Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have

Oh my goodness I am not sure.... I am going to go with where I open and leave my mail but I think I may come back to this.

Day 03- A picture of you and your friends

My 30th Birthday Party!

Day 02- The meaning behind your blog name.

The meaning behind my blog life is very simple:

I don't believe that there is anything particularly special about my life and in fact I think is particularly ordinary so much so that is it extra normal or in other words... Extra Ordinary

hence the name "The Extra Ordinary Life of Me"

Day 01 of 30

Day 01- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself.

hum. a recent pictures I think I can find...


This is from Hawaii Days at the lake... I am getting my just deserts


Being pulled behind the boat - so much fun!


And 15 interesting facts about me:

1. I have three tattoos and I only love one of them. I am hoping to get the one on my back covered this year.

2. I just learned how to wear make up in the last year and prior to that I have really only ever had my make up done by a professional.

3. I love shoes and probably have about 250 pairs by now :)

4. I love having flowers in my office they make me feel happy despite the depressing work I deal with.

5. I have a dream of going on a reality show (Survivor or Big Brother) and then turning that into a way to become a celebrity chef so I can get on Hell's Kitchen.

6. I love photography and would love to be a professional picture taker one day.

7. I don't think I ever have really decided what I want to do when I grow up (because I don't think I'm actually a grown up yet...)

8. I have a major fear of public speaking or generally doing anything in public (odd I know specially considering my job).

9. I don't like drinking water from a glass because it tastes funny but I think it tastes good from my water bottle or with a straw.

10. I dislike ice or cold things but I also dislike really hot things (it's really fun ordering me a drink at Starbucks :P)

11. The above dislike does not have anything to do with teeth sensitivity despite people's thoughts but rather the inability to quickly indulge in something (hot = burn and cold = brain freeze...)

12. I am terrified of trying new things and usually have to have my hand held or be with someone (I think this is related to my anxiety above)

13. I get anxious when sitting in my car waiting at the border because of crowds but feel completely fine in a major line of shoppers on BlackFriday.... (for those that think I am normal I think I am completely disproving that theory).

14. Despite the fact that I HATE carnations I love pink carnations but only by themselves and with nothing else!

15. My favorite flower would have to be: orchids or purple roses with purple alstroemeria

Dared to blog

In reading a friends blog I saw her accept a "Dare to Blog" and I am in the midst of needing inspiration again. I have fallen off of the wagon again (no not drinking but my food and exercise monitoring and doing have gone out the window) and I can feel my old ways dive bombing back into my life so I need to start again with the thought not that I am still doing this but I need to start over again from scratch and keep the thought 21 times I just need to do this 21 times and then keep with it after that. As such, I though that the 30 day blog challenge would be good to take as it will help me get on here and stay focused on my goals.

I will note that it will take me longer than 30 days to complete the challenge only because I am coming up on some days where I will not have internet access (I know the horror!!) but no excuse not to start now and keep with it!


Day 01- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself.
Day 02- The meaning behind your blog name.
Day 03- A picture of you and your friends
Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have
Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to.
Day 06- Favorite super hero and why.
Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you.
Day 08- Short term goals for this month and why.
Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days.
Day 10- Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad.
Day 11- Another picture of you and your friends.
Day 12- How you found out about blogging and why you made one.
Day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently.
Day 14- A picture of you and your family.
Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play.
Day 16- Another picture of yourself (baby pic!)
Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why.
Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have?
Day 19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them?
Day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future.
Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy.
Day 22- What makes you different from everyone else?
Day 23- Something you crave for a lot.
Day 24- A letter to your parents.
Day 25- What I would find in your bag?
Day 26- What you think about your friends?
Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge?
Day 28- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?
Day 29- In this past month, what have you learned?
Day 30- Who are you?

My new manifesto

Credit to Holsetee for their Manifesto which has now become my manifesto

Turning 30

So I just had my 30th birthday and I realized this last September.

Last September I realized that I have been spending my time moving through my life rather than living my life. I have done many amazing things in my life and I can say that I am truly blessed for the opportunities I have had but in all honesty I have not been really trying.

This is what originally started my drive to get back to the gym I wanted to start living my life but because I had let my weight and size spiral out of control I couldn't do a lot of the things I wanted to do.

So I made the decision to go back to the gym - something I really didn't think I could do. Then I did it and started doing it well. Then I signed up to run the half marathon on June 19 (Father's Day) but for a variety of reasons I stopped training and basically didn't run in the 5-6 weeks before the date and made the decision to pull for medical reasons and not run the race.

I accept the decision but regret it in ways. I know I could have made the 13.1 miles no problem - the real problem is that I wouldn't have been able to run or jog it and would have likely walked the entire way. I decided that is not what I wanted to do.

The problem is that this left me with lots of inner turmoil about not doing things because I didn't think I could do them - a particular problem because I had signed up to go skydiving with a friend for my birthday (one week after the half marathon).... and as time grew closer it was definitely something I didn't think I could do.

Then part way through the week I realized that I was over the weight restriction for tandem jumping but there was a chance that I would still be able to jump because I am fairly height weight proportionate.

Anyways I will have to come back and write more about that experience later but I did it and all I have to say is that it was the MOST amazing experience ever and I only live with two disappointments from the entire experience and honestly I can say from now it can't be that bad I jumped out of a plane!