Hit Me With Your Best Shot

HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT!

 This is my weekly photo challenge.  We are in week 6.  The premise is easy.  All you have to do is show us your favorite picture you took over the past week.  It doesn't matter what it is.  If it is your favorite, that is what you post.  Pretty simple, right?

 

Here's my favorite shot for the week.

I toyed with something with the snow, but really, I am so over snow.  But, I will never get tired of the moon.  Taking pictures of the moon is one of my favorite things to do.

 

So, now it's your turn.  If you are a blogger, please post your link in the comments.  My Linky free time expired and until this picks up, I don't see a need to pay for a Linky.  If you aren't a blogger, I will link this to my Facebook page and you can post your picture in the comments.  If you don't already follow me on Facebook, friend request me as Nancy Jankowski Collins.  I promise I'll accept.  Please link my post in your post.  Please let your friends know about the photo challenge and invite them to join in.  Feel free to share it on any of your social media sites. Be sure and visit the other entries and leave them a comment.  You know we all love getting comments.    I can't wait to see what everyone else did.

 

That's it for me this week.  Now it's your turn to hit us with your best shot.  Fire away!

 



Hit Me With Your Best Shot

HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT!
Sorry about the Linky! You'd think they would send an email or something. Please just leave your link in the comments and we'll find your shot from there. Thanks!!
 

 This is my weekly photo challenge.  We are in week 5.  The premise is easy.  All you have to do is show us your favorite picture you took over the past week.  It doesn't matter what it is.  If it is your favorite, that is what you post.  Pretty simple, right?

Here's my favorite picture from the past week.

Saturday, I went with some friends to the shelf ice program at the Indiana Dunes State Park.  This was the view from the roof of the pavilion.  It was awesome up there.

So, now it's your turn.  If you are a blogger, link your post with Mr. Linky below.  If you aren't a blogger, I will link this to my Facebook page and you can post your picture in the comments.  If you don't already follow me on Facebook, friend request me as Nancy Jankowski Collins.  I promise I'll accept.  Please link my post in your post.  Please let your friends know about the photo challenge and invite them to join in.  Feel free to share it on any of your social media sites. Be sure and visit the other entries and leave them a comment.  You know we all love getting comments.    I can't wait to see what everyone else did.

That's it from me this week.  Link up and I'll see you next week.

 

Hit Me With Your Best Shot Week 4

HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT!

 

This is my new weekly photo challenge.  We are in week 4.  The premise is easy.  All you have to do is show us your favorite picture you took over the past week.  It doesn't matter what it is.  If it is your favorite, that is what you post.  Pretty simple, right?

Here's my favorite picture from the past week.

This is the point in winter when I start to get tired of the weather.  It's no longer the pretty snow.  It's the brown and the dead looking, but the water is thawing a bit so we get the reflections back in the water.  Now, that I love!

So, now it's your turn.  If you are a blogger, link your post with Mr. Linky below.  If you aren't a blogger, I will link this to my Facebook page and you can post your picture in the comments.  If you don't already follow me on Facebook, friend request me as Nancy Jankowski Collins.  I promise I'll accept.  Please link my post in your post.  Please let your friends know about the photo challenge and invite them to join in.  Feel free to share it on any of your social media sites. Be sure and visit the other entries and leave them a comment.  You know we all love getting comments.    I can't wait to see what everyone else did.

 

If you don't blog, you might want to consider trying it.  If for no other reason than to have all your favorite pictures in one place.  Blogger.com and wordpress.com are both free blog sites.  I love blogging.  I tried it on a recommendation and I can't imagine not blogging now.  I've made some great friends too.

 

That's it from me this week.  Link up and I'll see you next week.
 

Hit Me With Your Best Shot Week 3

HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT!

 

This is my new weekly photo challenge.  We are in week 3.  The premise is easy.  All you have to do is show us your favorite picture you took over the past week.  It doesn't matter what it is.  If it is your favorite, that is what you post.  Pretty simple, right?

Here's my favorite picture from the past week.  

Our granddaughter Haley was christened on Saturday.  She wore the dress that my grandma made for my mom 88 years ago.  I wore that dress as did my daughter Katie who is Haley's mom.  I think it is really special that four generations have worn that dress and it is still just as beautiful as it was all those years ago.  Of course, Haley looked absolutely adorable in it.

So, now it's your turn.  If you are a blogger, link your post with Mr. Linky below.  If you aren't a blogger, I will link this to my Facebook page and you can post your picture in the comments.  If you don't already follow me on Facebook, friend request me as Nancy Jankowski Collins.  I promise I'll accept.  Please link my post in your post.  Please let your friends know about the photo challenge and invite them to join in.  Feel free to share it on any of your social media sites. Be sure and visit the other entries and leave them a comment.  You know we all love getting comments.    I can't wait to see what everyone else did.

 

If you don't blog, you might want to consider trying it.  If for no other reason than to have all your favorite pictures in one place.  Blogger.com and wordpress.com are both free blog sites.  I love blogging.  I tried it on a recommendation and I can't imagine not blogging now.  I've made some great friends too.

 

That's it from me this week.  Link up and I'll see you next week.     I can't wait to see all your pictures!
 

Hit Me With Your Best Shot Week 2

 

HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT!

 

This is my new weekly photo challenge.  We are in week 2.  The premise is easy.  All you have to do is show us your favorite picture you took over the past week.  It doesn't matter what it is.  If it is your favorite, that is what you post.  Easy peasy, right?

We went out to the beach to see the shelf ice.  There was so many awesome things to see, I had a horrible time trying to decide which picture to choose.  I finally chose this one because you can see how tall the shelf ice actually is with the perspective of the people.  It is just incredible out there. 

 

So, now it's your turn.  If you are a blogger, link your post with Mr. Linky below.  If you aren't a blogger, I will link this to my Facebook page and you can post your picture in the comments.  If you don't already follow me on Facebook, friend request me as Nancy Jankowski Collins.  I promise I'll accept.  Please link my post in your post.  Be sure and visit the other entries.  I can't wait to see what everyone else did.

 

If you don't blog, you might want to consider trying it.  If for no other reason than to have all your favorite pictures in one place.  Blogger.com and wordpress.com are both free blog sites.  I love blogging.  I tried it on a recommendation and I can't imagine not blogging now.  I've made some great friends too.

 

That's it from me this week.  Link up and I'll see you next week.     I can't wait to see all your pictures!

 

Just Watch Me!







I feel like a broken record.  My foot, my foot, my foot.  I'm sure you are sick of hearing about my foot.  I have good news.  This is the last post that I will ever mention my foot and it's problems.  I got the inserts.  I am on the mend.  The only thing I can't do is zumba for three more months.  I can exercise.  I can walk for exercise.  I can pretty much do anything I want.  Be smart.  Don't overdo if it is bothering me.  I got it!  Okay, DONE! 

 

Now, let's get to the side effects and the aftermath of the whole rehab issue.  For approximately ten weeks, I was sidelined.  I wasn't allowed to do much of anything as far as exercise went.  I didn't take it well.  I sulked.  I ate and drank most things bad for me.  We had the holidays in this ten weeks.  You get the picture, right?

 

I am now at a number on the scale that I promised myself I would never see again.  To say I am pissed would be putting it mildly.  I am ashamed of myself and embarrassed to boot.  Now what?????  Then I saw this......



Okay, true.  I started thinking.  I have done this before.  I know what to do.  I just have to start doing it again.  So, that is exactly what I am doing starting right now.

 

I have enlisted the helped of one of the most wonderful people I know.  She was the first person to get me motivated years ago when I really wanted to get serious about getting fit and healthy.  She was the one who helped me overcome my fear of being the fat girl at the exercise classes.  She doesn't judge.  Ever!  She has remained a fantastic friend who has my back when I need her most.  You have no idea how much you inspire and encourage me, Nicki!  I can never thank you enough for always being there for me. 

 

I have all the wonderful people at the studio where I work out.  Unfortunately, I feel like I am starting at square one again.  I am winded, weak and sore.  I've been through this before though.  Each week, it will get better.  I just have to keep pushing.  I'm sorry, Jen.  You'll just have to bear with me.  I'll get it back again.

 

Nicki has given me her menus and grocery lists.  I have a plan for my eating.  My wonderful husband is willing to go along with the plan as far as eating what I cook.  It's not a huge switch.  Just cleaner.  Lots of lean meats, veggies and fruits.  No crap!  All those rotten chips, crackers, diet coke, Bacardi and stuff like that....GONE!!

 

Starting today, this is the plan.  I will be working out at the studio four days a week.  I will be on the treadmill no less than the three days I'm not at a class.  I will eat right and not snack on anything but healthy food.  I will get enough sleep.  I will drink enough water.  This I can do.

 

I have a new mantra.   

Hit Me With Your Best Shot Week 1

This is it!  Today is the first installment of.....

HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT!

 

This is my new weekly photo challenge.  The premise is easy.  All you have to do is show us your favorite picture you took over the past week.  It doesn't matter what it is.  If it is your favorite, that is what you post.  Easy peasy, right?

 

Here is my picture.  My goal was to have something red because today is Wear Red Day for the American Heart Association.  With all the cold and snow this past week, getting outside wasn't that easy.  I found this tree with red berries at work.  I wish the sky was more blue, but you can't have everything.

So, now it's your turn.  If you are a blogger, link your post with Mr. Linky below.  If you aren't a blogger, I will link this to my Facebook page and you can post your picture in the comments.  If you don't already follow me on Facebook, friend request me as Nancy Jankowski Collins.  I promise I'll accept.  Please link my post in your post.  Be sure and visit the other entries.  I can't wait to see what everyone else did.

 

If you don't blog, you might want to consider trying it.  If for no other reason than to have all your favorite pictures in one place.  Blogger.com and wordpress.com are both free blog sites.  I love blogging.  I tried it on a recommendation and I can't imagine not blogging now.  I've made some great friends too.

 

That's it from me this week.  Link up and I'll see you next week.     I can't wait to see all your pictures!

 

 

Hit Me With Your Best Shot!

Welcome to...... 

Hit Me With Your Best Shot!

 

I love my camera!  Any of you who know me, know that to be a fact.  I don't think there is a day that goes by without my picking up my camera at some point in the day.  I used to participate in a weekly photo challenge called You Capture, but it is no longer available for me to join.  I really miss it.  I thought in a very small way, Hit Me With Your Best Shot could be my replacement for it.

 

I’m excited to invite you to participate in my new weekly photo challenge.  The premise is simple.  Every Friday, you can check in here and post your favorite photo that you took during the previous week.  It can be absolutely anything as long as it's your favorite shot.  For those of you who don't blog, I will post the link on my Facebook page and you can post your photo in the comments.  If we aren't Facebook friends, you can friend request me as Nancy Jankowski Collins.

 

Here are the logistics of how this is going to work......

 

Every Friday, there will be a post on Bacardi Mama called Hit Me With Your Best Shot and I’ll have my favorite picture that I took for the week on that post.  Below the picture, I will have a Mr. Linky in the post.  Then YOU will post on your blog (or my Facebook post) your picture and information about this challenge.  Then you’ll fill out the Mr. Linky with your name and your link to your picture.   Please be sure and link my post on your post.  That way, more people will be made aware of Hit Me With Your Best Shot and we can maybe get more and more people participating.  I think once you see the first post, it will all make sense.  At least I hope it does.

 

So my friends, check back here on Friday, February 7 for the first ever installment of Hit Me With Your Best Shot! 

 

I'm really excited!

 



Brave?

I woke up late yesterday because we had a snow day from school.  I had planned a day of leftover projects that had been hanging over my head.  Nothing hard, just unfinished business. 

I made the mistake of turning on the computer first thing.  I saw this on a friend's Facebook page and it got me thinking....

 

"If you ain't losing friends, you ain't growing up." Snoop Dog. Everything we do turns someone off to us as friends. Some persons, especially those afraid to pay the price of loving unconditionally, are consistently and constantly seeking reasons and ways to get out of relationships, no mater how simple or complex they are. Hard as it may be to understand, we must know that we are not losing ...true friends, but only those who appear to be! To live the truly happy life we must live beyond the need to be loved, but must live to love with everything we have and are. And to live our greatest potential in this regard, we must teach this to our children, grandchildren, friends, students, and, especially our enemies or possible enemies.

 

So, as I was taking that post in and mulling it over, I started thinking about the Grammy awards the night before.  I remembered Sara Bareilles and Carole King singing together.  That took me to You Tube and this video.  This got me thinking even more.

Say what you want to say and let the words fall out.  When was the last time I did that?  When was the last time I was brave with words?  Have I ever really been brave when it comes to words?  Maybe it's time I was.  Or maybe it's time to step back and let go. 
Maybe it's time for this.....

 

Maybe I have a lot to think about.

 

Just Write



There's This Boy I Know Who's Having A Birthday

 A long time ago, I met this boy at the local root beer stand.  I was a sophomore in high school and he was 19 and out of school.  He asked the girl that I was with out on a date.  To this day, he swears it was just to ask her about me.  Whatever the reason, we went out the next weekend and have been together ever since.

Two years later, we got engaged at my mom and dad's 25th anniversary party.  

Here we are at our bridal shower.  Check out my glasses and Dick's wide wale corduroy pants.  Oh my!

On September 8, 1973 we tied the knot.  

We made it to 25 years!

We made it to 30 years!

We had some fun along the way.  Have you ever been to a Jimmy Buffett concert?  Now that is fun!

We even made it to 40 years!

Along the way, we had four amazing and beautiful daughters who found four equally amazing and handsome men.  They blessed us with three awesome and adorable grandchildren.

And two months ago, we had the thrill of welcoming another grandchild, a granddaughter into our lives.

 

Just last month, this boy and I became empty nesters for the first time in 39 years.  We've come full circle, so to speak.  It's back to just him and I again.  While it has been a little weird, it has been a little exciting too.  The options are endless.  We just have to sort them all out and that is just what we are doing.

 

This is his first birthday since January 23, 1974 that it has been just him and I in this house.  We've come a long way since then.  Everything has changed and nothing has changed.  Our house has doubled in size.  Our family is seven times larger!  Going from two people to fourteen people is huge.  We give each other space, but we enjoy being together.  I love that over the last few weeks with all the nasty and cold weather we have had in Northwest Indiana, he has offered so many times to take me to work and pick me up.  After all these years, he's still very thoughtful.  He can still surprise me.  Maybe that's not always a good thing, but I love that he does. 

So, today is his birthday.  I want to wish him a very Happy Birthday and a wonderful year to come.  I love you more than I ever thought possible.  You make my life something quite special and I will always be grateful that all those years ago, you picked me over that other girl.  Maybe you really were just asking her about me. 
Happy Birthday!  Love you!!