Bob & Kaeleigh ::: Downtown Geneva Engagement Part 2

You have seen these two before and they are such a cute couple! The first time we shot their engagement session it was freezing cold and with tons of snow! Those pictures were amazing but we wanted to do another session to mix up the look and to give more pictures. Speaking of which, their first shoot got feautured on Tulle + Tux blog! Check it out!

We shot part 2 in downtown Geneva and I love it there! We were freezing but these two warmed things up with their nonstop laughter and we had lots of fun:)
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Holistic Sabby ::: Chocolate Avocado Smoothie

Hello blog world! I have been away for a bit but I am back in action:)
I am starting a new series this year called Holistic Sabby.
I first got the nickname on vacation with my friends because they saw the odd and different things I do for health! And for those of you who don’t know, Sabby is one of my regular nicknames:)
I never thought I would blog about a healthy lifestyle but since God has been working on my heart the past few months, I am actually passionate about it!
I love how Lysa Terkeurst describes it in her book.
“I’m a simple Jesus girl on
a journey to fnding deeper motivation than just a number on my scale for getting and
staying healthy.”
I love that! I also love holistic and how it relates to a whole complete lifestyle. It goes beyond food and into many other areas.
I still have to much to learn but I want to share things I have learned along the way with people! Maybe it can inspire somebody to take a few steps towards being healthier!

So for my first post in the series I want to share this smoothie recipe!
It is from my new favorite cookbook called The 21 Day Sugar Detox!
I am pretty much obsessed with this smoothie and have been drinking it multiple times a week!
I hope some of you will try it!

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I use the mighty Vitamix and it is awesome!
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This cacao powder is seriously the best!
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And there you go! I didn’t even try to make the presentation that good because I couldn’t wait to drink it!
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A few notes:

It calls for almond meal which you can buy or make yourself. Honestly I just get lazy and throw a handful of almonds in the blender and call it a day. Probably not the best method but it works!

Some of you might be thinking I have a spelling problem and I am writing cacao wrong. Cacao powder and cocoa powder are different things even though they both come from the cacao bean! I am no scientist but from what I understand cocoa powder is processed and in the heating process it loses alot of its nutritional value. Cacao on the other hand is raw and full of good antioxidants. If you don’t want to make the jump to cacao powder, I am sure you can use cocoa powder. Just make sure it is unprocessed and no sugar! I bought my cacao powder on amazon and it is so tasty! And actually healthy so I will take it!

I add ice to mine to make it cold which you can do too!

Let me know if anyone has questions!
Hope you guys are excited about this new series!

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January 14, 2014 - 9:42 pm

Susan Fairchild - Protein smoothies are my new favorite thing and my trainer is big on avocado so this work for me.

January 17, 2014 - 12:21 am

Janice Davis Stroh - That looks very good

2013 Was My Year

I am not really sure where to start this post other than to say I am a different person than I was a year ago. 2013 was such a good good year for me. I wrote in my journal at the beginning of the year that I had a feeling this would be a year of growing. Little did I know how true that was. I learned that when I go outside of my comfort zone amazing things can happen. I learned to love deeper. I caught a big glimpse of how much God loves me. I learned how to say no and develop self control. I learned that true friendship is about being selfless and loving people regardless of their actions. I learned and am continuing to learn who I am in Christ. I learned and am continuing to learn that others opinions of me don’t define me. and I learned so much more that I cannot even express.

Here are a few of the highlights from this year:

– I traveled to 6 states. This is HUGE for me. At this time last year, I had never flown on an airplane by myself and was terrified. I took a trip to California that changed it all for me. I was pushed in so many ways on that trip and I am thankful for that. I traveled to California, Michigan, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Minnisota, Missouri, and into Iowa for 5 min:)I traveled by plane, train, and automobile. It took me way outside of my comfort zone. I am a girl who is shy and love being home and was scared of traveling. But this year opened up so many things for me and travel is so much fun! My trips were so memorable and I loved all of the people I got to spend time with!

– I switched churches. I was feeling a lack of community and was lonely even though I was at a great church. I went back to the church I grew up in and it has been amazing. Community is so so important and I realize that now!

– I gained 2 mentors in my life. I always wanted to be mentored by a godly woman and I prayed someone would be in my life. Well this year God has brought two people and it has been amazing! Having older woman love, counsel, and pray over me has been so beneficial.

– My family went through some hard times. But God didn’t and isn’t wasting those hard times. We have grown so much closer together and learned to love each other no matter.

– I got a car! This was a big standout to me since my old car was pretty bad. I am so thankful to have the money for a reliable vechicle now

– In 2013 I took control my health. I took a long hard look at the broken parts in my life and how I was using food to fix that. God opened my eyes and completely changed my heart. This is a whole post in and of itself but I feel amazing. I have lost 45 pounds through a Paleo eating approach and lifestyle. The Lord has brought so much healing in my heart and I am gaining victory over a part of my life I never thought I could. This is not a fad but has truly been a lifestyle change and I cannot imagine how I even lived or ate before. It is so freeing not to approach this new year and resolve to be thin or lose a bunch of weight and then be disappointed in 2 weeks. I am continually working on a healthy lifestyle and that is been SO cool to see how God has taken over that area of my life!

Here are some instagrams over the months!

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April
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May
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June
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July
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September
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October
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December
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What a year! Thank you for all of you who are in my life. I am excited for the things 2014 will be and where God will lead me:)

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December 31, 2013 - 4:32 pm

Christy Tyler - Yay! What a year – so proud of you lady!!!

Jimmy & Brittany ::: Christmas Tree Farm Love Session

This might be my favorite photoshoot of the year and I am so excited to share it today!
I have always wanted to so a photoshoot at a Christmas tree farm. I think Christmas tree farms just make people feel all happy and Christmasy if you know what I mean. There are such fond memories made there and it brings Christmas joy to people’s hearts.
I have also always wanted to do a photoshoot with Jimmy and Brittany since I have met them! They are two people I have had the joy of getting to know better this year and they are dear friends. And just look at them. Such a stylish, happy, in love couple. Add in a Christmas tree farm and you have the perfect recipe for awesome photos!!
Now I must say how this particular day was freezing. I don’t remember the exact temperature but it was insanely cold. But these two were so amazing and dealt with the cold like champs. It was pretty humerous watching us take pictures then run into the car trying to avoid frostbite. I kept reminding them and myself it will be worth it! It totally was and we can have some good laughs about it now:)Hope these put you in the Christmas spirit and you love them as much as I do!

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The Martin Family ::: Winter 2013

I had so much fun shooting this family’s family photos! I have been friends with them for years and I love that Carter is in the picture now:)He is just the cutest and after seeing some of these you will fall in love with him too! He took that cold weather better than any of us! He just loves to be outside! I love these guys and love that they asked me to do a little shoot with them in the snow!

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And just for fun here is a look back on their engagement, wedding, baby annoucement, and now! So fun that I get to photograph different seasons of their lives!
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