Every 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 […]
MoreThe last time I had a boyfriend, I introduced him to my mom over pizza. Homemade pizza. I actually made three different kinds that day, because… pizza. And Martha Stewart’s Sausage, Arugula and Parsley pizza was one of them and it was supremely delish! INGREDIENTS 6 ounces of sweet Italian sausage (or spicy, if you’re […]
MoreA few weeks ago, I got a Facebook message from my uncle, my dad’s brother, saying he read my post about my nonexistent relationship with my father. He told me it was obvious that I was leading an unfulfilling life and the only way I would ever be satisfied, is if I consulted Jesus. This […]
MoreAs I was leaving for work Friday afternoon, a letter fell out of my door. I knew exactly what it was before I opened it: a letter from my leasing office that would define the new terms of my apartment lease, if I decided to renew. Having lived in my apartment for nearly four years […]
MoreThe 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 […]
MoreBack at the shop, Charlie sat in his black leather chair, the one with the holes worn in it, and waited for someone to mosey over to his corner. Occasionally, he’d read part of a book from the wire racks up front, but mostly he’d study his art magazines. Charlie’s station was clean, except for […]
MoreLet’s throw a party, because I FINALLY finished Donna Tartt’s “The Goldfinch.” I don’t mean it to sound bad — it was a good book, but it was also very long — and I’ll tell you this: I may have a fantasy about being able to curl up in bed with a good book, but […]
MoreOver 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 […]
MoreFor the last few months, I’ve been making an attempt to clean out my (literal) closet. Not only is my closet way too small for my collection of clothes, shoes, and bags, but a majority of the things in my closet should not be worn. I have a really bad habit of keeping clothes (and […]
MoreIt’s only been a week since the news broke that our favorite country powerhouse couple, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, divorced. I don’t know about you, but I’m still trying to figure out how to cope with all of this?! For starters, they didn’t just file for divorce; they straight up finalized that crap and […]
MoreWhoop! It’s 11:37pm on Thursday, July 23, and I’ve just gotten home from the PREMIER of “Paper Towns” — the movie based on the bestselling book by fellow Hoosier, John Green (Yep, I read it). Y’all don’t understand. I’ve been looking forward to this movie since the day I put down the book… which was […]
MoreOkay, 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, […]
MoreI 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 — […]
MoreOver the weekend, I’m proud to say that my friends and I completed what’s known as an “Escape Room.” I won’t give anything about our particular scenario away, but these escape rooms are all over the country (I even saw one in London, too!) and groups of people are setting out to conquer them. I’ve […]
MoreI had the weekend off, and I don’t have to go into work until 4pm today… I’d be lying if I said my mind wasn’t wondering if I should take an impromptu beach trip, all on my own (it’s just a short, 4-hour drive to Pensacola). But, I wussed out, stayed in-town, and attempted to […]
MoreHowdy! I’m so happy that it’s Friday, per usual, but there’s something actually interesting about this Friday in particular: I have the weekend off! WHAT!? I’m really happy that my retail job is giving me the weekend off, given that I’ve worked my little booty off this week. So, once I get off work today, […]
MoreNot to be an ass, but I read an article the other day that said the average marriage that’s ending in divorce lasts around 8 years. So for my peers who got married at 22, yikes. Truthfully, some of my friends are already divorced, and in fact, some are already facing marriage number two. Yay! […]
MoreI blame Food Network for my recent crush on local chef Jay Ducote. He’s currently starring on season 11 of Food Network Star, where contestants compete to have their own cooking show on Food Network. My crush on Ducote started like any other “stranger crush” — one where you know basically nothing about the person […]
MoreAs I mentioned in my post yesterday, I am ATTEMPTING to make more time for myself; time to actually relax and/or do the things I love to do. In the last few days, yes, I’ve had to work several 8-9 hour shifts, but I also found plenty of time to do things for myself. For […]
MoreHappy Monday! I hope the weekend was fantastic for you — I had yesterday off, and was delighted to spend some time outdoors (working on my tan, as promised) and I met up with a friend to see a classic film: GREMLINS. All good things. As I continue on my journey of soul searching, I’ve […]
MoreHey there! Just when you thought I’d forgotten about the “50 Shades” lipstick series, here I am with a new color. I had to dig up a backup for #9 because, originally, I wanted to tell you all about one I’ve been using recently by Victoria’s Secret. It’s their Beauty Rush line in “Melon Out,” […]
MoreI turned 30 last week. I’ve never been big on celebrating my birthday. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a little shy at times, or because having a birthday so close to July 4th made parties as a kid nearly impossible (everyone was always out-of-town). I never thought age would bother me — it’s […]
MoreI got a record player for my birthday! Wahoo! It’s something I’ve been wanting for years; mainly because I think it’d be really fun to hunt for records. I was always planning on buying a player for myself, but just never could get around to justifying it. So, I asked for one and my mom […]
MoreI turned 30 last week. It’s one of those things I sort of never thought would happen — much like winning the lottery or meeting John Mayer — but, it turns out, the unbelievable can happen, and we’ll all grow old and turn into our parents. Well, maybe. I grew up believing that age was […]
MoreHappy Friday! As a start to the holiday weekend, I’m so happy to share something special with you guys today — a Q & A with my friend and actress Courtney Clark, who has a role in Jurassic World, which is currently in theaters. Courtney plays the role of “Sarah,” the park announcer who’s now-iconic […]
MoreI’ve been job hunting for eight months. In November, I lost my full-time, 9-5 job where I’d worked for almost seven years. Since then, I’ve been freelancing, helping clients with writing and editing, and I’ve been working retail part-time to make ends meet. What I’ve come to realize is, looking for a job is a […]
MoreSo, it’s only been officially summer for… what… a week? But now that July 4 is right around the corner, I all of the sudden feel like the summer is about to end! Summers in my previous life — when I had a desk job that allowed for free weekends — meant hours at the […]
MoreHey y’all! I’m SO sorry about not blogging on Friday. Truthfully, last week was PACKED with all sorts of exciting life things, and I’ve been out living things, and moving and shaking, that I just didn’t have time to sit down at the computer and create something worth reading. And of course, all of those […]
MoreIt’s no secret that I’m trying to find a job — something fresh. As a journalist, I’ve had the honor of meeting all kinds of different people over the years, and learning all sorts of different things; so I may not know a ton about every subject, but chances are, I’ve written about it at […]
More“I’m sick of people with all of these excuses,” my best friend told me over the phone. She was referring to several instances where, as she put it, people had excuses and not reasons. I’ve been hearing that a lot lately, and to be honest, I’m not quite sure what it means. After talking with […]
MoreWhew! These last few weeks (okay, more like MONTHS) have been really rough. If I continue to be honest with you, I have to admit that this has been the most difficult time of my life. I’m overwhelmed with so much confusion, and emotion — there are days I feel fine, some days I feel […]
MoreBetween cell phones, Google, and social media, I’m left to wonder: do people still go on blind dates? Even if you don’t know much about the person, aside from their name, there’s always that temptation to search them online, and casually stalk their posts or pictures, and analyze bits of information that probably create an […]
MoreHappy 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 […]
MoreThere’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, […]
MoreIt’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 […]
MoreLast 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 […]
MoreI don’t own any diamonds. In fact, only a few pieces of jewelry in my collection are ones I’d consider valuable. I’ve got a decent pile of faux gems, jewels, and diamonds, but I hope one day, I can treat myself to a beautiful (genuine), sparkling stone. But, when I drool over the sparklies under […]
MoreHow 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 […]
MoreWe’ve all heard of Tinder, the social app that shot to fame as an easy way for tech-savvy single people to meet others in their area. It’s as simple as any dating app can get: you link your Facebook profile and the app populates your photos with your profile pictures from Facebook (decreasing odds of […]
MoreYesterday, I did something I’ve needed to do for years… but I didn’t want to. I changed my Twitter profile picture from that of my late feline Orange Julius, to a semi-professional photo of myself. Le sigh. You see, I got my Twitter handle — @OrangeJulius7 — in 2008, when Twitter was just a baby. […]
MoreLast 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 […]
MoreIt’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 […]
MoreA 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 […]
MoreWhen my mom was in town a few weeks ago, she treated me to one of my favorite things: TV on DVD. We went to FYE and I ended up with another season of the Mary Tyler Moore show (love it), another season of The Hills (obsessed), and the first season of House of Cards. […]
MoreI have always suffered with this texting thing — mainly when it comes to dating. I feel like we were forced to accept it, and it’s ruined basic communication skills. Texting has made it easier for folks to lie, cheat, and just be downright rude. To years ago, I wrote a column for Dig magazine […]
MoreAnother week = survived. I don’t know if this happens to anyone aside from me, but whenever there’s a “short” week, I get my days completely messed up — not in the way you think, though. Since Monday was a holiday, you’d think Tuesday would feel like a Monday. No, my brain kept thinking Tuesday […]
MoreEvery night, I set my coffee pot to start brewing early the next morning — 5:47 to be exact — it gives me enough time to hit the snooze button once (okay twice) and still have the coffee brewed and ready for me to drink. When I finally get out of bed, I shuffle to […]
More“I definitely miss talking to you,” his text read. “I have some things in my past I need to work on. I took it out on you and I sincerely apologize.” Those were the words I’d wished for, for months after this guy told me he didn’t want to talk to me again, with no […]
MoreI’ve had a houseguest since Saturday. He’s a coworker, and needed a place to stay for a month while he works to save money for his apartment rent come July. He’s 19. Welcome to Hotel Holly. Well, Hotel Holly & Blanche. When my friend said he needed a place to stay, I wanted to help […]
MoreA 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 […]
MoreI 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 […]
MoreA 10-minute drive gets me to work for my part-time job at the mall. I take the same route, park in the same area of the lot, and I walk the same path to the shoe store where I work 4-5 times each week. On my way into work, I walk by one of those […]
MoreMy pic(s) of the week this time just HAD to be about Hangout Fest, since I haven’t even been back home from it for 24 hours! It was a weekend in Gulf Shores, full of fun, sun, sand (it was even in my hair), fried food, drinks, and of course: music! I will admit, I […]
MoreI’m heading to Gulf Shores today, in hopes of reliving one of the best weekends of my life at the Hangout Music Festival! Three days of sand, sun, cocktails, and of course, MUSIC! This year’s headliners are Sam Smith, Zac Brown Band, Beck, Foo Fighters, Skrillex and Diplo, along with many other great bands. I’m […]
MoreLast weekend, I drove the 800 miles to my home state of Indiana. I was invited to a baby shower for one of my best friends; a girl I’ve known since 6th grade. In December, I offered to host a shower for her, but she told me it would be easier for her other friends […]
MoreI spent all of last week with my mom, as she was in town to visit. I hadn’t seen my mom in an entire year! Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to ask off work, so I still had to put in 40 hours while she was here, and a lot of our visiting time was early […]
MoreI’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 […]
MoreWell 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 […]
MoreI’m continuing on my journey to discovering the perfect pink lipstick — The One that I can always count on; the one I toss in my purse when I’m on the go and in a hurry to look fabulous. This is not much different than my hunt for the perfect nude nail polish. My mom […]
MoreI’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, […]
MoreI 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. […]
MoreI don’t have HBO (not yet, at least), but I kept hearing about how awesome “Girls” was… I had to see it for myself. So, I asked for it for Christmas, and I got the first two seasons on DVD. I started watching it immediately, and I finished both seasons in probably three days. And […]
MoreThere’s something sexy about a man in uniform. I’m not a huge fan of cops, but I’ll take a soldier or a sailor any day. Uniforms are hot, but I think it’s more about a man putting his life on the line for the community, or the country, that really turns me on. As a […]
MoreSunday night, I posted on Instagram saying I’ve been living off a diet of John Mayer songs (yum!) lately. And while that’s been true for a majority of the last 14 years, my relationship with music ebbs and flows just like any other. At times, I’m so happy I want to sing and dance to […]
MoreI spend a decent amount of time telling myself that it’s likely I’ll never get married. No, I’m not saying that to be dramatic, I just have this feeling that something different is in the cards for me. Because of this, I’ve really never thought much about what it would be like to actually BE […]
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The Bitter Lemon 
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