5 Dorky Facts About Elise

So... this is a bit of a rando post because a LOT of you have been contacting me wanting to know more about me. While I'm not a huge fan of talking about myself all the time (yeah right) I thought this would be a GREAT idea because it allows you to get to know me more!

As you know, I'm quite dorky and I'll admit - I like being quirky. Gives me some chutzpah (is that how you spell it??)

You may be surprised at some of the things you learn about me, or you may not at all. Either way here's 5 dorky facts about moi!!

Inner Nerd: I have an obsession with a PS3 game series. This series literally set my inner treasure hunter ON FIRE and from I was inspired to write a novel. Think eat pray love + the mummy + the alchemist. It also set off a huge desire to go to the desert (don't ask me which one though!) it has been calling me for a long time, when I get there I'll tell you what happens.

From this game I've also become convinced that there are secrets and treasures hidden in the world somewhere and I want to desperately go and find them! Lost cities, ancient civilizations, magic & riddles - that shit turns me ON! And last but not least, I always want my boyfriend to dress up as the protagonist in the game because he kinda looks like him. Nathan Drake might not be real but he is sexy as hell! Uncharted: Among Thieves and Uncharted: Drake's Deception is my OBSESSION!

I'm also a HUGE fan of Wii's Super Mario Galaxy! Who doesn't love Mario?!?

Bookworm: Prior to 2012, I had never read a self help book in my life (apart from The Secret). I HATED reading, books to me were boring and dull and a waste of time because my imagination was so much better. That all changed when 2012 began. I wanted to change myself and my life and I knew that I had to learn how to do it, so I went and bought The Success Principles by Jack Canfield. After that I promised myself I'd dedicate the year to my own education in self improvement. If you wanna know just how many books I got, so far it is totalling at 51 books. That's almost one book a week for the entire year!!

World Famous in New Zealand: My family is incredibly sport orientated. So much so that both my Dad and my Uncle were All Blacks (NZ Rugby Team) and another uncle played rugby league for a team in England. I have always been amazing at sports. I have incredible power and I can out throw/kick a lot of guys. I used to always hide this when I was younger though. I'm built like an athlete and I'm super strong for a girl. I also have the height to match, 5'10", so you can imagine what school was like for me - bigger and taller than EVERYONE. I was the tallest kid in school till I was 12!!

This is me and my baby sister Kasey. She is my little heart.

Mary Poppins: It may come a surprise to you that I moonlight part time as a Nanny! The plan for 2013 is to be able to turn elisemcdowell.com into a full time career so I can finish working, but until then I play the awesome role of Mary Poppins. To be really honest, I am actually a really friggin' awesome Nanny. I'm like a kid myself. The family I work for have fantastic children, we have a lot of laughs and do some really dorky stuff including screaming comps in the car while driving past strangers, building giant dice, board games and cars out of cardboard boxes and almost throwing each other into Marina's. It's a great job, one of my favourites and at times very testing but this is the job that has taught me the most about myself. I have learned a crapload from these 3 kids and a lot of what I write about on The IVP has been inspired from them.

Crazy Collector: Right, you know how I always talk about journalling and having self love journals etc? Well, there's a reason behind that. I have a really intense obsession for journals and stationary. We have a store here in New Zealand called typo and you will find me in there every single week buying another frigging journal, alongside many other bits and bobs. I mean, I already have three 2013 diary's. Who needs that many!?!? Currently on my wishlist is 'Wreck This Journal' by Keri Smith and 'Carpe Diem' by Mary Kate McDevitt I have always said that I may as well franchise one of the typo stores because I spend so much money there!! Perhaps I'll create my own online stationary store, who knows!

Well, now you know a little bit more about me and I hope you realize I am totes human with obsessions, cravings and responsibilities just like any other.

I'd love to hear some fun and dorky facts about you in the comments below. Let me hear em!


Elise xo