Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Fresh Faced and On The Go


So posting patterns indicate that I had spare time at the very beginning of this semester, and at the bitter end.  

However, little down time is typically a good thing in my book.  I cannot deny that I like to keep busy.  Let me walk you through a typical day in my new life in Huntington, WV:

6:00 am wake up call
6:30 gym
7:30 am shower/breakfast/get ready/etc.
8:30 am work at the preschool/on campus
4:00 pm work at the restaurant
10:00 pm come home to do homework
11:00 pm bed time 

Depending on the day, I might babysit instead of work on campus, or I might drive an hour to class instead of work at the restaurant.  But you can understand the general gist. 

Not a whole lot of "me time" thrown into my 15 hour days.  
Aside from staying busy, another quality you might already know about me is that I like to at least appear somewhat put together in public.  I believe in looking refreshed even when I am not feeling as such.  So how does a graduate student/teacher's assistant/babysitter/waitress attempt to look "fresh" all day long?

The perfect long lasting makeup. 



Thank you, Arbonne, for keeping my fresh face on from 8 am until 8 pm. 


The #1 tool in my toolkit is Arbonne's makeup primer.
You guys, I never before thought I needed primer, but this has become absolutely indispensable to my daily regimen.  It is smooth and lightweight, and when put on before my foundation, keeps that in place all day long.  For the days that I am too rushed to put on foundation, I simply put on a layer of primer to give me an instant glow sans the ugly appearance of my pores. 

But even before I apply my miracle primer - I use the products from the Calm line: 
Soothing Eye Gel to relieve the puffiness from the long day prior, and,
Soothing Serum and/or Daily Moisturizer to lock in moisture for the entire day.  



Another tool I keep up my sleeve? Arbonne's mattifying powder.  This translucent powder can be put under or over make up, and erases that unwelcome oily sheen I undoubtedly acquire running through a warm restaurant.  


Some other favorite finishing touches: 


Before: 

After:


And way-way-after: 


Exhausted, yes, but makeup is still in tact, am I right? 
(All three pictures taken on the same day, one at 8:00am, 8:30am and 9:00pm) 

I know I'm not the only crazy multitasking woman out there - if you're anything like me and going nonstop for 12+ hours of the day, go ahead and request a sample of any of these products. I'd be happy to help :) 

mkyelencsics{at}gmail{dot}com

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Nashfest

You guys, I am counting down the hours until 10/9c.
 Nashville returns for Season 2 and I just cannot contain my excitement.  If you haven't seen it yet, you should catch yourself up because it is juicy, scandalous, fashion-forward, sparkly, musical and everything I could ever ask for in an hour of television drama.  


I want to be Rayna James. For obvious reasons.



I think I came pretty darn close this past weekend when I escaped to Music City without any help from cable television.  

A dangerous yet telling picture of my top-downride through Kentucky. Beautiful! 
You're the only Ten I see. 
Friday morning I lugged my make-up bag, cowgirl boots, as much bling as my Vera Bradley could tote and multiple variations of a typical country-glam outfit I imagine Rayna James might wear.  I drove the 5 hours through Kentucky and into Tennesse to Vanderbilt University where my dear friend and former roommate currently resides.
I for sure felt like Rayna pulling up to Sarah's gated community. So Vandy.


I spent two full days in Nashville - just enough time for me to fall in love.
My mom says I can't move there, but I say if someone discovers my talent and needs me to move she will have no choice.  Anyone want to provide me with some talent?

Here's a peak into my Nashfest love affair:


 We started off our first evening with a Nashville Must: "Hot Chicken."  The spicy fried chicken was hot and crunchy and made for the perfect left overs after a late night out as well :)
 


 On day two, we used CitiBikes to tour downtown. It usually costs $5 for the day to rent a bike, but because everyone is no dang nice in Nashville, the nice man gave them to us for free because we had to wait a few minutes for an additional bike. Can you imagine? Free. No credit card information or even a phone number to reach us if he never saw those bikes again. I love southern hospitality.

Our tour was amazing and no words or pictures can describe how much fun I had. Love love love.




Luke Bryan?!! Is that you?! 

Sarah girl and I overlooking the Nashville Skyline 

"Legends Corner," one of many honky tonks downtown. This picture was taken at 2pm, there was standing room only and everyone had a drink in their hand!
I will be doing this for my bachelorette party. Ladies get ready.  

At night we made reservations to have dinner at "The Listening Room." The atmostphere was phenomenal.  Four songwriters perform live on stage - some songs you know because they have been sung by popular artists - and some are unfamiliar but amazingly personal and intimate.  Oh, and the local-brewed beer on tap wasn't too bad either! 

 Downtown at "Big Bang," a totally awesome dualing piano bar.  For sure the highlight of night two.




Thanks so much for showing me your new city, Sarah! Loved every second of it. Can not wait to make my second debut in Music City.

Until next time
xoxox



Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Soda Pop

Someone laughed at me for saying "soda" today.  Really. 

Because 'round these parts we say "pop" ya'll.  


And here's a picture of Loverboy sippin on some pop in CHAD PENNINGTON'S personal suite. Too cool.   

xoxoxo

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Recently in WV

One thing's for sure, I've been keeping busy since moving to Huntington.

Weekday mornings are spent on campus:
 a) working at the on-campus STEM preschool (more on those cute little West Virginians later) 

or b) working in an office doing graduate-assistantship-shtuff 


Weekday evenings are spent:
a) going to class
b) submitting homework assignments
or c) working at my new restaurant job


Weekends are spent:
a) going to football games ... Go Herd!

b) having some fun with my awesome coworkers

c)more fun




More on life in good 'ol Herd Country when I'm not doing one of the above :) 

xoxoxo


Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Is that Italian?

There are a few things I have come to expect when I am introduced to someone in West Virginia:

"Where are you from?"
New Jersey.
"Oh New Joisey!   
(I just want to know who in New Jersey ever, ever pronounces "Joisey.")  

"Have you ever seen 'The Jersey Shore?'"
Yes, I have seen it.  No, it's not really like that. 

"What's your last name?"
Yelencsics
"Is that Italian?"
No, actually it's not even close to Italian. 
I can tell you what else isn't Italian ... the fast food restaurant down the street advertising half price "spaghetti" and fresh "Italian donuts."  

Gotta love Huntington.  






Monday, September 2, 2013

True Southern Hospitality

Last week I had what felt like my first true southern exposure.

I had just finished paying for my fountain diet soda in the Marshall Student Union, when the cashier slowly offered me my receipt, a less-than-toothy grin, and a sweet southern pleasantry:

"Ya'll come back real soon now, ya hear?"  

I probably stood there for a good five seconds trying to register what was said.  And then I giggled.  And then I said "I sure will!" Because I will. Girlfriend needs her fountain soda.  


Thursday, August 29, 2013

Something to Ponder

I have yet to see anyone enter or leave the apartment that neighbors mine.  I'm beginning to wonder what kind of hillbilly hermits occupy this place... 

It has also come to my attention that approximately 85% of my trash is comprised of Band-Aids and their wrappers.  So maybe the neighbors are just trying to stay clear of danger. Can't say I blame them. 

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Not So Easy

Allow me to begin this rant with the night before I left New Jersey for West Virginia:

The last of the items that needed to be packed all pertained to the kitchen.  Thus, I was neatly packing my beloved Ninja Blender so that it would efficiently fit between my protein powder and wine glasses when my right hand became enveloped in bright red blood. (Apparently the Ninja is more stealthy than I anticipated.) I naturally walked myself to the bathroom to drown my blood in the cool water of the running faucet.  (I cut myself way too often to be too severely alarmed by gushing blood. Here's a fun fact: I wasn't allowed near the scissor wall in 5th grade because I stapled my shirt to my arm.  So that's that.)

Our travel day was interrupted by frequent re-bandaging and thunderstorms so severe that I probably would have had blisters on my hands if my wounded thumb hadn't prevented me from gripping the steering wheel tight enough to cut off circulation. 13 hours later, we arrived in Huntington.  

12 hours after that, my Mother was on her way back to NJ after helping me move-in illegally (Loverboy had the keys to the apartment even though I technically did not check in for my key.) Three hours after that, the leasing office for my apartment complex asked if my mother was available because they lost her signature as my guarantor.  They wouldn't give me my keys until the next day when she was not in a moving vehicle and was able to fax her signature once again.  Off to a good start, right?

Saturday morning, I got my keys to the apartment.  Saturday afternoon, I locked my car keys inside my car.  My spare set is at my parent's house in NJ.  

After a reasonably smooth-sailing Sunday, I was pumped for an agreeable first week of classes.  I decided to make a hot dinner for Loverboy and I to enjoy when he got home from work.  I preheated the oven, and before I even got to put anything inside, the fire alarm went off.  I tried again ten minutes later, same thing.  No problem, I had chicken in the fridge I could cook on our George Foreman.  Well... as soon as the raw marinated chicken hit the pseudo-grill the fire alarm went off.  Sorry Loverboy, no hot supper for you tonight.  

I'm having trouble accepting the fact that the transition to total independence and adulthood isn't going to be easy.  

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Fashionably Late

Classes have started here at Marshall. According to me, my first class wasn't supposed to be until Thursday.  According to Marshall University and my self-regulated class schedule, my first lecture was Monday at 4:00pm. Imagine the melt down that followed this realization at 5:09pm. 

After frantically calling my mom, Loverboy, and the only two contacts I have recently aquanted myself with in Huntington, I decided it would be in my best interest to do as my advisors recommended and hop on my beach cruiser to speed to the lecture for which I was then an hour and twenty minutes late.

Let me illustrate the scene for you:

I am sitting on the couch aimlessly navigating the Internet in my sweaty sports bra and gym shorts. I am feeling accomplished after a satisfying gym session, an apartment-wide vacuum, load of laundry, and meal prep.  In the midst of productivity I decide to log on to the MU portal where my class assignments are posted.  I think, hm, maybe I can prepare for my class on Thursday like a good little graduate student.  Seconds after inputting my username and password my class schedule alerts me that I needed to be in class from 4:00-6:20.  Panic surfaces and my thoughts become unclear.  How could this be? My first day of class is going so well. Too well.  THIS IS A GRADUATE SCHOOL NIGHTMARE!!!!!!

Fast forward 10 minutes and I am apologetically explaining to my professor (and head of the department that hired me for my graduate research assistantship) that I am not usually an irresponsible airhead ... just sometimes.

Luckily my professor (and head of my department - have I mentioned that?) is an understanding man and was able to laugh about the entire ordeal with me.

Everyone cross your fingers for a more punctual rest of the semester.




Monday, August 26, 2013

There's a Payphone

... in the bar.  Where am I? 
Also, this particular bar in Huntington, West Virginia, has a doorbell you must ring to enter.  Georgia, the establishment's only bartender for what I can only imagine must be the past several decades, controls the lock button on the (all but inviting) front door.  So obviously Chris dragged me to this payphone-bearing speak-easy twice within the first 48 hours of my residence in WV.  

In other news, I seem to be fitting in quite nicely. Ya'll.  

Friday, August 23, 2013

I'd Go Anywhere


In high school, I found a boy whom I would chase anywhere.

The slight chance of seeing him sweaty and cranky after his Friday night football game had me regularly skipping home games at my own alma mater.  His job bussing tables had me cheating on my favorite pizzeria to eat where he might be.  And when he didn’t bring me to his high school dance, I stuck around until he did. 

He hasn’t gotten rid of me since. Not that he really had a chance anyway.

Over six years later, Loverboy and I are smittenly inseparable. And now, post-high school young love, post long-distance college relationship, he is taking his first steps toward a new career.  These steps are in the direction of Huntington, West Virginia, at Marshall University.  

Guess what I did.

I followed.  I applied to Marshall University to earn my master's degree in Literacy, to research rural education, to jumpstart my career as an educator. and to live close to the boy who I will never get tired of chasing. 

This marks the beginning of our new adventure, together. Exploring a new state, a new school, a new career, with not-so-new company. 

To borrow the words of Jake Owen:

West Virginia, Baby I don't care.


"I'd go anywhere, anywhere with you." 

Monday, June 17, 2013

Half a Year Later

And I'm back.  

Lately I  ...

- Have been doing lots of arts and crafts with the Star Room Monsters.. I mean Love Bugs?

-Celebrated L-Boy's sister's bachelorette party in Miami

-Then celebrated her new marriage at her wedding

-Got Preaky in Baltimore with my besties

-Started living at the beach with this stud

-Turned 23

-Have obviously not been blogging.  But who's ready for summer vacation?!


Now that school is approaching summer break and my shore house actually has internet, I'm going to do my best to start writing more.  Let's see how long this lasts.  

Until next time...

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