Author: Carrie Spritzer

Stop, grab the camera, and shoot

I find it hard to remember to take out my camera and take casual snapshots. I think part of the reason why is that my beautiful camera is so cumbersome, but I also find it hard to take nice portraits inside with artificial light. I much prefer taking outdoor shots with this particular camera. Is it the camera body, the lens, the settings I use? I’m not really sure.

I just know right now I’m finding it hard to 1) get motivated to take pictures and 2) remember to stop, grab the camera, and shoot.

Some recent events at our house that I did not take pictures of (and, of course, wish I had):
+ Poker night tournament (with two types of quiche and banana bread)
+ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix DVD release party (popcorn and hot apple cider)
+ After work dinner party (enchilada casserole and ice cream sundaes)

While I hope to take beautiful “posed” photos of the baby when s/he arrives, I am worried about missing all those wonderful spontaneous moments that I’d love to capture because they make for great memories. I think we need a camera that takes superior pictures, but is compact enough to fit in the diaper backpack. (At the same time, we’ve been talking about getting a digital video camera… We’ll see which purchase happens first or if we can roll the two together. I’m really hesitant to spend any extra money right now… thought I am tempted by Flip Video.)

What are your thoughts on my camera conundrum?

Tonight my friend Natalia is coming to visit. I hope I do better and get at least one shot of us together.

UPDATED: David took a photo of us together! I’ve included the shot from last year for comparison purposes. (Thank goodness my new “softness” is the result of pregnancy!) We had a great time together. (As always.)
Natalia and I

Getting ready

I have a feeling this is just the first of many such posts.


David assembled the baby dresser, evidently THE expectant parents evening activity.
(He even safe-sealed all the formaldehyde in! Thank you, honey!)


We’re now ready to start filling it up with beautiful baby clothes! (Thank you, Grandma!)

Our cloth diapers and wool diaper covers arrived the other day — they fit perfectly together (phew!). I find it amazing that in less than two months we’re going to have a little Spritzer Leyba that not only fits in them, but will be going through 8-12 diapers a day. Our washer and dryer are going to be in constant motion!

We also had our last childbirth education class on Sunday. Picture mamas and papas sitting on the floor snacking. And getting up to pee. Of course, it wasn’t all fun and games. We discussed our birth fears, ran through an emergency cesarean scenario just in case (we’re all planning home births), and practiced pain-coping techniques with our hands immersed in ice water. (I had no idea how uncomfortable wet and cold could be.) David and I are both feeling pretty prepared now about the birth. And after watching the remaining stack of home birth DVDs our midwives lent us (our plan for this weekend), we should be all-set to go.

Or, at least, as all-set as I think first-time parents can be.

We’re so excited! Bring it on.

Peppermint Swirl Sugar Cookies

Did you hear that Blueprint magazine is closing? While I don’t have a subscription (I so prefer Domino), every now and then I splurge and pick it up at the grocery store. This past issue — the Holiday one — was especially fun. These peppermint swirl sugar cookies, from that issue, look so tasty and tempting. Here’s the recipe so you can try them out. I can’t wait to give them a whirl (love those peppermint candies!).

Basic Sugar Cookies (link)
Makes 45 slice-and-bake cookies, 100 spritz cookies, or 30 cut-out cookies
Ingredients

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled, plus more for rolling and cutting
  • Sanding sugar and other decorations (optional)
  • Confectioners’-sugar glaze

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, cream butter with sugar and salt until light and fluffy. Add egg and beat well to combine. Mix in vanilla. With mixer on low speed, add flour and mix just un-til incorporated (do not overmix).
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Space cookies 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until just barely golden around the edges, 7 to 12 minutes (depending on size of cookies). Cool completely on baking sheets.
  3. Decorate, if desired. Let dry at least 2 hours. Store in an airtight container up to 1 week.

Peppermint Swirl Cookie Variation (link)Here, the candy does the heavy lifting in the style and taste departments. Cut a hole in your cookie that’s slightly larger than your candy piece (any hard candy will work); prebake them for 6 to 8 minutes, until they look a little dry on top. Drop in your minty mouthful and bake for a few more minutes, until it melts to fill the space.
From the November/December 2007 issue of Blueprint magazine

Holiday Gift Ideas

It’s a good thing we’re not planning on spending any extra money this holiday season (hello, baby just around the corner!) or I would be all over these items. Instead perhaps you’ll enjoy them. I threw in a flew splurge items to shake things up too.


Organic Pussy Willow Wreath, VIOlight Toothbrush Sanitizer, Flor Modular Carpet Tiles


Ceramic Measuring Cups, Hand-Spun Lambswool Wrap, Mary Jane Crocs


Tree House Print, Heather Bailey’s Trash Ties, Ripple Ring


24-7 Reusable Bags, Rock Solid Tipi, LOMO blue supersampler camera


Le Creuset Caribbean Round Dutch Oven, Tiffany Signature Ring, Domino Magazine, Jagged Flower Silhouette Note Cards

We also have a ton of holiday gift ideas over at our Blog Tribute to Audrey Hepburn.

In a related shopping vein, does anyone have a comfy backpack to recommend? We’re planning on forgoing the typical diaper bag in lieu of a diaper backpack and would love some suggestions! (Ditto for a digital video camera! We’re saving up for one of these!)

The upshot of memory-loss

I’ve found a benefit to my pregnant-induced, terrible memory. Today grapefruits arrived in the mail and I was so surprised! Last week I knew they were coming — Dad called to ask how many to order for us this Hanukah — but I *totally* forgot about them by this week. So, when that yellow box from Pittman and Davis showed up on our front porch, I hooted with excitement, did a little dance and got pumped to eat some grapefruit. (Thank you, Spritzer family!)

For those of you who don’t know, grapefruits are big in the Spritzer household. Every winter a case would arrive at the house for Hanukah and we’d slowly work our way through them. We’d peel and eat them with Dad, a special father-daughter ritual that I loved. (Grapefruits also tend to show up at special events, like after my bridal shower — see the last photo in the set). We Spritzers just can’t get enough of them.

Nowadays grapefruits are an indulgence. I buy them when I am really in the mood for them or as a special treat. Something to savor. They tend to be just too expensive for every day eating.

So now, thanks to my family, we have a case of them to enjoy. Oh, I am in heaven. Excuse me while I go peel one. I’m going to eat it while I enjoy the rest of our Hannukah presents from Mom and Dad (another Spritzer tradition: books for gifts!).

We are so going to make grapefruit and avocado salad this week.