Happy Birthday, My Dear Blog!

Well, it's been one year since I started Emerging Em!

I can't believe it's been that long. My main inspiration for blogging came from my dear friend Mandy of Mandipidy fame, who was my first follower. Her blog, then called Mandy's Yellow Corner, was so cute that I wanted to create my own blog for sharing the things I love to make. She helped me through the (somewhat overwhelming) beginning stages of creating a blog, and I am forever thankful for that.

Here's my first post about my first forays into blogging and my first project.

About a week later, I opened my Etsy shop, and my rosette hairpins have become my most popular item!

I am so thankful for the sweet blog friends that I have made over this past year. You all have been so supportive and encouraging! My little blog has grown from one follower to over 80 followers, and I hope it continues to grow. My blog has now become a place to share not only my crafts but my adventures in life as well!

Thanks for reading along as I found my incredible boyfriend (or rather he found me)...

... and ran a half marathon...

...and graduated with my Master of Music degree.

To celebrate you, my wonderful readers, I would like to giveaway a $30 shop credit to Emerging Em!

To enter:

Please visit my shop and leave a comment telling me your favorite item.

Extra entries:

1. Follow my blog.

2. Become a fan of Emerging Em on Facebook.

3. Follow me on Twitter.

4. Blog, tweet, or facebook about this giveaway.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. Be sure to leave your email address so that I can contact you!

This giveaway will run through Friday, July 22nd, and I'll announce the winner the following day!

Dear Daniel

*Warning: Please excuse the extreme mushyness ahead.*

;)

Dear Daniel,

I know it's only been about four months since we started dating, but I feel like I have spent some of the best moments of my life with you.

The long awkward silence when we met for the first time...but then we ended up talking for hours for the rest of the weekend.

You sending me "snow" for my birthday.

Ice skating by The Bean in Millennium Park in Chicago.

Seeing Chicago and kissing you from the top of the John Hancock Building.

You teaching me how to make latte art and the giggles that ensued.

You waiting for me and hugging me at the end of my first half marathon.

Stuffing our faces at Paula Deen's Restaurant on Valentine's Day.

Sharing my favorite coffee shop, Coffee Underground, with you.

(Coffee Underground)

Sitting in a swing by the Reedy River and talking about the future.

Watching the sunset from Caesar's Head.

Dancing with you at your cousin's wedding in Charleston.

Still getting butterflies when I look at you...

Thanks for sharing in our adventures! It's been a wonderful journey so far!

I love you.

13.1 {Miles That Is}

This is a long post. I warned you.

But this is also a post of which I am extremely proud.

I finished a half marathon. 13.1 miles.

(And there was no death. Or throwing up.)

To see why I did this, besides being completely crazy, read this post about Beth.

Daniel and I went to the Expo the day before the race before we headed to St. Augustine. I signed a large board with a note to Beth. These boards were later placed along Memorial Mile on the beach.

I chose the Inspire board because Beth was and always will be a huge inspiration in my life.

Here I am getting in line and trying to warm up. It was freezing and super early, but I was ready to help make a difference in the fight against breast cancer and to celebrate the life of an extraordinary woman.

The start line was full of excitement, with music to get us going, pink confetti flying everywhere, and over 10,000 runners!

This is a solid wall of people heading up and over the bridge...

Mile 2 took us over the Intracoastal Waterway - with the sun just rising and some stunning views.

Around Mile 5, we headed onto Jacksonville Beach for the Memorial Mile.

Mile 7 - over halfway there!

Mile 12. Evil. Evil. Hill.

I felt like dying or asking for a bike by this point, but I kept plugging along.

And here I am crossing the finish line! Daniel was waiting for me at the end to take pictures and give me a hug! It's such an exhilarating feeling to cross the finish line of a race!

I've thanked Daniel many times, but I don't think I can thank him enough for supporting me on this special and meaningful day!

According to Daniel, this is my best man pose yet.

Beth was with me the whole way.

This is my beautiful finishers' medal!

Daniel and I got to stay with a friend of mine on Amelia Island for the weekend, and on the day after the race, we got up early to go to the beach. Beth loved this beach, and I'm glad we got to go for a bit.

We then stopped in Savannah again on our way back to Greenville.

More on that later.

;)

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm thankful for...

...surviving my 8K Turkey Trot this morning.

It was fun - despite the rain!

(But I may not be able to walk in the morning.)

On a more serious note, I am deeply thankful for all that God has provided for my family and me, and I am thankful to have such wonderful friends, both near and far. I spent a lovely afternoon with my family eating turkey, macaroni and cheese, green beans, biscuits, and my mom's incredible chocolate pie.

(We southerners know how to cook a [delicious] heart attack on a plate!)

My sister and I then took photos of some new products for my Etsy shop. It was great to pretend that we were models and just laugh together. Here's a sneak peek:

Be sure to check back here early tomorrow for some holiday weekend deals! I'll be giving away huge (earlybird!) discounts to my blog readers and Facebook fans as well as offering 25% off any purchase from Black Friday until Cyber Monday.

Have a great weekend!



Race for the Cure

Well, life happened. And I got blindsided.

But I made it through two extremely long weeks and lived to tell the tale. Whew.

Yesterday, though, it was an honor to run with over 5,000 other runners in the South Carolina Mountains to Midlands Race for the Cure in memory of an extraordinary woman - Beth Newdome - my violin professor at Florida State.

(photo by Lea Gallardo)

To read more about Beth and my inspiration for running and training for a marathon, go here. She will always be an inspiration in my life, and I felt much stronger with her picture and name on my back as I ran.

I also ran in celebration of my Aunt Maria and Diana, who has cut my hair for almost my entire life, both of whom are survivors of breast cancer.

If you would like to make a donation to the Race for the Cure, you can click here to visit my personal page and support a very worthy cause.

I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend!



Running and Winning

I've taken up running recently. I was inspired by a few friends who run, and I am training for a marathon in February. February 13th to be exact. (Gulp. Nervous.) It's the 26.2 with Donna National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer held in Jacksonville, Florida. For more information visit this website.

The true inspiration behind the marathon and all of my running is my violin professor at Florida State University, Beth Newdome, who passed away on February 13th, 2010. She had been battling breast cancer for five years. I think the date of the marathon is no coincidence, and I can't think of a better way to honor her and celebrate her extraordinary life.

Here we are in London my freshman year:

Beth was not only my teacher but a trusted advisor and dear friend. She was a model for determination and perseverance and will always be an inspiration in my life. She was a spectacular violinist, a lover of art and books, and a wonderful friend to so many.

So, Beth, I'm doing this all for you! It's just a fringe benefit that I'm getting in shape at the same time.

I went to buy running shoes at Fleet Feet. Here are my Adidas Supernova Glides...

...too bad I don't feel like I'm gliding in them most of the time - more like trudging. I'm slowly getting better, though. My first race was the Candlelight Run 5K. Here I am pre-race:

My second race was the Red, White, and Blue Shoes 5K at Furman University. Here I am (gross and sweaty) post-race:

The first and last parts of our course at Furman were down the mall - isn't it pretty?

My third race, another 5K, was this past Saturday at the South Carolina Peach Festival.

 

They had peaches at the finish line, of course...

...and - the fun news - I took third place in my age category!

I've got quite a fun collection of bibs now:

Hopefully that collection will keep growing.

Look for posts in the near future about my ETSY SHOP and a GIVEAWAY!