And This Is My Dream Job?

April 14, 2015 by astoldoverbrunch in Guest Post, life lessons, Work

By Mackenzie Louise*

Teacher crushes are such a cliché, they’re pretty uninteresting and passé. You wouldn’t think the English department of my small, Christian liberal arts college would nurture such clichés, but I guess Christians are known to relish in the taboo. Something about forbidden fruit.

I was disenchanted as a young grad with my otherwise honorable department. Four months out of college and back in town for a conference, I found myself talking to my (male) mentor and another (male) student about the department’s most recent hire: a young woman, intelligent, insightful, and personable. We were all excited about her arrival to campus, even I who would never take a class with her. I met her during her campus interview the semester before, and I had enjoyed talking to her; I could tell that she would challenge students and engage them personally. I was, frankly, jealous that I’d never be under her tutelage.

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.

Easy Come, Easy Go: A Weight-Loss Truth

March 17, 2015 by Sara Woznicki in Leisure, Life In Your 20's, life lessons, Sara's Column, Work

I've been in the heat of my Biggest Loser weight-loss challenge now for about a month and a half. If you want to read about how awesome it feels when dieting works, read my previous progress report. If you want to read how it feels when you realize that dieting is hard -- really, really hard, stay with me here.

Yup, you heard it hear first: Losing weight is work. Shocking, right?

Okay, no, it's not shocking in the least. But it is something to constantly remind yourself to consider. This past week, I had two really bad days of eating.

Ways to Gain the Respect of Your Coworkers

March 05, 2015 by Sara Woznicki in Dating, Humor, Life In Your 20's, life lessons, Sara's Column, Tweets and Mascara, Work

Being the youngest in the office means that you've got to build up your credibility and prove that you're more than just a kid fresh out of their starter job. Despite that your job may be to build out social media channels, which is a medium most don't value because social media is for millennials, it would be nice to get a bit of respect from your coworkers. Here's how to go about building that respect and credibility as one of the younger, but equally important, members of the team:

5 Times I Knew Too Much About Technology

February 24, 2015 by Sara Woznicki in Humor, Leisure, Life In Your 20's, life lessons, Sara's Column, Work

I grew up on a computer. We'd play the lifesaver mini golf games after school, compete at typer shark during school and were given calculators by the time we hit middle school math. All this computer advancement makes anything less than advanced technology difficult to deal with. Here's five times within the last year alone I was too computer savvy for every day life:

Sara's Job Search Starter Kit

February 06, 2015 by Sara Woznicki in Life In Your 20's, life lessons, Sara's Column, Tweets and Mascara, Work, Young Professionalism

Truth be told, I like the process of finding a job. Playing within the strict limitations of a resume, while still being able to make it your own, is like a little puzzle that I can't wait to solve. Researching companies, and seeing the boundless amount of opportunities out there gets my blood pumping. And don't even get me started on interviews: LOVE THEM!

While it wasn't my goal to go through multiple jobs within a year and a half of graduating, I don't believe there is anything wrong with it. Knowing what you're worth and what you deserve should be able to guide you to the job of your dreams, just so long as you don't hunker down at the wrong one. So in the never-ending quest for a job that satisfies my need for challenges, encouragement and passion, I've done a lot of job hunting. I think I've found where I'd like to grow some roots, so now that I'm out of the job market, I feel content with giving up all my trade secrets for you job hunters (kidding, I don't have trade secrets):

Sara's Second in the Biggest Loser

February 03, 2015 by Sara Woznicki in Leisure, Life In Your 20's, Sara's Column, Tweets and Mascara, Work

I probably could have not shouted out my status in the Biggest Loser in the title of this post, and built up to my second place status, but I haven't been this proud of myself in a long time. I have always made excuses about not losing weight, but with a bit of focus, I've been able to do really well with it this time. It started off pretty rocky.

It definitely took a few days to adjust to my new healthier, less food-driven lifestyle. I was hungry all the time and never felt like I was ever satisfied. But my body adjusted. I got used to less food. And you know what? It's crazy how little food you actually do need, once you adjust your body to less food. I'm about to list some tips for healthier eating, but by no means am I qualified to offer suggestions, other than the fact that I've lost a "stone" (which is what the British woman at work said to me, and I thought was so cool I texted several people about my lost stone). To us Americans, that means 14 pounds, which is about 7% of my bodyweight.

Yes, thats 7% less of me to love, but we can get through this together. Anyways, here's my list of diet suggestions:

Sara was Published on Elite Daily!

January 19, 2015 by Sara Woznicki in Leisure, Life In Your 20's, life lessons, Sara's Column, Tweets and Mascara, Work, Young Professionalism

Today is a really happy Monday! I have exciting news to share with everyone: my first post was published on Elite Daily! In it, I explore the difference between staying somewhere and settling just because it's comfortable.

Please read it, like it (if you do in fact like it), share it and write your comments under it! I love you all forever for supporting Cazey and I as we continue to expand our blog and writing repertoire. Now go check out my first Elite Daily post :):

http://elitedaily.com/life/nuance-settling-staying/898617/

Sara Does the Biggest Loser

January 03, 2015 by Sara Woznicki in Leisure, Life In Your 20's, life lessons, Sara's Column, Tweets and Mascara, Work, Young Professionalism

I've read a lot about diets and workout exercises. I once watched an entire workout video too (sitting down). Unfortunately, none of those activities help you lose weight. I've written about my weight before, so it's no secret that I'm not known for my skinny, toned bod. I'm not grossly flabby either. I'm somewhere in the comfortable middle with some pounds to spare. Anyways, we were talking about losing holiday weight at work, and BAM, we (well -- I didn't really do anything to help) organized a Biggest Loser competition.

It'll include sharing recipes, workouts and motivation. We'll bring in healthy snacks, take walks around the lake and verbally assault each other when we're trying to sneak some cookies into our mouths. All things I can get down with. I wasn't planning on taking it too seriously (I mean, I'll have to lay off drinking and eating donuts if I want to win), UNTIL I realized this is an outright competition. We're doing weigh-ins, sending around updates and paying a tiny fee so that the winner gets a huge prize.

The Transition

December 28, 2014 by Sara Woznicki in Cazey's Column, Leisure, Life In Your 20's, life lessons, Sara's Column, Social Media, Tweets and Mascara, Uncategorized, Work, Young Professionalism

A little over six months ago, I sat down to write a one year anniversary post of the creation of Tweets and Mascara. However, I couldn't accurately articulate what it's meant to me to write a blog that (some) people actually read. My blog and I have had our ups and downs, the main down being that I didn't write anything for about a four month stretch. The whole time, I wanted to reincarnate it, but I wanted to do it right. I wanted at least three posts a week. And not just three posts a week, but three thoughtful posts a week. And I knew I would have a tough time fulfilling that promise to myself with my work commitments, gym commitments, social commitments, etc. So I recruited a part-time helper, Cazey. Originally, the plan was that I would write two posts a week and he would write one. Then I started looking for new jobs, interviewing for new jobs and having a new job. My life was in a whirlwind phase, and Cazey not only stepped up to the plate, but laid out a four-course meal.

It's not fair to say that this blog is my own anymore. In the beginning of Cazey's guest appearances, it was difficult to let the reigns go and let someone have such a presence in an outlet that was super personal and solely mine for an entire year. Not that I didn't ask him to do it (because I begged him to), but it was interesting nonetheless seeing what he came up with each week. And now I am downright excited to see what he comes up with, week after week. And, truth be told, he's contributing significantly more than me these days (hopefully I'll catch up soon).