Here is a glimpse of Halle’s session:

You’ve not been writing lately. Much at all, actually. I visit your blog looking for material to read AND pretty pictures to look at. Please come back.

Sincerely,

Me.

Okay, Im sorry. Here’s the scoop, I actually TRIED starting a new blog. That’s right, I was cheatin’ on ya. My new blog WAS called Rachel Is Running. My thought behind it was that I wanted to blog my running and dieting adventures but I updated it twice.

Oh yes, TWICE!

Rachel has been running, but not since last Saturday. To be VERY honest its way too hot out there right now and Im finding that to be my main excuse. But then I drive down the road and see these ripped, dedicated people, running and sweating the crap out of themselves, and I feel Ive failed.

Eh, their nuts, I say to myself. Yup…diagnosing their mental health issues made me feel much better about not getting my run in those days.

Today is a new day and we are NOW 12.5 weeks away from the half marathon and the farthest Ive gone is about 4 miles. I need to get back to work. Starting, again, today Im rededicating myself to my fitness and Clean Eating plan. I will continue to update THIS blog on my running adventures so that you can all be with me as I kill myself to run this half marathon.

I took my before picture about 2 weeks ago. I think I’m actually fatter than that photo right now. Ive been indulging in these DELICIOUS brownies I made on Sunday, which Ive since made ANOTHER pan. Yikes…want me to post the recipe?? huh?? do ya?? okay, I will…..

THANK YOU BETTY’S

One package of Betty Crocker fudges brownies
One package of Betty Crocker chocolate chip cookie dough (found next to brownies)

Prepare brownies as directed on the box. Pour into 9×13 greased pan. Set aside.
Prepare cookie dough as directed. Spoon cookie dough into brownie mixture and smush SLIGHTLY.

Bake that for 35-45 minutes in a 350 degree oven, let cool for ONE HOUR.

Then, OHHHH THEN….make the Ganache…

12 0z semi sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
6 oz butter

Melt the butter on medium heat, add whipping cream, heat JUST until boiling point. I wait til I see a couple little bubbles and then remove.
Pour the butter/cream mixture onto the chocolate chips (in a glass container) and wait 20 SECONDS before touching.
Stir until smooth and pour on top of brownies.
Then AGAIN, chill for one hour.
Indulge.

http://www.bakerella.com/thaaank-you-betty/

There is the link in case you want better directions

I leave you with this:

(Photo by: Bakerella)

And then with this….

What???? I love working out…AND Brownies….

Happy Thursday folks!

Shooting Lisa’s baby bump shoot was the first time I’d ever felt a baby kick in their mama’s stomach. It was one of those feelings that was shocking, surprising and “oh my gosh, she just KICKED ME!!!!” I loved every minute of it and it reignited my baby fever! My 5 year plan might be minimized a tad 

Nicole and Brian have seriosuly grown to be apart of the Jacobus family and I couldn’t be more excited to have such wonderful people in my life. Nicole is constantly upbeat and possitive and Brian is calm and HILARIOUS!!!!! They make such a cute couple and will make beautiful parents, inside and out.

This should be an advertisement for J.Crew’s summer straw hat!!

I’ll get there.

Someday.

The only thing worse than failure, is to have never tried at all.

Dont be the one to “fit in”. Be the one who STICKS OUT!

We took this time to upload our images from the day to have an extra backup and refuel our bellies. I leaned up against the wall next to Jared and let out a large sigh. Sigh of relief and relaxation. He took my hands and placed them on his shoulders in an attempt to give me a hug. He knows me well and knew that I looked like I could use a big comforting hug. In his arms I felt security, love and intense passion. A faint slow song started in the background of the reception for light dinner music and he took my right hand.

We giggled and fell deep into the moment of our little slow dance in the back room. No one around but us, engulfed into each others arms, slow dancing and falling more in love with each other in every moment.

Complete Happiness.

I’m thrilled to announce the winner of the Chocolaterie giveaway!! When I received Jeanna’s entry I about balled my eyes out. I loved all of the entries but what it really came down to was who really captivated me with their description. For me, just recently losing my Grandfather to cancer, this really hit home. I’m very fresh in the feelings of losing that special part of my life. While reading her story and looking at the image I really feel a calm and peaceful spirit. I smile, I cry, I laugh. The image resembles such a soothing and tranquil life. Simple.

I love the color of the deep blue sky paired with deep green grass. I feel the cool fall day. I even smell the aroma of living in the country. Everything about this image and story was just a solid hit home.

CONGRATS JEANNA!!!!! You’ll be contacted to make arrangements on getting your box of chocolates. Maybe you’ll even want to share one with me??? HUH!???

The picture was taken this past October in very rural Wisconsin. I call it Grandma’s View.  My grandmother passed away last October and being from the country, she was buried in one of those small cemeteries in the middle of no where. The day after her funeral I went back out to spend some time with my grandma alone – away from my very large family.  Her cemetery sat on the corner of two roads and was surrounded by a dairy farm. I thought this was such a great location for my grandma to rest because she had been a dairy farmer all her life.  As I looked at my grandma’s headstone, I just turned to the left and saw the view depicted in the picture. A beautiful fall tree and an old outhouse or chicken coop (not sure what it is). Of course that day was filled with a beautiful blue sky. I couldn’t help but capture the image that reminded me of how beautiful my grandmother was – inside and out. I have since had the picture blown up on canvas and it hangs at the top of my stairs.  Everyday, my grandmother and I get to share the same view.

Anna so graciously supplied us with a 16 piece box of decadent chocolates to give away as a prize for our giveaway!  How awesome!! Jared and I also purchased a few chocolates to eat on the way home. I got the dark chocolate amaretto and the dark chocolate coconut. Both of them were knee buckling good! Jared got the dark chocolate mint and the milk chocolate Irish coffee cream and he of course loved his as well!

The neat part of Chocolaterie Stam is that they also offer favors for your wedding! They can print your name and date on the little chocolates to bring the little candies into theme. And what wedding guest WOULDN’T like an edible favor???

So on with the contest already right??? So here is the deal. I love chocolate and I love photography. If you ALSO love chocolate and want to win this delicious box then I want you to submit your most FAVORITE picture ever. One that YOU took. Tell me why you love it and the story behind it. Entries can be submitted to contact@jacobusphoto.com. The contest ends next Friday night the 15th at 5:00pm! Im recruiting my friends on this one to help me chose a winner. Even though Im not a bias person I want everyone to feel like this was a fair pick!

The finalist’s picture will be displayed on the blog and also contacted to let them know they won! (a few runner ups might also make the blog

Here is what I need you to supply me with to enter:

Name
Email
Favorite Image
Story behind the image
Favorite joke… So I can laugh as I read the entries!!

Well….maybe a beef biscuit bribe would get his attention…

Happy Wednesday!

This blog has not only been apart of my business but apart of my life experiences as well. Im about to share some pretty scary numbers with you that most women would cringe at the thought of sharing. But Im getting it out there because I want to make a difference in peoples health. And hopefully this will encourage someone like me to join me along the way!

Food and weight is something I’ve always struggled with ever since I was a young girl. Weighing in at 169 pounds in the 7th grade I was called vicious-cruel names, to say the least. The summer between 8th and 9th grade I lost about 20 pounds just by watching what I ate and becoming more active. By 10th grade rumors were spreading that I developed an eating disorder (not true, not healthy!!) Weighing in at 109 pounds I still thought I looked fat. Boy would I like to go back to that young me and slap me across the face. A few years down the road I became a more steady weight of 125 pounds (very healthy for my 5’5 height). Then the yo-yo weight began again. I lost control and sky rocketed back up into the 150′s a year before Jared proposed to me. I was unhealthy and unhappy. I then discovered Weight Watchers and lost again an additional 20 pounds before my wedding. I’m VERY happy to say that Ive maintained my 130 pound weight for 4 years now and have been able to stop the yo-yo-ing process. Now Im ready for my next step. Insert the Eating-Clean diet and workout program.

I’m the kind of person that needs baby steps. So this week Im doing a clean eating smoothie week. Each day Im going to try a new Clean Eating smoothie. At the end of the week I will post images and recipes to the new smoothies I tried. I’ll also share my honest opinion and Jared’s honest opinion on the smoothie. Today I created my own, which definitely needed some HELP! 2 tbs natural peanut butter, one serving of non-fat vanilla greek yogurt and a splash of non-fat milk to thin it out. I think this would have been better if it had some banana or sweetener in it. It was REALLY rich.

So, not ONLY am I going to share recipes, struggles and successes with you, Im also going to share my beginning weight, measurements and workout plan with you! At the end of my 8 week challenge I will be so daringly brave enough to share my “mid-way” photo with you. I might just die right now.

If you are interested in joining my 8-week challenge please email me at contact@jacobusphoto.com ! I would love support along the way!

-Rachel