sure Ethnicity: White / Caucasian Body type: About average Height: 5’3″ (160cms) Faith: Spiritual but not religious […]
MoreAfter that terrible “relationship” with D, I really wanted to try something new as far as dating goes. And yes, I know online dating isn’t necessarily new, but it was new for me. I’d never done any type of online dating, whether formal (through a dating service) or informal (through a social media network/game/email, etc). […]
MoreBefore I go back to normal blog business, I wanted a chance to really thank you all for reading my entire 19-part series, How I Fell. During the month of August, when I was posting the series, 5,987 of you visited this blog. That blew July’s numbers out of the water—218. But that’s not why […]
More“Oh?” I asked, not surprised that my suspicions were confirmed. She nodded. “She was checking up on him, figured out you were his ex, and then found your blog,” she said. “Interesting,” I said. “Well, what’s interesting is the timing,” she continued. “They started hanging out around Easter, which…from reading your blog, that’s when you […]
MoreAgainst my better judgment, I opened the door. Later, I told my friends and family that I didn’t let D in. It’s even embarrassing to admit it here. However, if I’m going to be honest, then I have to mention it all—even the moments I wish I could erase. “Here’s your FAKE KEY,” D snarled. […]
MoreJune 27, 2013 Note: the following was written word-for-word, character-for-character, from Facebook messenger. Typos, misspellings, and other nonsense are due to the present drunk-ass. ME (3:56 a.m.): What? I’ve been asleep. D (3:56): u suck] ME (3:57): Okay thanks. D (3:57): really? ok bye ok t;hanks bye. im sure ur man can deal with it […]
MoreThe next day, I took a long lunch to clean my house because I had scheduled a “home visit” with a local animal shelter that had a kitty I wanted to adopt. D and I went to our favorite spot—California Pizza Kitchen—had lunch, and headed home to clean. I passed the inspection and the kitty, […]
More“What? I never said that,” I told him. I knew I didn’t say it. “Yes, yes you did,” he said. “But it’s cool, I’m fine with being mediocre.” Here we go! Welcome to the show I like to call, D is wasted and passive-aggressive and insecure, who’s up for round 1? “Alright, I never said […]
MoreI busted through his front door, stormed into his bedroom, where he was snoring. “Wake up!” I yelled. He opened his eyes, sitting up. “We have to leave, like now,” I said. “Why didn’t my alarm go off?” he asked. “I don’t know,” I said. “Grab my wallet, go to Albertsons, and get a dozen […]
MoreThe next day, I explained my side of the situation. “Yeah, we WERE supposed to have craft night,” he said. “But I got too drunk.” He didn’t even bother picking up his daughter that day, and obviously didn’t bother telling me there was a change of plans. Instead, he decided to get hammered, and make […]
MoreIt was a Thursday afternoon when D told me it wouldn’t be much longer for his grandfather. I asked him what he wanted me to do. He wanted me to meet him for lunch, and drinks. So I did. Needless to say, D was pretty upset. His family was close, his parents and grandparents all […]
MoreThe Monday following Matt’s wedding, D sent me a text saying he wanted me to meet his daughter. That night. Considering I just met his parents a week before that, 2 things were happening in my mind. 1. Yeah, things were certainly faster than I was used to. And 2., my nerves were shot. I […]
MoreDuring the month of April, I was trying my damnedest to keep up with National Poetry Writing Month and write a poem each day for all 30 days of the month. So, when my therapist told me I had PTSD, I took it as great fodder for a poem. I wrote the following: I was […]
More204 Rosewood Lane is the second book in Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove series that I am just loving reading! While all of the books are written in third person, there is a letter in the front of each book written to the reader by one of the characters. The first book’s letter was from Olivia, […]
MoreDuring the quick drive from the church to their home, D called his parents asking if they needed anything. “We are going to stop at Walmart because Holly needs a case of beer…” he told them (Baptists are anti-alcohol). I gave him the evil stare. He laughed, hanging up the phone, telling me to lighten […]
MoreA few weeks later, D arrived at my apartment one night and made an interesting comment. “You know, staying at your place every night is really KILLING my hygiene.” Oh? The standard routine had been that he came over after work (which was usually late at night) and slept until it was time to get […]
MoreThings were moving right along with me and D. So smoothly, in fact, that it felt weird. I’d never dated someone who missed me after just a few hours of being apart. I’d never spent so much time with someone where I recognized their smell, or their breathing when they slept. I’d never fallen into […]
MoreMy new boyfriend had yet to meet my friends, and since my parents live states away, meeting my friends was as important as it got. So me and D planned to have my friends come into the restaurant one night when he was working—this way, he could meet them, but it wouldn’t be some formal […]
MoreThe following day, a Sunday, we texted most of the day, so I invited him to come over once he got off work. It was raining by that time, and he wasn’t sure where to park to get to my apartment, so I met him outside, resulting in a movie-esque run in the rain (I […]
MoreFor my birthday last month, one of my best friends bought me a book to read (Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner) and she told me she bought herself a copy, so we could both read it and discuss it. I loved this idea! The book was so good we got through it quick and […]
MoreAfter a few days of flirting via phone calls and texts, he was working late one Friday night when he told me he really wished I would have come to visit him at work. I told him I was big on formal invites—I never wanted to show up any place that I wasn’t absolutely sure […]
MoreI saved D in my phone as “D” for two reasons: 1. I have a wild imagination, and 2. I had just finished reading Julie Powell’s second memoir, “Cleaving,” about her sexy affair with a man she called “D.” A girl can dream. The day following our first date was a Tuesday, which meant I […]
MoreI wasn’t even half-finished with my glass of wine when D appeared, plopping down in the bar stool beside me. “I didn’t think you’d come,” he said. He looked more handsome than I recalled the night before. He was dressed in a collared, button down shirt, jeans, and Chucks…I love Chucks. “I thought about not […]
MoreBoy, this is the start of a series of posts I have been dreading to revisit—the story of a relationship that ended just a month ago. While it was just 4 months in time, it was a love that shook me. I hope you’ll stick around for the entire story. Here goes… * * * […]
MoreA few weeks ago, The Frisky posted a story about 2 friends (a guy and a girl) who found themselves single at the same time and decided to date each other for 40 days…and blog about it. This was/is right up my ally. I kept seeing the link to the blog all over my Facebook […]
MoreHello out there! I realize I’ve been MIA for months; and when that happens, I really hate doing these “apology posts” regarding my absence. Truth be told, I don’t think there is one specific reason why I was silent on the blog these last few months—I suppose life just got in the way. Most of […]
MoreWhere are the Nicholas Sparks fans? I jumped on the Sparks bandwagon a few years ago when The Last Song hit movie theatres. I loved the movie and did the backward thing by reading the book afterward. Ever since, I got my best girlfriend hooked on his books and I love reading them and then […]
MoreI sometimes get a thrill out of 3am ice cream standing alone in my kitchen just because I can What thrills those around me often chills me terrifies me into sleepless nights sending me into a chain of unpleasant days I sometimes find myself living in the past romanticizing what has hurt me I don’t […]
MoreThis is an editorial I wrote for Dig magazine in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. * * * I’m thinking about getting a landline. It’s not about time travel or saving money. It’s for the sake of dating. I’ve had a cell phone since I was 16, when I had my first boyfriend […]
MoreI can still remember my first Valentine. I was in first grade, and a boy in my class, named Dustin, gave me a small, white teddy bear with a red bow tied around his neck. At 6 years old, this was a lavish gift among the ritual of passing out store-bought cards with flat suckers. […]
MoreI saw this commercial for Kraft “Anything” Dressing last night. Can you count how many dating cliches are in it? “Kraft has rebranded its salad dressing as ‘Anything Dressing’—a smart change that allows it to justify pouring its fattening Ranch over anything from asparagus to pizza. To promote the new branding, ad agency Being created […]
MoreI’ve been thinking a lot about Valentine’s Days from years behind me…and it doesn’t look pretty. One in particular, two years ago, hurts me the most. But as I continue to move on as a single woman, learning from these moments is what it’s all about. So, I want to share with you a piece […]
MoreYesterday, I started the oh-so-fun task of cleaning out my work email account, as we are going through a program migration tomorrow. So that left me to sort through a solid 7,000 emails in attempts to start fresh. Sigh. Things were going as great as they could be considering the circumstances when I started clicking […]
MoreYesterday, The Frisky posted an article on “the list.” You know the list I’m talking about…that list of everything you want in a significant other. Perhaps some of the things on the list are dreamy—his stunning eyes, his golden locks—some of them might be fun—hobbies he’ll have, or those he won’t—and of course, there are […]
MoreAs I venture out more and more in the dating scene, I’ve gotten more annoyed with the amount of text-messaging that happens there. Yeah, I know I sound like a huge loser, that I’m not with it. Believe me, I do my fair share of texting and have even had entire relationships (or so it […]
MoreIn last Sunday’s issue of The New York Times there was an “Education Life” insert full of articles on the modern college student. As a blogger, I was super excited to check out “Term Paper Blogging,” an article written by Matt Richtel on the idea of the age-old term paper being replaced with a blog. […]
MoreIn last Sunday’s issue of The New York Times, there was a great Modern Love article by Aimee Lee Ball, “Exit Left, Wordlessly.” Read it here. In it, Ball explains a relationship she had with a Civil War re-enactor. Although she was attracted to him, she questioned some of the stories he told her about his […]
MoreBefore I left work yesterday, I was rummaging around in my desk and came across an old stack of CDs. Near the top was one very dear to my heart: The Spirit Room by Michelle Branch. This album came out in 2001, when I was a junior in high school. This was the same year […]
MoreI came across this article on Twitter (follow me @OrangeJulius7) last month from Writer’s Relief: “Online Writing Submissions: Mistakes Writers Make Submitting to Literary Agents and Editors” Here’s a few tips I learned: Don’t rush. Take your time, follow ALL of the guidelines. Don’t forget to actually SUBMIT the work. Proofread (no typos or slang). […]
MoreIt seems really silly and stupid of me to post two entries in a row that are apologies about not writing. I have, yet again, put all the fun stuff on hold for what? Work, I suppose. This book is really important to me, so I don’t know why I keep letting it slip to […]
MoreHello all! I want to offer my sincere apologies for not writing in well over a month. I know, I’m a slacker…and I’m kicking myself in the ass for it. Truth be told, I’ve made the mistake of letting other things get in the way of making progress on my book…things like work, freelance, and […]
MoreI’ve been researching agents and the publishing world for just a few days now, and I will admit {as much as I hate to} that it is an intimidating world out there. I’m starting to second guess all of the work I’ve done, and wonder if I need to work harder, longer, be more clever…in […]
MoreHello everyone! I’m spending a Sunday inside {it’s rather dreary outside}, but I’m attempting to be productive and do some research on this whole book publishing thing. I’m reading some of the articles in my 2011 Guide to Literary Agents, and have found some helpful links for all of us! The Association of Author’s Representatives […]
MoreThat last post (below) was one a wrote WHILE giving a presentation on why blogging is great for business. I logged into my Dashboard and showed the audience just how easy it is to post using WordPress (I know, I should be paid for this stuff). But anyway, last night I finally finished editing the […]
MoreOn my way home from work this evening, I used a gift card I got for Christmas to purchase the latest edition of Writer’s Market (the gospel for us folk). In years prior, I buy the general Writer’s Market, but since all I am focused on this year is publishing my book, I was happily […]
MoreHello all, and Happy New Year! Ugh, my sincere apologies for not writing lately. I have been totally drained, and really haven’t done a good job of keeping up with ANY of my many writing projects…I’m completely blaming the holidays and my long break from work that’s got me completely lazy! Anyway, I hope the […]
MoreI literally JUST finished editing my first rough draft. Man, it feels great! Many of you have offered to help me edit and I’m so thankful for that. I made all of my edits with pen and paper, so it will probably take me a few days to make them electronically (I know I probably […]
MoreHello all! I promise I’m still around. I just unpacked the rough draft to do an hour or so of editing. I am currently on page 21. I’m hoping to be finished tomorrow, so I can make all of my changes electronically and then send out the latest copies of the text. Wish me luck!
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The Bitter Lemon 
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