The Cuddle Factory

April 13, 2015 by Cazey Williams in Cazey's Column, Humor, Life In Your 20's

Last week a new business opened in Richmond, VA. While at a birthday dinner, someone brought up Cuddle RVA, which I promptly renamed the Cuddle Factory. The Cuddle Factory is . . . I can't even put it into words. They offer cuddle services. Like, they will hold you and hug you for money.

Me: So basically they're a massage parlor or on-site escort service. Within the law's boundaries, of course.

Of course I had to try this place out. I'll do anything for a story. Except just kidding. No, I am not doling out $60/hour to be cradled by a stranger; we have Tinder for that. And I actually hate being touched. Here's Sara trying to hug me back in 2013.

A Snapchat War

April 09, 2015 by Cazey Williams in Cazey's Column, Humor, Life In Your 20's, Social Media

Yesterday I discussed Snapchat's latest update and how Snapchat has ignited friendship wars in the past. Everyone wants to be their best friend's top Snapchat user - or maybe that's just me. But relationships have ended over this sort of thing.

Thankfully, I'm single, so that's never happened to me. And Snapchat is just an inane app for sending selfies, so why do I care who my friends' top Snappers are - as long as I'm in the top spot? That's right, folks: Ever since discovering Snapchat in January 2013, I have managed to maintain a monopoly over many of my friend's top spot. It wasn't hard; all I had to do was Snapchat pictures whenever I bought iced coffee, battled through grad school projects late at night, or heard a great song on the radio. I don't worry about my friends' top spot because I know I have dominion.

Snapchat Best Friends, or the New MySpace Top 8

April 08, 2015 by Cazey Williams in Cazey's Column, Humor, Life In Your 20's, Social Media

Assuming your phone automatically updates your apps, millennial friendship dynamics shifted on Monday while you were Facebooking. That is, Snapchat released a new version - one which allows users to identify their mutual besties, six degrees of separation, and who is the Judas of your best friends (who you snap all the time and they don't reciprocate).

In case you don't use Snapchat, it's an app that allows friends to send self-deleting photos and messages to one another. Snapchat used to be just in good fun (and maybe sexting) before they allowed friends to see who their friends' top Snappers were. You could click on a person's name and see the top three people who they snapped with.

No big deal, right?

The Pros and Cons of Dieting

April 07, 2015 by Sara Woznicki in Leisure, Life In Your 20's, life lessons, Sara's Column, Tweets and Mascara, Work

We made it: I officially came in second in The Biggest Loser Challenge at my work. It’s been a really awesome three months, where I learned that I can actually lose weight, I can stay motivated and I can totally do it. However, dieting is hard and should be a life change that continues forever, not a three month long competition. But today’s not what about what lies ahead for me and my pact with myself to live a healthier life, but a reflection upon the clichéd “peaks and valleys” of dieting.

Brunch Review: City Diner

April 05, 2015 by Sara Woznicki in Leisure, Life In Your 20's, Richmond Brunch Review, Sara's Column

We used to live two blocks away from City Diner, which means we'd go anytime we were in a hurry, hungover or lazy. The restaurant itself is rather small, so if you go with a crew, be ready to divide and conquer. They get you in and out quickly, and you can tell you're surrounded by a lot of regulars. Bonus points, because they do have a very small alleyway, which is surprisingly nice to sit in during the summer months.

I've been to City Diner a multitude of times, and I've had generally positive experiences. Keep in mind you're at a diner, and you'll definitely be satisfied. My favorite meals are their omelets because they're cheap, delicious and come with a ton of sides. If you're looking for economical, the omelet is definitely where you want to look. My favorite is meat lovers, because meat, duh.

Taylor Swift is Still a Brat

April 02, 2015 by Sara Woznicki in Humor, Leisure, Life In Your 20's, Sara's Column

I hope we all remember where I stand on Taylor Swift. Taylor Swift is a brat. Since the time I chronicled her pulling every song she has ever sang off of Spotify like a damn child, she's pulled quite a few new, equally brattier stunts that deserve to be collected into one place. So join me on the adventure of: Taylor Swift is still a brat.

Water...Is Not a Basic Right?

April 01, 2015 by Cazey Williams in Cazey's Column, Humor, Life In Your 20's, life lessons

This weekend my friend and I went out. As is the millennial way, we pregamed. The goal is always to buy one drink if we have to buy a drink at all. I’m always comforted to find non-grad student friends that share this outlook.

However, I will ask for water when out. This is for both hangover prevention and I want to have something in my hand while I pretend that I know how to dance (hey, it’s one less limb I have to coordinate). I always tip for water, though, because I understand that’s what makes the bartender go round.

This weekend that did not work out so well.

When You Don't Need A Car, or Why I'm Single

March 30, 2015 by Cazey Williams in Cazey's Column, Dating, Life In Your 20's

Last weekend I went on a date. Several things led up to this:

My New Year's resolution was to go on a date (this was more my roommate's resolution for me, but whatever).
I got interviewed on TV about dating - so, like, maybe I should do it?
My thirty-something divorcé friend solicited dating advice from me and, consequently, landed himself two Tinder dates.
I'll do anything for a story.

Thereupon, I proposed coffee to the girl who I matched with over Bagel Meets Coffee. This became dinner when her work shift ran over. I wondered if she plotted this.

Brunch Review: Gus'

March 29, 2015 by Sara Woznicki in Leisure, Life In Your 20's, Richmond Brunch Review, Sara's Column, Tweets and Mascara

My favorite buffalo chicken sandwich in Richmond comes from Gus'. And they have cheap beer, a ton of TV's and is half a block away from our house, so it was the most idyllic place to go to watch the World Cup final, or to just grab a quick, reasonably priced meal on a weeknight.

Gus', however, is not the place for brunch.

"Who's Taking Care of You?" Myself.

March 26, 2015 by Sara Woznicki in Leisure, Life In Your 20's, life lessons, Sara's Column, Tweets and Mascara

I used to shrug when people asked if I was a feminist. Sure, we deserve equal rights. But I'm not in the mood to go on and on about it. High school me thought feminists were the ones on man hunts. Burning bras. Smoking cigs to show we can. Nothing that struck home with me.

Then college happened. We're not getting paid equally. When we're tough, it's because we're a bitch or PMSing, but when a man is, he's a bo$$. That glass ceiling is staring us all in the face, remindng us of our terminal position looming barely one step ahead. We can't take our birth control in public without people getting offended. If we need something done, we either assume the bitch role, or need bat our eye lashes like we're helpless.