#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Press
  • Writing
  • Contact

Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Embrace the Camera

October 28, 2010 · Narrative

 

Project 365
October 28, 2010, Photo #199 and 200

Me and My Monkey

In the past year, as I’ve mentioned before, I’ve tried to make a larger effort to be in more pictures with the kids.  It’s hard when I’m the one with the camera all the time!  But when they’re grown, I don’t want them to look back on the masses of pictures I’ve amassed and wonder “where’s Mom?”  I strive to be present in their lives in so many different ways, and this is just one of them.

I discovered the weekly Embrace the Camera event recently, so it seems only natural that I participate, since it’s all about getting Moms (and Dads) into more pictures with their kids.  Today before naptime, I propped Madeline up on the bathroom counter and we took twenty a few shots in the mirror.  And after I downloaded the pictures, I went straight back to the bathroom to clean the mirror.  I actually like the blurry one better myself, but we’re going to need to practice on mirror shots … and this challenge is a great motivator to finally figure out how to use the self-timer on my camera, mostly because I think after nearly three years of using the camera, it’s a tool I should know how to use.

Just Faces

And speaking of photos, I’ve loved the Project 365 challenge that I’ve been doing this year, but it’s killing me that I’m just reaching shot #200 now, when we only have some 60 days to go for me to be at #365.  In my defense, I don’t count any of the pictures that are included in the post (because I don’t think that’s part of the challenge’s premise), nor the countless weekend pictures, but I’m going to catch up and finish at 365 if it kills me.

One last thing before I go… I’m working on a redesign on Sweetnicks.  I love this design, but I’ve had it for nearly three (!!!) years already, and it was time for a change.  Sarah says I have to warn you because it’s going to be a big one.  A big change, that is.  But I hope you like it as much as I do.  My friend Chris (you better be coming down to see us for the holidays!) hates when I change the site, and quite frankly, I’m not usually a big fan of change myself either.  I get it.  I swear I do.  But as my voice has evolved over the nearly six years I’ve been writing here (!!), this past year particularly has been a bit of a journey and evolution too, and three years with this design is good.  We’re just going to change the scenery a bit.  It should be happening in the next couple weeks or so.

And that brings me to my very last point … with the redesign, I’m going to open up a section for sponsors (advertisers).  If you have an Etsy shop or site that you’d like to have shown on my site, drop me a line and I’ll fill you in on the details.  They are going to be small button ads (similar to some of what you see on the sidebar now), so they won’t be obtrusive, but they just might have something you’re looking for too.

We have plans this weekend for a Halloween dinner party before trick-or-treating (can I say how much I love when Halloween falls on the weekend?!) with ghost pizza and spider cupcakes and Halloween candy bark, and SOME OF US still need to decide on a costume, not that I’m going to be naming any names, of course.  And then Sunday night, when the kids are calling it quits on trick-or-treating and cannot possibly ring another doorbell, before bed, they will go through their candy and decide what they don’t want, and keep only their very favorites.  The rest of the stash will be left out for the Halloween Fairy.  She’ll swoop in in the middle of the night, when the littles are fast asleep with their heads swirling with candy-filled dreams.  She’ll take the candy and leave them something even better.  A toy perhaps.  Or maybe a new book.  You never know that joy she has up her little orange sequined sleeve.  Man, I do love her, and I’m betting our dentist does too.

On that note, I hope you have an absolutely awesome weekend, filled with all the very best candy you manage to pilfer from your own in-house trick-or-treaters.   I won’t tell a soul.

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPRINT

Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: Embrace the Camera

Comments

  1. doggybloggy says

    October 28, 2010 at 8:47 pm

    I love it – this is the best thing ever – I am going to do the same thing – after all I am the older one…..

    Reply
  2. Sarah Caron says

    October 28, 2010 at 9:02 pm

    Great pics of you and Miss Madeline! And oh my, what an (exciting, cool, fun) change it’s going to be for SN!

    Reply
  3. The Sister In-Law says

    October 28, 2010 at 9:26 pm

    Love the pictures Cate!!

    SIL

    Reply
  4. Joanne says

    October 29, 2010 at 6:22 am

    I’m so excited to see the new sweetnicks! If you love it then I’m sure I’ll love it.

    I second Sarah, great pictures with Madeline! My mom was rarely ever in pictures with us and really she should have just handed off the camera to someone else for a bit.

    Reply
  5. chris says

    October 29, 2010 at 8:23 am

    this post couldnt come at a better time. i just got a new camera. its the one with the screen in the front and the back so i can take pics of MYSELF. ahahahahahah
    i have to read the manual to learn how to do it so wish me luck. ahahahhahahahhahaha

    Reply
  6. emily anderson says

    October 29, 2010 at 9:19 am

    okay, love the pictures!
    and, i LOVE the halloween fairy idea…i’m totally using that this year :)

    thanks for joining us this week!

    Reply
  7. Cate O'Malley says

    October 29, 2010 at 11:11 am

    Doggy – alright, fess up… what’s the best thing ever that you’re now going to do?

    Emily – thanks for stopping by! :)

    Chris – what kind of camera did you get?

    Joanne – exactly. There are a million and a half pictures of family and activity in general, but most taken by me. This year, I’ve been more conscious of it and have done way better. Baby steps. :)

    Sarah – can’t wait!

    Sister-in-Law – thanks!

    Reply
  8. Ramona says

    October 29, 2010 at 11:28 am

    Have a great weekend.

    Reply
  9. Casey says

    October 30, 2010 at 12:09 am

    You’re too cute not to be in the pictures!!!!!

    Reply
  10. Laura says

    December 11, 2010 at 3:35 pm

    i love the new design!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

Storytelling…
Through photos.
Words. And recipes.

Archives

Categories

Instagram

#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

Pinterest

#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

Copyright © 2026 Sweetnicks · Theme by Vicki Harrison Design