7 Days Old {Newborn Photographer-Salisbury, NC}

Meet Baby Kate.  I had the privilege yesterday and I can't stop thinking about this sweet, precious little bundle.  Good thing I have plenty of darling photos that captured our time together.  Enjoy.

Isn't she fabulous in this crocheted hat?  Her great aunt made this for her.  You can see how terribly pretty Kate felt in this hat.  She is working the camera.

I love siblings shots.  This is big sister Caroline (20 months).  Caroline is checking on Kate's belly button.  She's a good, attentive big sister.

I love a good footsy shot, and aren't these the cutest?  I think black & white show more detail.

Caroline has this darling polka dot chair in her room and with her vintage looking dress I wanted this photo to have a vintage feel.  Look at those blue eyes.  What is she thinking about?

Kate started getting a little restless so Mommy Brittney is soothing her back to sleep.  I love this.  You can't tell but Kate is sleeping in a vintage wooden Sun Drop Soda crate.  Her mommy loves her some Sun Drop.  And no, she doesn't sleep in this at night, only for our shoot.

Sleep tight, Sweet Kate.  Thanks for letting me spend the morning with you.
 (knitted pod made by a good family friend, so adorable, so talented are the people in Kate's life)


Stay tuned tomorrow for darling shots of big sister Caroline.  

CAKE!!!!

Gracie wanted to make her birthday cake this year, chocolate with white frosting and pink flowers.  It came out pretty cute and tasted great but a baker and cake decorator I am not.  To capture the memory I shot two different shots below in two different methods, check it out.

This shot was taken with my Nikon and my 35mm lens, and because it was dusk out I bumped up my ISO setting.  I focused on the cake so that Gracie would be blurred in the background.  I love this shot.

This shot was taken on my iPhone using my Hipsmatic App.  I love how vintage Hipsmatic shots are.

We have a TON of cake left over so I'm off now for another piece and a double espresso.

Happy 6th Birthday, Gracie! 2013

Six years ago today I received the BEST birthday gift of my life, Gracie Elizabeth.  I cannot believe how quickly six years have passed and each year, Gracie, you grow more exquisite inside and out.  As a tribute I am posting photos of our last six birthdays.  They've been the best birthdays of my life!

The day you were born, the BEST day of my life!

 You were the most beautiful baby I had ever seen.  And that hair!

Your first birthday was just a small gathering but the real party for you was your very first cupcake.  I chose carrot cake and took the frosting off.  You LOVED it!

On your 2nd birthday we took you to Disneyland since they were offering free passes for birthdays.  What a blessing that we share birthdays, that saved us $136!  Then we had a party and all you wanted for your birthday was a strawberry cupcake with pink frosting.

We had a big party for your 3rd birthday, a Tinker Bell party!  You wanted a green Tinker Bell cake and BOY did you get a GREEN cake!

All you wanted for your 4th birthday was a Nemo cake.  I made it that year and the cake kept sliding off the frosting.  What a mess!  Bruce the Shark was made out of marshmallow and turns out that was the only part you even wanted to eat.

Your 5th birthday was your first birthday in North Carolina and you invited all of your new friends.  Remember the gigantic blow up water slide?  You had a Hello Kitty cake but this was the first year that you were more excited about presents than cake.  

 

I'm so happy to be spending another birthday together.  Happy 6th Birthday, Gracie!  

Your daddy and I love you to the moon and back.

Children's Test Shots {Salisbury, NC, Children's Photographer}

Today was a beautiful morning so I bribed Gracie to come out with me and do some test shots for backgrounds I'm thinking of for future mini-sessions for clients.  I'm very happy with them; she did a great job.  By the final shot she was hot and getting a little peeved with me, nothing a frozen yogurt can't fix though.  Enjoy the shots and spread the word for me!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michelle-Spieler-Photography/

Angel Face {Salisbury, NC, Children's Photographer}

I just had to post this photo I took of Gracie awhile back because her eyes are just captivating.  What a little cherub.  Thanks for viewing.

Summer Art Camp 2013 {Salisbury, NC}

I decided to take on a week of teaching art camp this June to make some side money.  I titled the camp, "Painting a Masterpiece."  I bought canvases and acrylic paints so campers would have a real art piece to take home and proudly hang.  I had a total of 7 students, all under 11 years old, and they kept me on my toes but I am so thrilled with their art that I had to share and brag on them.  

Below is Van Gogh's "Starry Night", painted by Madelynn, age 10.  Can you believe this?  I MAYBE painted like this in college.  This gal is only going into 5th grade.  

This below was painted by Jessica.  She is only a rising 6th grader.  Pretty impressive, huh?

Two campers took on Monet's "Water Lily Pond" and below is a version painted by Leah, only a rising 3rd grader.  Darling, no?

Kaylan (7 yrs old) painted this version of Monet below.  Wouldn't you love to hang this in your home? I sure would.  Did I mention she is only 7 years old???!!!!!

Below is Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" painted by Gray.  He is 6 people!  6!!!!!  Isn't it impressive?  I would SO hang this in my home.  His parents are lucky lucky because in addition to the Sunflowers, they also get to hang Miss Madelynn's Starry Night (image 1).

There were two other students who left before I got a shot of their paintings but I can assure you they were adorable and impressive as well.  These were taken on my iPhone; next time I will have the brains to bring my Nikon.  

I'm looking forward to another art summer camp in June 2014; it'll be here before I know it.

Lemon (Coconut) (No) Sugar Cookies {Gluten Free AND Vegan}

Sorry for the wonky title.  I found this recipe on "The Vedge" a vegan blog I highly recommend for delicious, fresh tasting recipes.  This vegan blogger is gluten-free too.  Ugh, imagine facing THAT difficulty each time you're hungry, no gluten AND no animal products!  I watched a great documentary last week, "Hungry For Change" ( www.hungryforchange.tv/ ), and upon learning some new disturbing facts, set out on a quest to create far more plant-based and gluten free meals as possible for my family.  I even pledged to my family that I would have healthy treats each week so no one would feel deprived.  After researching vegan AND gluten free cookies I found "The Vedge" and have already made three of Shea's recipes which my family, even carnivore hubby, LOVES!  

"The Vedge" titles these cookies "Lemon (No) Sugar Cookies" but I felt I had to add Coconut to the title because it's really the first note that my daughter and I tasted.  Fortunately for us we LOVE coconut!  They came out great.  This recipe only made a batch of 12 cookies so next time I will double the recipe.  I will also add one more TBSP of Coconut Sugar and a 1/2 teaspoon of lemon extract.  Other than that, they are divine little cookies and would work perfectly with a cup of tea.

One thing I would love to mention before posting my version of the recipe is I decided to use Organic Coconut Sugar instead of just 100% pure maple syrup.  I was afraid I would taste maple and I did NOT want to taste maple in my cookie.  For those of you who are new to Coconut Sugar you are in good company; this is my first time using it.  I went to my local health food store to find it.  Coconut sugar is a natural sweetener with a carmelized taste.  It is unrefined, sustainably grown, Non-GMO and is produced from the buds of the coconut tree.  Not only is it delicious and great for recipes, it also contains naturally occurring nutrients including magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron, B vitamins and amino acids.  

Try this recipe and let me know what you think.  I can't wait to make another batch.  This recipe makes about a dozen cookies so double it if you have a family that will devour half the cookies the first night leaving only 6 for tomorrow (sigh).  

Lemon (Coconut) (No) Sugar Cookie {Gluten free and Vegan}

Ingredients:

2 cups almond meal/flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

1/4 cup coconut oil

1 TBSP of pure maple syrup

2 TBSP of Coconut Sugar

1.5 TBSP lemon juice

1 TBSP lemon zest (about 1 lemon)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp lemon extract

Method: 

1.  Preheat oven to 350 F/ 175 C

2.  Combine almond meal, baking soda and salt in a food processor and process until fine.

3.  In a separate bowl combine coconut oil, maple syrup, coconut sugar, lemon juice and zest, and lemon & vanilla extract and mix well.

4.  Add wet ingredients to dry in the processor and process until a dough ball forms

5.  Scoop out one full TBSP of dough, roll into a ball and gently press ball down onto baking tray.

6.  Bake for 6-8 minutes (mine took 7) until just golden brown (they darken further after baking)

NOW THIS LAST STEP IS IMPORTANT

7.  Let cool for 15-30 minutes (or they will fall apart).

http://thevedge.org/2013/05/lemon-no-sugar-cookies-gluten-free-vegan/

My Summer Backyard View

I just had to post this photo of our backyard this morning.  Rob and I sat sipping espresso and watching a hawk on a nearby tree decide what to catch for his breakfast.  The weather here in the south east has been perfect for all of June, and July is looking up!  Sorry my iPhone photo is blurry, I guess the two double espressos caused my hands to shake a bit.  You get the gist.  

Oh, and my fabulous lounge pants are from Anthropologie, flip flops: Old Navy, thanks for asking.