think kit day one - your year in photos

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Today's Think Kit blogging prompt: Document your year in photos. Did one photo encapsulate your year? Maybe it takes a gallery. And don't forget to caption, describe, or or document what made an image so important. Let's see those photos!

Uh oh. I panicked when I saw the prompt - how in the world could I whittle it down to just a few photos? Hell, I have seventeen days worth photos of me and the giant popcorn ball at the Indiana State Fair this summer.

I'm a seriously crazy picture taker. I take a ton of photos. I'm never far from either my Canon SLR or my iPhone - I think of the phone as a camera first and telephone second. Confession: I sleep next to both of them. Not in the bed of course, that would just be obsessively crazy. They have a nice little spot within reach on the nightstand. 

As I was flipping through the thousands of photos that I've taken in 2013 something quickly became apparent.  I was in them. And not just my feet.

Not only have I lost 20 pounds since Saint Patrick's Day, I've grown more comfortable with my looks. I have the Spitznogle nose and the Gremelspacher chin and I'm finally okay with that.

And losing weight has been the biggest news of 2013 for me.  Apparently if  you eat less and exercise the pounds melt off! Who knew? Being accountable to Weight Watchers and an activity monitor have helped. The biggest motivation has come from being involved in a message board on the Weight Watchers site. There is a group of us all born in the same year that chat daily. I hate to miss checking in each day and I was thrilled to meet some of them in person in October.

The photo I choose for this prompt was taken in Boulder this summer. I was with part of my family and visiting with college friends. I like how healthy and relaxed I look - it made me smile when I saw it.

I can't resist leaving you with a giant popcorn ball picture from the State Fair this year....

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bloggy mcbloggerson

I am participating in Small Box 's blogging challenge. They have created a Think Kit to encourage blogging, sending daily prompts. 

I am excited about the challenge to blog each day - with someone holding my feet slightly to the fire and to thinking outside my usual topics. How many photos of my shoes do you need to see, really? 

If you would like to follow the group project or read the blogs of other folks that are participating check it out here:  http://www.thinkkit.org/thinkkit/2013/participants

And it's not too late to join in! 

Happy Blogging! 

saints

I'm late posting this for All Saints Day.
I blame Saint Expeditus. Click here to find out why: http://www.punchnels.com/punchlist/punchlist-a-week-of-21113/

www dot weight watchers dot wheeee!

Chicago Camp '61

You might remember that I lost weight five years ago. And I gained most of it back. I gained it so slowly that I barely noticed. Unless I was bare - then it was obvious. 

Since April I have lost over 20 pounds. I'm even lighter than I was five years ago, mostly in thanks to the women pictured above.

Weight Watchers is a great program - as it turns out healthy eating, portion control, and increased activity are the key to losing weight! Who knew? 

Actually I did know, but I needed to be held accountable.

But the thought of attending another meeting makes my head explode. I have seven standing meetings each week, and several other monthly meetings - board meetings, church meetings, neighborhood meetings, committee meetings - you get the picture. 

One day I dipped my chubby toes into the Weight Watchers online community and stumbled across a wonderful group of women all born in the same year. And what a diverse group we are: nannies, nurses, FBI personnel, college administrators, teachers, payroll specialists, homemakers, cable industry execs, and all sorts of fun and inspiring women. I made instant friends!

It is fascinating, but we don't talk about food or our weight as much as you think we would. Since we all have a common point of reference - being 52 - we talk about everything under the sun. 

Several of us got together over the weekend. People flew in from all over the country and spent the weekend together in Chicago. I was lucky enough to drive up on Sunday to soak in their goodness. 

It was great to meet so many of them in person - and I think we're all just fabulous!

weddings and raindrops

Celebrating with the father of the bride - Cousin Jeff

Dad and I headed to Cass County (where he grew up) to attend the wedding of his great-niece Courtney. The ceremony and reception were held in the middle of a beautiful field on Cousin Jeff's property. 

The weather did not cooperate. At all. Buckets of rain fell hard and quick. 

That didn't stop the celebrating- and the Spitznogle's know how to party, no matter what the weather.

The guests were all instructed to wear boots, even before they knew the forecast. I was glad there was straw readily available to sprinkle on the puddles.

I cleverly also brought my rain boots with me. I not so cleverly left them in the bed of the truck. They turned into a giant rain gauge before I could retrieve them.

i like everybody...

....I really do.

I bought this fabulous pin in Colorado earlier this summer. Luckily I saw it about two seconds before my sister Ann. Otherwise it would be on her jacket, not mine.

A couple of weeks ago I left the jacket (purchased at a thrift store on the same trip) at a venue after a concert. Someone picked it up and knew who it belong to, because as she said, "it must belong to Nora, she likes everybody."

True enough.

happy feet

Like most people, I totally soak in the vibe of the folks around me and tonight I filled my positivity tank to the brim.

I got to spend the evening with one of the most positive and action-oriented and all-around cool folks that I am lucky enough to know - Robert Egger.  It was a lovely evening, spent with lovely folks in a lovely house - as you can tell, there was lots of lovely flying around!

Robert's brother, sister-in-law, and nephew live just a few blocks from me in this amazing home. It is  beautiful, cozy, and clearly home to a happy family.

Cheers to good vibes!