Is it just me, or has it been incredibly difficult to get into the holiday spirit this year? I feel really old when I say, “It’s crept up on me this year,” yet I keep saying it. I blame my Scrooge-like spirit partly on the weather, given that it’s going to be in the 70s […]
MoreI know I’ve mentioned a few times that it’s been difficult for me to get into the Christmas spirit this year — and hey, I’ll probably mention it at least once more before Friday. Deal with it. But, I think this happens to me every single year. Sometimes, I’ll go the entire season without feeling […]
MoreWhether you’re spending the holidays with family, friends, or both, the chances are likely you’ll need a cocktail to get through one more round of dominos with the grandparents or flip through that dusty photo album with your mother-in-law, for the 11th time. Or, maybe you’re like me, and looking for any excuse to get […]
MoreI KNOW there’s a ton of you out there who are SO amped it’s Friday — teachers, worker-folk, I’m sure you’re all ready for the 5 o’clock hour to strike so you can race out the door to not waste a MINUTE of your holiday break. And I don’t blame you one bit. I do […]
MoreSince moving, I’ve been anxious to get back on some sort of plan to tone up, and per usual, it hasn’t been easy. I joined a dance studio and have gotten into a pretty good routine of going to classes four times each week. And although that’s good (plus it’s a really fun way to […]
MoreThe holidays are here and that means one thing: DRINKS! Okay, so maybe it’s like that ALL year ’round, but let’s pretend like we’re not all functioning drunks, K? Delish.com has put together a list of wines that you’ll love, according to your zodiac sign. And, I’m not sure what the information is based off, […]
MoreI had every intention of posting a sexy little fiction piece today, but when I got out of my dance class (Twerk and Burn) last night, my passenger’s side window had been shattered. The bastard was after an old (very old) Coach laptop bag, and although inside the bag wasn’t a laptop (thank God), there […]
More“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 […]
MoreIs it just me, or is this holiday season just FLYING by? I feel like everything is coming up so fast and I’ve got so much to do before it’s over! Nonetheless, it all starts with putting up the Christmas tree, right? Yes. I think every year, that maybe THIS year, I won’t put up […]
MoreAlmost 100 days ago, many of you sent your well wishes my way when I announced I was starting a new job (again, thank you). And last Wednesday, I completed my “Capstone presentation” at said job — meaning I’ve completed all of my SEO training and am in this gig for good (or at least […]
MoreThat’s right, I’ve got cellulite. While it has an oddly nice ring to it, I freaking haaaaate it! I’ll be honest here, I’ve really never had body issues until the last year or so. Part of it came from being a gym rat, and getting obsessive over what I ate and how often I hit […]
MoreI was going to write about lies — how often we lie and why we do it, and of course, how it affects our relationships. But as I type this, I’ve locked myself into my bedroom and am impatiently waiting to hear a victorious “snap!” of a mousetrap. Let me explain. I am expecting company […]
MoreThe fact that Thanksgiving is over and it’s the official holiday season has me feeling kind of anxious — I feel like time is just FLYING by! I truly hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving, as my weekend was such a fun one thanks to my friend Sheena for driving across the country to come […]
MoreRemember last week? Last week, when I was so excited to join Operation Turkey (the North Austin branch) and hundreds of volunteers to serve thousands of homeless people? Well, the actual experience completely blew. Here’s what happened… After I signed my friend and I up for the volunteer job (for which I signed us up […]
MoreThanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love the fall weather, a few days off from work, and of course, the food. I love to cook (especially for a guy), I really like to eat, and the fact that pigging out is perfectly acceptable for this holiday is just the whipped topping on my pumpkin pie. […]
MoreYES! Thanksgiving is the day after tomorrow! I went shopping for my feast last night and I’m SO excited about all the delicious food I’ll be chowing down on Thursday. Below is the menu… and don’t let me fool you, I pretty much bought everything already prepared. Turkey breast & drumsticks Cornbread stuffing Green beans […]
MoreY’all… it’s FRIDAY!! The exciting thing about THIS Friday is that for most of us, next week is a short week, then we get a looooong weekend. I cannot really explain how happy this makes me. I’ve felt so stressed this week; stressed over things that are out of my control (isn’t that the worst), […]
MoreA few weeks ago, my favorite radio show, “Johnjay and Rich,” got to talking about red flags in dating. Now, red flags are nothing new, but a lot of the red flags they were talking about were silly — like, don’t date a guy if he wears cargo pants. If wearing cargo pants is the […]
MoreEvery time a new piece of technology, or a new social app, is introduced into our world, I try to find a way to wiggle it into my routine. Unless it’s not worth it, of course. I downloaded SnapChat (@OrangeJulius7) around six months ago, at the suggestion of a younger friend. “All the cool kids […]
MoreI seriously spent this ENTIRE weekend adulting. On Thursday, I woke up to the reality that Thanksgiving was just TWO weeks away — and between now and then, I’ve got a TON of shit to do, from work tasks, things around the apartment, and just general LIFE shit. I felt incredibly overwhelmed, so I decided […]
MoreToday is the day that Beliebers and One Directioners can rejoice — as Justin Bieber AND One Direction released their NEW albums at midnight! Today may as well be Christmas, because we’ve (and by me, I mean all of us) been waiting for this day FOR-EV-ER. And okay, so there may be a little friendly […]
MoreIf you were ever worried that I’d run out of celebrity crushes, fear not my friends. Lately, I’ve noticed that I go through crushes pretty quick. My crushes in real life never like me back, so it leaves me to the only alternative: loading up on celeb crushes and hoping one day ONE of these […]
MoreWell, I realize that for a ‘Pic of the Week,’ this is a pretty subpar photo. I was too lazy to get on the ladder, and to be honest, I’m terrified of that damn ladder. But! I’m pretty proud of this little project I accomplished, so there it is. Assembled shelves that are now home […]
MoreFor some reason, I feel like I’ve done a pretty good job of hiding the fact that I’m a TV junkie… not sure HOW I was able to hide it (hell, maybe I haven’t), but I’m here to assure you, it’s true. I’m a TV junkie. I’d love to tell you that hey, it’s fall, […]
MoreHowdy! Whew, I’m SO happy it’s Friday! It’s been a crazy-busy week all around, and it flew by. It’s supposed to rain (again) in Austin this weekend, so if you’re following me on SnapChat (OrangeJulius7), be prepped for lots of couch-lounging-DVR-CSI-snaps, K? I officially joined Dance Austin this week, so I can attempt to whip […]
MoreFall is slowly starting to creep in, and no matter what the season, I’m always looking for fun ways to try new things, without hurting my wallet. While I love wine, I think it’d be really fun to host a beer tasting at your home this season (or during any season, really)! It’s super easy, […]
MoreTruth be told, I almost didn’t post a pic this week, because… well, because I didn’t take many pictures, and it started off as a shitty week. Last week, I was feeling rather gloomy for either all kinds of reasons at once, or for reasons I have yet to pinpoint. And in my world, this […]
MoreA few weeks ago, a coworker headed to Vegas for the weekend to see Britney Spears at Planet Hollywood. I was SO jealous…and couldn’t wait to hear all about it come Monday. Since Britney debuted with “Baby One More Time,” I’ve been a huge fan. When she took over MTV in her school girl uniform, […]
MoreThe 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 […]
MoreIt sounds a little weird that I’m giving you a tour inside my bathroom, but hey, when I say I’ll let you in my home, I mean it! Click on the video to get the visuals on my bathroom (which is attached to my bedroom and has a separate entrance in the hallway) and my […]
MoreI’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 […]
MoreLast week, my office decided to have a costume contest this Friday. Otherwise, let’s be CLEAR: I would not have done anything associated with Halloween. But, I’m down for a contest. I tried to think of costumes that would be easy to assemble, comfortable to wear to work, creative, and easy on the wallet. I […]
MoreHere we are, at the start of another week. And, I’m excited to say that I’m starting a new series here on the blog: “Dirty 30.” Dirty 30 is going to focus on all of the shitty things that happen once you turn 30. What a joy, right? The first Dirty 30 installment is on […]
MoreThe competition is on! I’m lucky enough to live in a city that’s full of different food joints, and don’t worry, I’ve got a list of the ones I want to try (and it’s getting longer by the day). Of course, I’ll be right here to report all of my findings with you. So, the […]
MoreSaying that fashion has a part in dating sounds really superficial, but it truly does. When I think of fashion, I think of celebrities and red carpets, but the pieces on runways trickle down to the stores we know and love, right in Baton Rouge. And when it comes time for that first date, or […]
MoreLast Thursday night, I did something I’ve wanted to do for a really long time – years, even. I took a dance class! On the surface, I know it doesn’t sound like that big of a deal, but I’ll explain. I started taking dance in 7th grade, at a small athletic club. It was a […]
MoreNothing like a Robert Palmer reference to jump start your Monday, right? A few weeks ago, a fabulous friend pointed me toward a Modern Love article from the New York Times, “Overcoming Love Addiction: One Apple Martini at a Time.” The title intrigued me, but the author said things I could really identify with. My […]
MoreY’ALL. Where has this week gone? It completely flew by, and I’m pretty sure it’s because I kicked things off by making this pumpkin coffee cake for my coworkers. Originally, this recipe called for sweet potato puree instead of pumpkin, but I wanted to jump on the pumpkin craze, plus, it’s way easier to buy […]
MoreAs I mentioned yesterday, I spent my weekend getting a ton of stuff done. On one hand, it was really nice to go into a new week having all of my “chores” done, but on the other hand, I wish I would have relaxed a little. Truth be told, I’m not sure if I know […]
MoreHappy Monday, y’all! After the weekend I had, I feel like I need another few days just to rest, what about you? I did a ton of cooking and baking (look for a new recipe right here on Thursday) over the last few weeks, and as promised, I told you I’d invite you into my […]
MoreThe following is an original piece of fiction written by Holly A. Phillips in 2007. The story was inspired by her favorite hockey player, Sean Avery. Catch up by reading part one and part two. We practiced in a smaller rink right outside the city. Practice began at nine and after warm-ups, drills, and weights; […]
More“You should write about the art of sexting.” It was a message I got a few weeks ago from a married guy friend of mine. “Wait, people still do that?” I asked him. “Yes,” he said. “Doesn’t everyone?” Then it was just awkward because I felt like a clueless prude and he’d just admitted what […]
MoreIt’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 […]
MoreAs some of you may know, I only joined the iPhone clan in March. I have yet to fully understand the obsession with these things (I really, really loved my Blackberry), and with the rollout of iOs 9 that completely fucked up my phone, I’m less than impressed. But, there’s a few apps I’m loving […]
MoreWe played the Wolverines in the Square three days after we killed the Flyers. I had just walked into the locker room when the usual pre-game banter sparked. “Who you gonna piss off tonight man?” 58 asked. “I heard Carmen was pretty irritable. I bet I can shake a fucker up,” I told him. “Dude […]
MoreLast weekend, my fantastic and beautiful hair stylist (and friend) Lydia (she’s at the Garrett Neal Studio, you should call her!), reminded me that the BEST way to meet someone special is through mutual friends. I do think it’s a smart move, but there are even studies behind it, saying that it’s statistically how most […]
MoreA month ago, I downloaded a new dating app called “Coffee Meets Bagel.” I’ll admit I downloaded it on a rather lonely night, as I was watching “Nightline”. The app’s founders were on the show, after they’d turned down $30 million from an episode of “Shark Tank” — the largest bid in “Shark Tank” […]
MoreAs I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I spent my weekend in Baton Rouge, mainly for a great friend’s birthday celebration. In years passed, I’ve made this same girlfriend a dessert of her choice to celebrate. I’ve made her angel food cake with homemade frosting (covered in neon sprinkles), and toasted matzah with chocolate and chopped […]
MoreOver the weekend, I drove back to Baton Rouge to get a ton of things done. It was one of my best friend’s birthday weekends, plus I needed to see my CASA boys, get my hair done (very important), and I needed to get any remaining things out of my apartment, clean the place, and […]
MoreThe following is an original fiction piece, written by Holly A. Phillips in 2007, with great inspiration form her favorite hockey player, Sean Avery. I had 30 seconds left in the penalty box. From my bench, I could see the rows of puck fucks in the lower sections. “Once we go Black…” one sign read; […]
MoreI’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is, I just found out a few days ago that Elijah Wood lives in Austin! According to my coworker, he lives downtown and frequents the Whole Foods at least twice a week to… and here’s the bad news… get flowers for his girlfriend. WAMP WAMP. […]
MoreLast year, I decided to embark on a sexual adventure when I got involved with a f*ck buddy (FB). I use the term “involve” loosely, as it was purely a sex thing (and I’m not just saying that). Together, we agreed that it was a relationship only meant to — as Tove Lo sings — […]
MoreHola! I wanted to offer a quick apology for my lack of posts last week — it’s been a crazy few weeks with the move and all. I was really struggling to function, let alone get my five blog posts in. But I’m back in action and ready to roll! So, life in Austin means […]
MoreThree 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 […]
MoreI moved on Saturday! I’ve spent the last few weeks packing everything I own (well, minus the things I got rid of) and prepping for a move. Now, I know moving — the physical act of doing so — is possibly the worst thing we can do to ourselves as humans. It completely sucks. Because […]
MoreIt’s finally here. What some would call the most wonderful time of the year: football season is upon us. What I’m about to admit is going to lock in my single status for the rest of my life, but here goes… I’m not really a fan of football. There, I said it. I’m a Yankee […]
MoreI 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 […]
MoreI 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 […]
MoreRecent employment happenings have me thinking about dress codes, and specifically, how they affect life at the office. Over the last year, I’ve experienced many different rules when it comes to what to wear to work. At my last career job, the dress code was pretty strict — no jeans, graphic tees, sleeveless, sundresses, etc. […]
MoreHola on this beautiful Monday! We are completely celebrating work and jobs on the blog this week, but of course we’re doing it in a fun way, per usual. Why? Is it because I got called into the office of my retail job and was told gossip is more important than fact? Or is it […]
MoreThe following is an original piece, written by Holly A. Phillips in 2007. The characters and storyline is based off the song “Valerie,” sung by the great Amy Winehouse. Read part one here. * * * Kyle laughed. “Damn. It makes me want to address the crowd back at Killian’s. […]
MoreThe following is a guest piece by my bestie Sheena Hall, who is also madly in love with Harry Styles. She is currently mourning the One Direction split, but wiped away the tears to share the message below. * * * The news of the One Direction “break” came to […]
MoreEvery time I leave my apartment wearing sweats and/or my #CatLady hat, I’m aware of the risks. By risks, I obviously mean the increased chance that I’ll either A. run into a hot guy, or B. see an ex boyfriend. Because… life. Last week, a coworker and I were chatting about various exes we had. […]
MoreHelloooo out there, from the world of boxes, packing, and all things moving-related! I’ve been packing and organizing and cleaning whenever I get the chance in order to wrap things up as fast as possible. It’s no secret that moving is a huge task, but it’s one of those necessary evils in life. As I’m […]
MoreToday is the first day of college for many students – this is something most people probably don’t pay much attention to, but when you live in a college town, it’s all anyone talks about. It probably doesn’t help that I work with mostly college students. But, hearing my coworkers’ stories often reminds me of […]
MoreThe 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 […]
MoreIt’s no surprise that I’m moving, since my lease is up at the end of September. So, over the weekend, I faced reality and starting getting things done — packing, cleaning, organizing, and getting rid of things (lots of things). While the physical act of moving completely sucks, there’s something to be said about having […]
MoreIs 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 […]
MoreThis is the final installment of Holly’s original short story, “Oil & Ink.” Read part one here and part two here, as you wish. * * * “I need to talk to someone about financing a building.” The clerk looked Charlie up and down; from his miniature blond mohawk to […]
MoreI’m always trying to figure out different things that make people compatible — horoscope signs, personality tests, age, family situation — but what about birth order? Turns out (after Googling), there’s actually a TON of information out there on this! An article in Women’s Day lays out the characteristics of each birth order “type”: Firstborns: […]
MoreThe first time I got dumped, it happened on the phone. I was a junior in high school, unaware of any problems in my relationship. But my then-boyfriend — the first one I’d ever had — called me on my clear, purple cordless phone and kept the conversation short. “If the relationship isn’t moving forward […]
MoreSome of you may remember that last week I mentioned a road trip I was taking — and yes, I did that, and can now share my adventure. It all started when I got a phone call from a company I’d had a few interviews with. “Can you be in Austin next week?” the woman […]
MoreI 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 […]
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The Bitter Lemon 
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