Sunrise over Lake Tahoe

"What is the good of your stars and trees, your sunrise and the wind, if they do not enter into our daily lives?" - E.M. Forster

It was a Saturday night and I knew our Sunday morning plans were to hit Fire Sign, the local breakfast spot in town, and spend the day window shopping on North Lake Tahoe Blvd. In the afternoon, we planned on squeezing in one more snow adventure for the kids, and then head on back to the house, make dinner and start preparing for another busy week ahead. I had already checked the weather report and knew the forecast was calling for blue skies, so I thought it would be an excellent adventure to sneak out of the house in the early morning and catch the sunrise over Lake Tahoe.

It was a cool morning, 21 degrees, and everything was still and silent other than the pack of birds flying south. As I sat bundled in the car with the heater blasting waiting for the perfect picture, I thought of all the times I had planned to do this, and how time and my warm comfy bed had always convinced me there would be another day. Well, I finally made time for that other day.

Enjoy your week,

Melissa

Any day special

Somewhere in a hospital emergency room, a surgeon is performing an extraordinary act to save a patient's life. At this exact moment, someone is writing a remarkable piece of literature that will one day change our perspective on life. Out there a courageous and brave soldier is diligently fighting for our freedoms. These are all extraordinary things; however, there are also many short, simple and sweet moments that are happening in our every day lives.

The times that you happen to look over your dashboard and catch a beautiful sunset, or the times you laugh so hard with a best friend that no noise is coming out of your mouth, or don't forget the time you give a friend a hug who is in desperate need of one. If you can, sometime this weekend, take note of these any day extra special moments that are happening all around you.

Enjoy your weekend,

Melissa

Today's Any Day | On Being Good For Life

print by LuciusArt

On Sunday I begin an intensive eight week self-defense course.  The program, IMPACT has been called the smartest self defense training in the U.S.  David's martial arts instructor recommended the class to me and David reminded, encouraged and then waited until I signed up, for this is not just a class. Any safety expert will say that the way that I was attacked many years ago is the hardest to escape alive. I teach people that self defense and awareness of your surroundings is critical. We live in a world where sadly we have to be on high alert.  When we say "trust your instincts" this kind of self defense becomes instinct. Yet there are times when there is no way to fight off or outsmart a perpetrator. Very few women take self defense classes and I have to ask why…why not in school?  Wouldn't that be the kind of tools we should have early in life?  But we don't, and we learn as much as we are taught by family or friends, and then when one becomes a victim of a crime, we blame. We blame ourselves. And criminals know this.
This is not a breezy topic. I can tell you what happened and how to help yourself, help others, statistics, education, volunteer opportunities. Ask me anything except why I am not thrilled to take this class with 14 other women.  I have done my job with the criminal system. I've been helping others for over a decade. This class is a commitment to myself to end the blame that anything could have been different. We - women - should know more.  But it is not our fault.  My any day extraordinary is doing something extraordinarily good even when I'd rather be having breakfast, on a photo shoot, at the beach, somewhere in nature, or getting a root canal.  And I am not going to this class for others. I am going for me. As we say to our younger friends and children, doing the right thing is not always easy. It is a process learning to do good things for yourself. But give it a try, a good that is hard to commit to, and then see where the good takes you. 

xoxo
Marnie

Any Day Health and Fitness | Obese Teen to Pageant Queen

photo by Gary Melendez

Bree's Facebook Page

It was just over a week ago that a marvelous group of healthy women and fit women came together to vie for the coveted title of Miss America. Since its inception 90 years ago the competion has evolved into a spectacular tradition of swimsuits, gowns, sparkles and of course the illustrious crown, all while providing a vechicle for young women to promote their voices in culture, politics and the community.

The class of 2012 constestants was nothing short of amazing and inspiring. In the line up of fit beauties included Regan Hartley, Miss New Hampshire, who was brutally attacked by high school class mates who thought she was too pretty, pageant winner Miss Wisconsin, Laura Kaeppeler, who revealed her father served time in prison while she was growing up, Miss Arizona Jennifer Sedler, a remarkable 4.0 pre-med student at the University of Arizona, and there was also, Miss South Carolina Bree Boyce, who went from obese teen to pageant queen after her doctor told her she would die if she did not stop binge eating.

Formerly 234 pounds, Bree now weighs 119 pounds no thanks to surgery or quick loss fad diets. She credits her success to good old-fashioned healthy eating, exercise and discipline. With her incredible weight loss, Bree has appeared on the cover of People Magazine and on the Today Show. Most of all, she realized her pageant dreams, and represented her home state in The Miss America competition.

Although Bree did not leave the competition in Las Vegas with the coveted crown, she did however walk across the stage and compete in the lifestyle and fitness portion of the competition, which must have felt great. Post The Miss America pageant, Bree remains an ambassador for healthy eating, and the fight against obesity. She is a testament that anyone can set goals and acheive them.

Thank you Bree Boyce, Laura Kaeppeler (Miss America 2012) and the other beautiful contestants for rocking healthy and fit physiques across the pageant stage last week! You are role models and inspirations to many.

~Amber

Esty Finds | Gifts Under $20

1|Paris Photo Postcards by GeorgiannaLane  2|Sweet Macaroon Soap by sweetbodysoaps 3| Neck Wrap Eye Pillow Heating Pad by theferriswheels  4|Personalized Birch Wood Vase by braggingbags 5|Dress up Crown by nowhiningpleez 6| Cute Felt Monsters by todolpapel

We've gotten more Pinteresting!

a few of our boards

The ADE Pinterest boards are up and we are going pin crazy! Have a look! As a follow-up to Friday's On doing the neighborly thing post, we've created a Being Neighborly board with some terrific ideas to welcome a new neighbor to the community, or perhaps introduce yourself to a neighbor you've never met. Easy ideas such as home baked treats with gift tags, a Hostess Ding Dong ditch kit, a cheese & grater kit for a grate neighbor (yep, we said it), and much more. Browse the rest of our boards, follow us and leave comments! We would love to hear if you tried one of our selected any day recipes or read a book from our any day library board.

Happy pinning and please be advised... it is very addicting!

xo,
Melissa

Sunday Extra Inspiration | Hug It Out!

Music video by Dave Matthews Band performing Everyday. (C) 2001 BMG Entertainment. 

We follow a different kind of calendar here at Any Day Extraordinary. Yesterday was National Hug Day! I would be super thrilled if you gave me a hug today, or any day for that matter. To follow up on yesterday's post, touch has the power to heal, to lift people's spirits, to make the world seem gentler, kinder - the way we'd like it to be. Go grab our virtual hug courtesy of The Dave Matthews Band. The message will make you smile. A big hug to the band and video director Chuck McBride.

Hugs are universal love. Give one today.