happy dances

My parents come to visit me in 9 days. 

I walk to *finally* receive my undergrad diploma in 10 days. 

I move so much closer to my family, friends and sweet pup in 11 days.

< insert happy dance >

The work I have to do in that time is overwhelming. 

Will probably be posting sparingly for the next two-ish weeks.

In the mean time, check out the fancy new dot com I purchased... 

www.emaleighrust.com 

{it's just my blog, minus the .blogspot part}

Fancy, that's how we live. 

...and just because I think this is funny in an entirely nerd kind of way...

Happy Weekend-Eve, lovely readers!

Monday Funday

Monday night provided the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful evening with good friends here in Virginia. After grabbing an early dinner and drinks at my favorite local restaurant, we made a group decision to drive across town for a Central Virginia local favorite- Mr. Goodies Ice Cream. Anyone who is in the area knows how much of a staple this little tent is to the town.

Granted, I may or may not have chosen going to get ice cream over a run and volleyball on Monday night, but the way I look at it... I'm only in town for a few more weeks, so why not soak up every opportunity I get to spend time with these few amazing, loyal friends. I limited myself to a small chocolate cone and left off the sprinkles and gummy bears. I'm pretty sure I balanced out the unhealthiness of the ice cream cone with all the fresh Spring air I made sure to breathe in... or so I'm letting myself believe. ;)

'xcuse the jank hair- I thought I was just going to the gym, not taking pictures ;)

 Sitting outside enjoying a chocolate cone with good company (that I may not see for a while after my move) on a warm-ish Spring evening... there are few things better and I wasn't about to pass it up.

I hope your Monday was just as beautiful, dear readers. 

celebrating family

The only thing on my mind as of late is moving home. Home to celebrate, be with and make memories with my family.

Closer to my Daddy, who protects me from everything, even the sp*ders in my window.

Closer to my Mommy- bike rides, downtown walks, beach days, design days or even just enjoying lunch on a Summer day on the patio together. 

Closer to my Sister- very much closer, as we will be living and making memories together that will truly last a lifetime.

Closer to the ferocious beast- so we can play fox more often. 

Closer to my grandparents- for their lives are precious and days numbered.

Closer to my cousins, aunts and uncles- so I can join in on family gatherings more often. 

me and and amazing man of character, my grandfather

 

 

"Being a family means you are a part of something very wonderful. 

It means you are loved and will be loved for the rest of your life. 

No matter what."

What are you celebrating this Spring?

picture perfect

The spring and summer months are my absolute favorite time of the year. The budding plants, the warm weather, the birds chirping, the longer evenings, the smell of a cookout in the distance and children playing after school... Spring is so promising- so fresh- especially after the drab, cold winter months.

I am currently obsessed with the view outside of my window. There is the perfect budding Dogwood tree, a budding purple tree and a green bush that have all begun to bloom. I have found myself stopping almost daily to just take in what I see outside. Often times in the morning, I open the window, grab a cup of coffee and my computer and crawl back into bed to apply for jobs and/or work on design work... truly one of my MOST favorite things to do. Such a relaxing way to start off each morning. Granted, this isn't the "real" world, but it's something I am able to enjoy this season and will soak up every moment I can.

This is an iPhone photo of the view I see every day, non-edited. I wish I could bottle this up and keep everything about this forever.

What is your favorite season? 

and ps: HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to the best parents in the world!
Thank you for always making things work. 

it's a date...

One of my all time favorite things is Skype!

{one form of social media that I will NOT be giving up soon}

This is one of the BEST ways that I have been able to keep in touch with my family and friends who don't live in the same city and/or state... for free! While talking on the phone is convenient for those days that you "don't feel like doing your hair", it's also so comforting seeing a familiar face while conversing with ones you love.

My mom {sometimes Mo, if he is not busy napping or tending to my parent's mini-chicken farm} and I Skype at least once a week and usually convinces my Daddy to drop in, too! I come from a crazy family- Mom and I laugh hysterically at the faces we make at each other over Skype. One night, I started taking pictures of her... to save for blackmail if ever deemed necessary. She wanted to learn how to take screenshots of her computer, so I was teaching her how... (yeah, she's cooler than your mom because she is proficient on a Mac)...

Mom learning how to take a screenshot

Mom when she learned how to take a screen shot... Blackmail pictures are a'coming, I'm sure!

Mom practicing her pose incase I was still taking pictures... she makes me laugh SO hard!

Mom put a baby hat on Mo... he wasn't as impressed as Mom and I were...

 Oh, how I love Skyping with my mother!

And since one of my best friends Julia moved to DC, we've also set up several Skype dates.

J getting ready for her screenshot {and me expressing my excitement via fist-pump bc she is coming to see me this weekend!}

J wanting me to admire her beauty

J being silly

J blowing me goodnight kisses

I also Skype with my trainer, Liz any time I need a pep talk about my eating/exercising plan. Love Skype dates with her! So refreshing and motivational (though I don't have pictures of you, I love you and our Skype dates just as much, Liz!)

Have you ever tried Skype? It's free and an easy download and only requires a webcam! Try it if you haven't, especially if you live far away from your parents and/or best friends!

E is for... Excellence?

I had to take a bloggy break last week... but no worries! I am back!! I traveled home for a long weekend last week... I hate taking my computer out when I'm visiting home, so I left it in my bag for most of the trip. 

I wanted to share the Ritzy Misfit monogrammed necklace that came in last weekend! I love coming home to find packages were delivered that day!

Brooke did a great job getting exactly what I wanted. I am not ashamed to admit that I love this piece so much, I have been wearing it under my shirt even at the gym! 

 

pour me a glass...

I'm going to enjoy my first glass of wine in 3 weeks tonight!!

I finished my two week detox last Monday. Red wine was the hardest for me to give up, but the last thing I ran to when I was allowed to start incorporating it into my diet again. I wanted to be able to sit down and truly enjoy it. Between gym time, meetings at night, work and homework, I haven't really had time for it this past week.

One thing is for sure, I'm definitely going to enjoy a glass tonight.

Cheers to health and fitness, readers!

Happy Weekend!

Princess Presents

One of my favorite pastimes with my roommate/bff Julia is having what we call a "social morning."

They usually happen on the weekends because of our schedules. We set out alarms for about 9:30/10am. One of us gets up and makes coffee. We grab a bite to eat for breakfast and then head back to bed to read or talk for the rest of the morning. 

I love sharing coffee with Julia. We always have the best conversations over coffee, no matter where we are or what we are doing. Since she recently moved for her job, we have changed it slightly so that we are drinking coffee and either talking on the phone or tweeting each other. :)

I spotted these monogrammed coffee mugs at Anthropologie at Christmastime when I was shopping with my mom. Since then, I haven't been able to get them off my mind! I think I'm in the middle of an obsession with everything being monogrammed with an "E."

I decided to get a mug for me and a mug for Julia as the perfect compliment to our social mornings! I am IN LOVE with them!!

Then again... who doesn't love anything from Anthropologie?! 

Happy Sunday, dear readers!

falling in love...

Today marks the day that 2 years ago, I naively said yes to a man who asked me to marry him. Little did I know then that I would be where I am today. That man is no longer in my life in any way and for that, I am so thankful.

His current life is irrelevant to mine; we are now two very different people living two very different lives. And who I was 2 years ago and who I am today, February 21, 2011 are two completely different women. I was once dangerously dependent, unable to make decisions without his input, naive and loved and respected that man more than I loved and respected myself. It was a tornado within a hurricane.

Every day is still a battle and every day I have to make decisions to continue to improve, to change, to grow... but who I am today is something to be proud of. With the exception of paying my own car insurance (my Dad helps me out because I'm in school), I am completely, 100% dependent on my income and my income alone. I pay my own insurance, my own bills and am working hard to reduce  debt. I'm a part time Master's student and full-time employee. I make big-girl decisions daily that will directly impact my future and most importantly, I am learning to fall in love with myself.

That is why I have decided {after much hesitation} to purchase this pendant from Ritzy Misfit's Etsy store. Because it's more than just a pendant, it's a symbol of who I am. The artist explains what I am trying to explain perfectly: "No one is perfect, but we are all beautiful. These pendants give the feeling of being beautiful, unique and rough around the edges at the same time. My work reflects the wonderful, flawed idiosyncrasies in us all... and it makes us all breath-taking."

 

 In an "E" of course :)

This is a treat for me... for getting where I am today and committing to becoming even more in the future. It's a reminder to learn to fall more in love with "me" everyday... character flaws and all.

I would love to hear if you own a piece of jewelry that shares a story!

share it in a comment!

ps. many emails and a few comments this weekend about sharing recipes and my secrets... first, THANK YOU for the encouragement. Second, recipes and secrets of staying on track coming this week!

pps. quoteable monday still coming today!

attitude really IS everything

I'm about 5 days into my sugar/white flour detox and guess what? I feel better than I ever have before. No joke. 

I can't really identify why I am so pumped about this new lifestyle of eating healthy and "green" {not organic, haven't jumped on that bandwagon yet}, but one thing I have really been focusing on this week is that it truly is all about your attitude.

There are plenty of things that I have eliminated from my diet this week: goldfish, chocolate, red wine {for about another week at least} and mac and cheese {all favorite foods here, people}. 

BUT... there are also plenty of things that I have introduced myself to this week: protein packed green smoothies, Greek yogurt with honey, quinoa, pita chips and hummus. All week long I have had the chance to try new foods and new recipes, all packed with delicious and wholesome ingredients. How fun is that?!

Another thing that this change has brought back is my love for cooking. I stopped cooking about 2 years ago because I had a mentality that cooking for myself wasn't going to be fun. Hot dang, was I ever wrong... I love cooking for myself! I don't have to worry about pleasing others' taste buds or having dinner ready at a particular time... I simply fix what I want when I want. 

What I'm trying to say is this: I could be complaining that I've given up goldfish, peanut butter M&Ms, red wine {heaven help me, one more week} and cooking a scrumptious dinner for two at my apartment, but I know that continuously thinking about the things that I cannot have will lead me down a road of misery and failure. Instead... it's all about a change in attitude towards the things that I can have, which right now include wholesome and truly delicious foods like veggies, fruits and whole grains... and yeah, even a little dark chocolate here and there. :)

My energy level has soared through the roof this week {no really, ask my coworkers} and I feel my confidence  gaining strength with each day that goes by... a true change I am welcoming with open arms. 

{just a friendly reminder}

I am so thankful for you, dear readers. You keep me going. 

Happy Weekend!!!

well that was fun

This past weekend, my cousin Tracey and her boyfriend Jack came to visit me in Virginia! There is nothing I love more than when people visit. We hung out on Saturday and went skiing and snowboarding on Sunday at Wintergreen Resort here in Virginia.

  Top of the mountain... it was COLD! 

I wish I could have captured the view from up here...

 One of the slopes!

  Tracey, Jack and me... clearly truggin' but guess what? The slopes weren't the runway :)

 Tracey and Jack on their boards 

(I want her pink gear!)

Elsa (Mike's dog) look-alike! She was so precious. 

Hands down the BEST weekend in a long, long time 

(besides a few others...)

:) 

 

 

St. Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day is my most favorite holiday of all... I get so giddy around this time of year. I don't even have a boyfriend (well, you know... an exclusive one at least) and I still love this day.

A few reasons why I absolutely love this day and month:

1. It's a celebration of love. I love love.

2. It's pink and sparkly! It's a whole day where it's 100% ok to be in pink sparkles and be a giddy girl all day long.

3. It's a reminder that SPRING is coming! 

(ummm, it's supposedly 62 and sunny here in Central VA!)

Instead of focusing on loving specifically (or lack of) significant other or ignoring this day completely (which tends to be the 2011 trend... come on, we all know it's unavoidable), pour love out to your family and closest friends today! I guarantee that if you stop to consider loving a broad range of others instead of your lack of significant other... it will boost your whole thinking process about the whole day. 

 Happy Loving!

 

starbucks mugs

As anyone else who loves design would agree-Starbucks does a darn good job of designing classic pieces for their mug collection... especially their annual Valentine's Day collection. Every year, I cannot WAIT to see their new designs...

 

{kiss me} Italian

 

 The first two mugs, I used to own... my favorite mugs I have ever owned. Somehow they got lost... probably sometime that one year that I moved 5 times.

I picked this one up last year for my bff from home Erica, after I had promised she would be my 2010 Valentine. I packed it in with packs of Starbucks Via and a bag of coffee.

 

This one is part of the 2011 Valentine's Day collection that I picked up today with a gift card from Christmas. The back has "love" written in cursive. My newest favorite mug that brings warm, fuzzy, sparkly feelings to my heart. 

My mom gave me this mug for Christmas this year. It's currently the one I use at work- it's ceramic, so it keeps my beverage of choice warm for a while. I love the damask!

I would give anything to get my hands on the white one with pink letters (or the first one again that says "kiss me"... I'd love to have that one back). I absolutely love love love this one though... it's so pretty!

I don't know what it is about Starbucks' mugs... but man alive, they are one of my favorite things ever. It's the little things. :)

goodbyes

One thing is for sure: 

I absolutely hate goodbyes. 

My roommate and one of my very best friends left for an internship in DC today. While I am so happy and so proud of her, her presence will be missed every day while she is gone.

Great memories still linger in the air at Princeton Circle. They always say to never live with your best friend, but we never seemed to mind. 

My favorite memories: 

social mornings

mac and cheese snack time

PM alarm clocks

wine and trash television nights

 curfews

girl talk

white boards (the way we all communicate on a daily basis)

 {Jules, me, Vanessa}

This was her last weekend in town for a while. I can honestly say we had a blast as we painted this little town in Southwest Virginia... Northern girl style.

{J and I with our wonderful boyfriend Jorge}

J's friendship is so dear to me; she was the first to rush over at almost 1 in the morning on that devastating weekend in August 2009. I still remember that night like it was yesterday as she held me and told me that everything was going to be ok. She has laughed with me, cried with me and smacked me in the face when I needed it most over the last year and a half.  We have both been through thick and thin as individuals, but she always remains a constant in my life, and for that... I am truly thankful. 

I know you're reading this, J! Remember this until you return to the South: 

I love-a you-a!

the perfect Saturday afternoon

Today was such a lovely Saturday afternoon... One of my absolute favorite things to do is go for a ride with no destination in mind. It's relaxing and gives my mind a chance to wind down and focus on nothing but the scene painted around me and good conversation... a perfect way to spend a sunny Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

In the 5+ years I've lived in Southwest Virginia, I have never ever taken a ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway, but today... that changed!

A dear friend and I spontaneously started driving around town and ended up on the Blue Ridge Parkway, a picturesque road that parallels the James River and Blue Ridge Mountains. I couldn't get over the scenes!

While I love the swanky city life and high rise lights, nothing says relax like a ride in the country.

ps. I've been miserably sick, lovelies. More posts coming this week. :)