relationship
What’s the point of social media?
Over the last few months, I’ve caught myself getting annoyed with social media. Hey, no big deal, you might think. But digital marketing is my job. Social Media is a Necessary Evil The thing is, social media has become a necessary evil if you’re a business or a brand looking to succeed, at all. Some […]
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My fitness challenge.
About six months ago, I started noticing that a lot of my clothes didn’t fit. Tops that were once loose were becoming tight in the arms, and my jeans dug so deep into my stomach, that I’d have a mark in my skin even a day after taking them off. When I saw pictures of […]
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Be the CEO… of your life.
I was having a conversation with a colleague a few weeks ago, catching up on life. I was telling her about my upcoming trip overseas and that I’d started planning a trip back to New York City this summer. “Wow, you are just LIVING your life!” she said. Yeah… I’ve been sort of on a […]
MoreLearning to let go.
I have never been one to let go of anything. In fact, I hold onto things longer than I should, to the point that it’s problematic. I hold onto everything. From physical mementos in photo boxes and clothes that don’t fit to memories (the good and the bad) and grudges. I am really, really bad […]
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Blanche’s Book Club: ‘The Arrangement’.
Hello, hello! I’ve had a pretty good week over here – hope you all can say the same! I DID take three dance classes last night though, so I’m definitely sore today. However, I needed it! But let’s jump right into the book review, because this one is a GOODIE. Here’s the official description from […]
MoreThe 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 […]
MoreIs my single life… boring?
Last week, I mentioned that I’ve been suffering from extreme fatigue lately. As promised, I spent the weekend, and each night this week really making an effort to get quality sleep in hopes of pinpointing the problem (you can expect a progress report next week). Part of solving the problem involves taking a solid look […]
MoreAre we… (gulp)… ‘Millennials’?
Man, Millennials get ssuuuuch a bad rap, but really, why? Several month’s ago, I started listening to the podcast “Millennial“, and I found myself really being able to relate to the concepts being talked about. Although I’ve never identified myself as a Millennial, I started to wonder, wait… am I one? Oddly enough, there’s no […]
MoreWhat did you do for fun… in 5th grade?
I was listening to an episode of “Happier” with Gretchen Rubin a few weeks ago, and she was talking about an interesting study. The study said that whatever you/we were doing for fun at 10 years old, is what you should be doing for your entire life. Hmm! Naturally, I got to thinking about what […]
MoreWhen the timing is all wrong.
Timing is something I hear a lot about in all aspects of my life: when to find the right job, when to talk about certain subjects, when we’re “supposed” to reach certain life milestones (all of which have surpassed for me), when to get married, when to have a baby… there’s a whole lotta scheduling […]
More‘Famously Single’: Initial thoughts…
Last night, E! network premiered their latest reality TV installment, “Famously Single”. I’ll admit, I have been counting down the days…and hours… for this to begin. “Famously Single” brings a group of single, B-list celebrities (mostly from other reality shows) into a house, along with a doctor, to find out exactly why they are single […]
MoreAm 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 […]
MoreDating in my Past Life.
When I was 16, I went to see a palm-reader. She lived in a semi-sketchy neighborhood, and when my high-school friend and I knocked on her door, she quickly snapped off an episode of “Full House” before tending to us. As shady as it seemed, she told me a few things that proved to be […]
MoreSeen, not heard.
“We’re selfish, so all we want is a girl who’s going to listen to everything we say and act like it’s the coolest thing ever.” A guy friend of mine was trying to explain the inner-workings of the male brain to me. I’d just heard on the radio that the #1 reason a man will […]
MoreBaby, you should go & date yourself.
I’ve been single for almost three years. Of course, during these three years, I’ve gone on several dates, and had many flings and crushes. But recently, I’ve found myself in a situation that rarely happens: I don’t even have a crush. As pathetic as it sounds, this thought disappoints me greatly. While I’ve never considered […]
MoreLose Control in Dating… & Love it.
People often say, “When you’re not looking, that’s when it’ll happen.” These people are usually in a relationship. I get it – just when you’re busy getting your life together instead of obsessing over dating, Mr. or Mrs. Right could be eyeing you from afar. It makes sense, but the most difficult thing for me […]
MorePic of the Week.
Last week, I was under the weather. It’s been a LONG time since I’ve been sick; I’d like to think it’s because I’ve been really good about taking my vitamins, eating healthy, getting rest, and using my essential oils. But, lots of people in my office have been sick, so despite all of my efforts […]
MoreRescue me: Hangover cures!
It’s Thirsty Thursday (uh, so what if I’m 9 years out of college…), so let’s be adult about one thing and NOT have a hangover tomorrow! That’s what we call t-e-a-m-w-o-r-k. For years, my girlfriend and I have been hosting “Ladies Night,” which basically means we eat delicious food, watch trashy TV, and drink multiple […]
MoreCeleb crush gone too far?
Everyone knows I’m obsessed with John Mayer and Justin Bieber – it’s not like I’ve made any sort of effort to keep that a secret. I was riding in the car a few weeks ago when they said on the radio that Mr. Mayer was spotted getting into a car with Katy Perry on New […]
MoreSpeak my Love Language.
A good girlfriend of mine introduced me to the Myers-Briggs Trait Indicator test years ago. She knows the different types so well, a night out with her often results in discovering what personality traits people in the room have. It’s fascinating. Her knack for these traits have made her a beneficial matchmaker for me in […]
MorePic of the Week.
I really don’t have any great pictures that represent my travels this weekend – it’s very likely that I was having such a good time, I didn’t pick up my phone. But I traveled north and visited some friends from high school, and got to meet my best friend’s baby (cutest baby ever, seriously). It […]
MoreRecipe for Monogamy.
“It’s only ever happened one time in my entire life.” My hip-hop dance instructor, Dimitrius, was trying to explain to me that he’s been in a serious relationship for most of his life. For the sake of this column, we’re going to assume that he was single at birth, but probably found another cute baby […]
MoreFiction Friday: ‘Black & Blue’, Part VI.
The following is an original piece, written by Holly A. Phillips in 2007. It’s a story based on her favorite hockey player, Sean Avery. Read previous sections of this story here, here, here, here, and here (okay, so it’s kind of long). Walking usually cleared my mind, but it was still buzzing when I reached […]
MoreRemoving the Mask.
I’m finally going to admit it: I hate Halloween. As a kid, I loved it (duh, free candy), and in college, it was the perfect excuse to wear fishnets and do keg stands. But, I’m older now, and truthfully, a lot of things that didn’t scare me before, terrify me now. I’m particularly terrified of […]
MoreFiction Friday: ‘Black & Blue’, Part V.
The following is an original piece, written by Holly A. Phillips in 2007. It’s a story based on her favorite hockey player, Sean Avery. Read previous sections of this story here, here, here, and here (okay, so it’s kind of long). “You can sit down,” she said. I took her word and sat on the […]
MorePic of the Week.
It’s quite possible I’m still coming off a high from such an incredible weekend. I took my first paid-vacation day at the new job on Friday to travel to Kansas City, Missouri. A little random? Kind of. My reasoning was, I got invited to a wedding there. The groom has been a longtime blog reader, turned […]
MoreDating at Work.
Three weeks ago, I started a new job. It’s a full-time career with benefits and a salary, and it’s pretty awesome. It’s my dream job! Starting a new job is always exciting, but a little stressful, too. You’re trying to learn new things, get adjusted to the culture, and meeting all kinds of new people […]
MoreFall is for Lovers.
We’re less than two weeks away from the official start of fall! And yes, I know, Baton Rouge doesn’t really get a fall season. Instead, we get “slightly less hot,” and the leaves start to turn brown instead of that burnt orange color I saw growing up in the Midwest. But still, we wear hoodies […]
MorePic of the Week.
I spent last week in Austin, and made the trek back to Baton Rouge late Friday night. I wanted to visit my kitty, get some packing done, and I had one final shift to work at my retail job. My friend Derek had been telling me for weeks he was going to come over Saturday […]
MoreIs there love after 30?
I already know what you’re thinking: Holly, STOP acting like turning 30 is the end of the world! Don’t worry, that’s not really what this post is about. I definitely don’t think finding love past 30, 40, 50, or any age is something that’s impossible. But, I’ll admit that sometimes I wonder if I’m getting […]
MoreOffice life: a lot like school?
Over these last few months, I’ve been thinking a lot about the different jobs I’ve had. I got my first job at 16, working as a hostess for Outback Steakhouse. At the time, I didn’t think I made much money, but looking back, the gig wasn’t so bad (restaurant minimum wage plus tip share). My […]
MoreFiction Friday: Valerie, part I.
The following piece is an original written by Holly A. Phillips in 2007. It was based on the song “Valerie,” sung by the one, the only Amy Winehouse. * * * He unfolded a black chair and put the acoustic on his knee; he closed his eyes and ran […]
MoreWhy you should probably elope.
Is it just me, or does it seem like ever since Facebook happened, everything surrounding weddings has to be big, bigger, biggest, and frankly, better than yours? Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to keep up with so many people and their happy life moments — those that I would definitely know nothing about if […]
MoreCoping 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 […]
MoreCross-country dating.
The first guy I fell in love with lived in Indiana. I lived here, in Baton Rouge. It was a 14-hour car ride between us, or two connecting flights. We fell in love one summer, when I was home in Indiana. When the summer was drawing to a close, for me, there was no question […]
MoreEscape Room Parallels Relationships.
Over July 4th weekend, my friends suggested an interesting activity: going into the 13th Gate Escape room. From what I gathered over our beer-induced conversation, an escape room involves participants placed in a room and the only way out is to complete a series of puzzles within 60 minutes. At first, I was completely against […]
MoreCeleb Crush: Mick Fanning.
Okay, so you may not have heard the name Mick Fanning, but I KNOW you heard about the Australian surfer who nearly got CHOMPED by a shark during a pro-surfing competition last weekend — that’s him! Any guy who gets chased down by a shark, punches it in the face, and gets away completely unharmed, […]
MoreThe Ex Factor.
I saw him for the first time at Duvic’s. It was Valentine’s Day, he was bartending; pouring several tequila shots. I was out with a friend, doing what single girls do on a couple-y holiday: drinking. What I didn’t know then was that the bartender that night would become a part of my life — […]
MoreSingle Girl Recipe: Noodles!
There’s no doubt about it, noodles and other forms of pasta are definitely a few of my favorite things! When I’m really trying to eat healthy, ridding my apartment of grains is one of the first things I do. And yes, I know, everything in moderation. But the truth is, when it comes to pasta, […]
MoreDads ‘n Daughters.
It’s been 10 months since I’ve talked to my father. I haven’t seen him in two years, and it’s been about 10 years since I’ve spent a holiday with him. I don’t have his address (it’s somewhere in Kentucky), and the last e-gift card I sent him for his birthday went unopened (and I kept […]
MorePic of the Week.
Last Wednesday, I was really excited to get to attend a social media seminar — “Making the Hashtag Your BFF” — hosted by a local creative firm, Dezins Interactive. I’ve seen DI advertise for these seminars before, but I’ve never been able to make it, due to my hectic retail schedule. Well, I guess no […]
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 […]
MoreClosing the Door.
“This is a bit out of nowhere but I may be homeless in Baton Rouge tomorrow…” It was a text I got a few weeks ago from a fellow writer friend who was coming in town from states away. He went on to ask if he could stay at my apartment the following night. It […]
MoreStepping outside the lines.
Last week, social media was ablaze with one thing: Caitlyn Jenner made her stunning debut. For me, Caitlyn’s transition isn’t about fame (dare I say it) or fortune; it’s not about TV ratings or the Kardashians; forget the Twitter records and the courage awards; it’s not even about sexual orientation (whom Jenner decides to sleep […]
MoreStatus: Emotionally Unavailable.
A few weekends ago, my friend and I ventured to Gulf Shores for our second Hangout Music Fest. I’d been looking forward to the sun, sand, music, vodka, and naturally, all the hot guys without shirts. The fine creators of Hangout Fest announced that this year, they were offering weddings. That’s right, you could get […]
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 […]
MoreBoyfriend Recipe: Green Eggs & Ham.
Yes, I like Green Eggs & Ham, even in a house with a mouse… okay, so not really. When you actually think about it, green eggs and ham sounds super disgusting. Amiright? I know I’ve been a little slow to add to my collection of Boyfriend Recipes lately, and that’s mainly due to the fact […]
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 […]
MoreFresh Friday: Very Hollywood.
Hola, amigos! If you’re reading this… I’m driving. I’ve already hit the road and am heading to the Midwest for the weekend. If you need me, call me, ’cause I’ll be on the highway for a whopping 12 hours. Anyway, there’s no way I was going to miss a Fresh Friday due to travel — […]
MoreFresh Friday: Miss Pucci.
Happy Friday, everyone! Is it just me, or have these weeks been flying by lately? In a way, it makes me happy (I’ve got a beach trip approaching), but I am struggling to keep up with all of my deadlines. #WriterProbs Deadlines and time aside, I am shocked I’ve had more than 30 Fresh […]
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)! […]
MoreBoyfriend Recipe: Pulled pork sammies.
Hopefully, the weather is warming up in your part of town and I know the LAST thing you want to be doing is turning on the oven… Which is why I chose this slow-cooker recipe! Your guy, and probably even your kids, will absolutely love these open-faced pulled pork sandwiches, paired with tangy broccoli slaw. […]
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The Bitter Lemon 
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