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 […]
MoreOver 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 […]
MoreDior is so hard to resist, so I’m tickled they’ve got a scent called “Addict” — or formally, Dior Addict 2. As described by Amazon, “Dior Addict 2 was introduced in 2005 by the design house of Christian Dior. Free spirited, fresh and invigorating blend of verbena, with a heart that is a perfect blend […]
MoreIt’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 […]
MoreI mentioned last week that I’m having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit this year, and I think it’s because I didn’t travel home for Thanksgiving. Usually when I do, my friends and I open gifts and watch the tree lighting in Downtown Indianapolis. I put my Christmas tree up, in hopes that would help, […]
More“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 […]
MoreThere we were: kissing on a bench outside The Dungeon in the French Quarter. It’s the start of any classic love story, right? I met my friend Brooks in high school, though we weren’t friends until I was nearly out of college. Like most people our age, we reconnected through Facebook, and over the years […]
MoreAfter 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, […]
MoreIf I’m going to be honest with you, I’m not a huge fan of putting up the Christmas tree — swear I’m not a Grinch. It’s just that, I’ve got to drag the tree down from the top shelf of my closet, plus all the bins of decorations, etc. I’m sure you all know the […]
MoreI know everyone is probably still full of turkey and pie, but I couldn’t help but post one of my favorite recipes just in time for the Christmas holiday season — White Chocolate and Pecan Cookies. I made them many years ago, the ONLY time I’ve spent Christmas with a boyfriend (read about the details […]
MoreHappy Thanksgiving, y’all! Last year, I was pretty fresh off a breakup, and although it was a breakup for the best, the holidays always have a way of highlighting the doom and gloom (blame it on the lights and glitter). I know that around this time of year, everyone is thinking about what they’re thankful […]
MoreGiven 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. […]
MoreIt’s Thanksgiving week, and one of my favorite parts about kicking off the holiday season is purchasing gifts for someone in need. Several years ago, the company my mom works for started buying gifts for residents at an Indianapolis nursing home. The nursing home would provide the office with a list of names of residents […]
MoreIt 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 […]
MoreI was feeling kind of cheesy about using Happy by Clinique as my Fresh Friday scent this week, but once I spritzed a little on, I was reminded why this perfume is so popular — it’s refreshing! As described by Clinque, “A hint of citrus. A wealth of flowers. A mix of emotions. Our best-selling […]
MoreI’ve never really understood why women go to such lengths to change up their beauty routines when winter rolls around — until now. And yes, I know winter proper isn’t here yet, but it’s getting colder out and in turn, my lips are chapped. Earlier this summer, I never left the house without my cute […]
MoreThe 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 […]
MoreI 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, & […]
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 […]
MoreA few weeks ago, someone posted a link on Facebook to instructions on how to make a hand-knitted infinity scarf. And by hand-knitted, I mean, using your hands instead of knitting needles. So, last weekend I finally got around to purchasing some yarn and sitting down to see if I could complete the scarf. Now, […]
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 was totally going to choose a classic scent (such as Clinique Happy) for today’s Fresh Friday, but I reached into my perfume goodie bag and this is what I came up with. I wore it to the office yesterday, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this feminine scent! As described […]
MoreI 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, […]
More‘Tis here. Every. Single. Year. Without fail, every single time fall rolls around, I get sick. It has been this way since I was a child — only then, at least I could blame it on being stuck in a classroom with a bunch of dirty kids. Now? I suppose I’m stuck in an office […]
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 […]
MoreMaintaining a healthy diet is always a struggle, but I find it to be an ENORMOUS challenge when the cooler months roll around — the swimsuits are gone, sweets are everywhere, and there’s a constant crave for comforting foods. It’s tough! But no matter how difficult it is, I know I feel better when I’m […]
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 […]
MoreI couldn’t find a picture of the perfume decent-enough for the big slot, so you’ll have to just admire the fashions (I think these are from 2010, but I’m obsessed with the blue number) of Ms. Stella McCartney, even though I’m talking about one of her fabulous perfumes. Today’s Fresh Friday scent profile features Stella […]
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 […]
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 […]
MoreWhen I think of fall, I think of football, and when I think of football, I think of CHILI. I don’t even like football, but I LOVE chili! I grew up eating chili, and it always makes me think of my dad. So, I’ve spent years trying to perfect a chili that I can call […]
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 & […]
MoreIt’s true, men like to watch romantic comedies, too! Maybe you’ve caught your boyfriend laughing a little too hard during a recent Lifetime movie, or perhaps you’ve caught your husband popping in a copy of your coveted Sex & The City DVD. No matter what the reason, men love them a little chick flick. For […]
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 […]
MoreFresh Friday is here, and this week’s scent is spa-worthy as it is Bliss by Bliss, as in Bliss spa! If you haven’t heard of the spa, chances are you’ve seen, or perhaps tried one of their many skincare products. Not to deter from the Bliss scent, but I do want to mention the products, […]
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, […]
MoreWell, it’s the second day of fall, and call me basic, but yes, ’tis the season to embrace every single little thing about the outdoors — even when there’s not really fall-like weather. In honor of my favorite holiday, I started my stockpile of fall-scented candles weeks ago, and even made a chili (recipe coming […]
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 […]
MoreAloha! Since I am spending this Fresh Friday with my toes in the sand (jealous, much?), I wanted to feature a beachy scent this week — and it just had to be Sel Marin by James Heeley. Sel Marin is described as “An afternoon standing on the docks during a clear spring day, the salty […]
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 […]
MoreI know we still have (technically) another few weeks of summer left, but tomorrow I’m leaving for the beach with my two best friends, to bid another summer adieu. Although I didn’t find love this summer, it was a good one — and fall is really my favorite time of year. Perhaps this fall will […]
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 […]
MoreI know what you’re all thinking — “Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl, with yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to there…” — No? Well if you weren’t thinking it before, now it’s going to be stuck in your head all day. But you know what? I’m okay with […]
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 […]
MoreIf you’re learning anything about me, it’s that I LOVE a blog series. So why not start another one? This series is all about lip color, because I don’t wear enough of it, and I’m really trying to branch out. So in the spirit of people’s obsession with Fifty Shades of Grey and the movie coming […]
MoreToday marks the start of my fifth consecutive week on the Tone It Up Plan, and I’m proud to report that I’ve lost a little more than five pounds since I started! Sticking to a diet and a workout regimen (which involves at least six workouts a week), isn’t easy. But little by little, my […]
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 […]
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 […]
MoreLast Thursday night, my friend Marcy and I tried a little something different for our usual girls’ night — a try at the popular “Poppin’ Cookin’.” In particular, I purchased the hamburger set (that looks eerily similar to that of McDonalds). What is Poppin Cookin? It’s a Japanese phenomenon, in which people like myself get […]
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. […]
MoreIt took all week for me to recover from my trip to the midwest, and of course, I had to work — it wasn’t easy getting back into the swing of things. So, when I got home Friday night (after an 8-mile bike ride and an hour of boxing), I wasn’t ashamed to tuck myself […]
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 […]
MoreThe scent this week is Gold by fashion designer, Michael Kors. He has a ton of different perfumes (I’m guessing to go along with his many clothing styles), so I’m sure you’ll be seeing his name on these posts quite often. I’ve got a sample of Gold, and have been spritzing it on every morning […]
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 […]
MoreMatthew Sanchelli is a self-proclaimed “nice guy,” and apparently, something worked, because he’s engaged to be married, and is all up in the wedding planning, right along with his bride-to-be! Matt, and his fiancee Becca, met online (gives me hope!), and eventually met in-person at a dog park — aww! Check out their joint blog, […]
MoreNo, I’m not quite cool enough to be featured on an episode of MTV’s Cribs, but yes, that is the inside of my fridge. After an incredible week back home, it’s time for me to detox and get back on a tight diet — I can’t lie, I’ve put on some pounds this summer, and […]
MoreI’ve traveled a lot my myself — in fact, I’ve traveled more on my own than I have with other people (same goes for seeing movies). Sometimes, I’m traveling alone to meet others at my final destination, and there are times I’ve taken an entire trip by myself. Either way, traveling solo (I just finished […]
MoreOh yeah, I’m starting a NEW series on the bloggy, called “Fresh Friday” (#FF), where I will feature a perfume. Over the years, I’ve collected several scents, some of them are full bottles, and some of them are just samples, but as of this moment, there are 40 different perfumes in my bathroom closet (no […]
MoreI’ve spent the last few months trying to make different protein bars from scratch, so I could avoid buying the expensive ones from the store. I used bags of coconut flour, coconut oil, unsweetened coconut, protein powder, flaxseed, paleo-friendly chocolate chips… and while, some of the recipes I tried were okay, they weren’t really what […]
MoreAfter a pretty epic weekend, it was difficult for me to choose one picture to represent it all — but I can never turn down a sunset (hope you’re not getting tired of it). I got to Chicago Friday morning, and meeting up with one of my best friends. After checking into our hotel downtown, […]
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The Bitter Lemon 
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