#Adulting so Hard: I'm Buying a House

May 03, 2016 by Sara Woznicki in Life In Your 20's, life lessons, Young Professionalism, Social Media, Sara's Column, Tweets and Mascara

Renting is a waste of money because you're building no equity, you're investing in nothing and you will never recoup that money. You're just throwing money away, which is exactly what I thought about buying a new car when you have an old car that still runs.

It was this realization that caused my next, even more adult-like decision: I am going to buy a house. I very casually started looking online at houses and then started to play with mortgage calculators, and had the light bulb moment where I realized that, not only can I actually afford to buy a house, but that it would be a really good idea.

Goodbye, Grace

July 28, 2015 by Sara Woznicki in Life In Your 20's, life lessons, Sara's Column, Tweets and Mascara

There’s this map of Richmond that breaks up the city by stereotypes: we live questionably in cross section between Rich Renters and Vegans, Tattoos, Curly Mustaches. Once I shared it with Cazey, he then giggled about how we should make up a map of every memory we had across Richmond. Since I was in email training at the time, we never really spoke of it again, but the thought made me pretty sentimental.

I’ve lived in Richmond for two years now, and with Cazey, my roommates and other friends, we’ve gotten to experience a ton of bizarre, wonderful, simple, comfortable and spectacular places and people within the city. In no particular order, here are the little labels I’d want to put on our own Richmond map.

I'm on Tinder; Aren't You?

June 22, 2015 by Cazey Williams in Cazey's Column, Dating, Life In Your 20's

"Hello, my name is Cazey, and I am on Tinder."

Three months ago, I would have been embarrassed to admit that, but then you write a blog, and your life becomes a series of self-selected exploitations. Also, dating app stories make for good blog posts. So here's my full confession: I have downloaded up to five dating apps on my phone at once. Bagel Meets Coffee emails me on the reg that I have been active FIFTY-FOUR DAYS IN A ROW, so I get a free Bagel. What is my life?

Small World in a Small Bar

May 26, 2015 by Cazey Williams in Cazey's Column, Life In Your 20's

Several weekends ago I went out with L. We met up with two other friends from undergrad, B and T. They had come from a wedding and had been drinking since 3 PM. It was now 11 PM. And what happens when you come from a celebration of white rose petal romance that includes an open bar and you're all effectively single happened. B's goal for the end of the night? To go home with the bartender, or at least not pay her tab.

"I've never hooked up with a tattooed man before," she said.

The Week of Dating Dangerously

April 15, 2015 by Cazey Williams in Cazey's Column, Dating, Humor, Life In Your 20's

If you know me or follow this blog at all, you'll have deduced I am a diehard single who hasn't been on an unadulterated date since 2011. However, tides changed recently, and over the course of seven days, I went on four dates with four different people.

How does that happen? Well, it's a mix of TV interviews, going big or going home, and Valentine's Day. Can you imagine my horror when my friends pointed out that last bit?

Me: UGH, AM I BASIC PERSON?!?! I need a vodka tonic.

Sara and Cazey Take TV

February 11, 2015 by Sara Woznicki in Cazey's Column, Dating, Humor, Leisure, Life In Your 20's, Sara's Column, Tweets and Mascara

A little over one month ago, we launched As Told Over Brunch as our new joint endeavor. We wanted to do something special for our month-long anniversary and were kicking around lots of ideas. Our decision was made much easier with one email from a local news reporter asking to interview us for a special she's making.

Very cool! However, a little hesitation on both sides because (drumroll please)....she wanted to talk about online dating, a topic we cover regularly on our blog. We automatically said yes, as what better way to commemorate a month of joint ownership than taking on a television interview together? However, we did have a two minor concerns beforehand:

Five More Facebook Friends Who I Don't Know

February 05, 2015 by Cazey Williams in Cazey's Column, Humor, Life In Your 20's, Social Media

Previously I wrote about five friends I have on Facebook who I don't really know. In compiling that list, I realized there are more than five, so here are five more.

Ace: He is a recent friend, and he added me. He’s either the cousin or brother of my middle school crush’s best friend. I’m not sure why I accepted, but he seems harmless and aforementioned middle school’s crush best friend is in his profile picture. He now sits on my list of suggested friends to chat, which won’t be happening.

Dwayne: In high school my best friend and I went shopping at Macy’s because I needed a suit. Our salesman was only, you know, a decade older, so why not hit on my friend and tell us your pot stories and how well-connected your family is (meanwhile, you’re working in Macy’s…)? Maybe you’ll get me to buy the suit. Young and impressionable, my friend and I became Facebook friends with Dwayne. I think the add happened while we were standing together in the men’s section of Macy’s. He never did hook us up with pot.

New Sleep Recommendations Mean What?

February 04, 2015 by Cazey Williams in Cazey's Column, Humor, Life In Your 20's, life lessons

If you don't get on Facebook, congratulations. But if you do, then you've probably noticed in the last couple of days that the National Sleep Foundation is trending. And maybe this is also trending in national news, but I'm in grad school, and I don't read it if it's not on PubMed or Facebook.

Apparently, the National Sleep Foundation - the real experts on sleep after the Tooth Fairy and Boogeyman - updated their recommendations for how much we need to sleep. And let's be real, I saw this article on Facebook after midnight when I had to be up in less than seven hours. After all, what is life? And what is grad school? Lo siento, National Sleep Foundation, who say I need 7 - 9 hours of sleep.

You would think if they're going to update the sleep recommendations, they would at least be realistic. I scrolled through looking for confirmation that it really is healthy I run six or less hours and iced coffee. Alas, no. In fact, we need more sleep.

How To Be the Most Unpopular Person at the Party

February 02, 2015 by Cazey Williams in Cazey's Column, Humor, Life In Your 20's, life lessons

We have all been at that party or bar where our friend – or hopefully just an acquaintance – is making a scene/being a jerk/hasn’t showered since last weekend and who invited them? We all roll our eyes and can’t wait until the next morning when we know the whole brunch table will partake in bashing them.

If you want to end up on the brunch bashing list, here are some simple instructions:

Text your friend in the afternoon, “What are u doing tonight?” Once the friend invites you to join the pregame/party/bar scene, respond, “I’ll get back to you.” Yes, please do look for a better gig, and then come crawling back to me once you can’t find one.
Once the party has begun - aka Facebook notifies you the event has started – text the host, “How is it?” And whatever they say back, you should reply, “Oh shit lemme know when it gets bigger.” It’s cool that you don’t want to hang out with the person who invited you.

Shutterbug Selfie

January 26, 2015 by Cazey Williams in Cazey's Column, Humor, Life In Your 20's, Social Media

Last Saturday my two friends and I grabbed dinner at a neighborhood restaurant. It's a small family place as in, every customer is someone you may have seen on the sidewalk while walking your dog or driving to the grocery store.

I noticed an older gentleman seated smack dab in the center of the restaurant - reading a newspaper. Mind you, it's 8:30 PM on a Saturday (though if we're judging, I should add that my friends and I ordered a mimosa pitcher). And by older, I don't mean octogenarian-maybe-he's-a-widower status. More like he could be a silver fox.

This prompted my friend to say that she always fears eating out alone because she's afraid people will judge her. "When I was younger, I used to say that's one of the reasons I have to get married, so I'll never have to go to dinner alone."