And I get it.  Buying a camera is a huge investment- not only in terms of dollars or euros, but in your memories.  If you buy a camera you hate, your photos will suffer.  And if photos suffer, scrapbooks suffer.  And if scrapbooks suffer, nostalgia suffers.  And no one wants nostalgia to suffer.

No one.

The trouble is that I’ve bought the raddest camera around (Canon 5D Mark II- it’s a professional camera.  I don’t recommend buying one until you really know what you’re doing.  It’s a POWERFUL machine), so I don’t look at cameras or lenses anymore.  I’d love to add to my lens collection, but that’s going to be a next year purchase.  This year I want to be solvent.

And new camera models come out ALL THE TIME.  It’s kind of crazy how often Nikon or Canon releases a new hobby DSLR.  As far as I can tell, they’re the same old camera, just with new names.  So, in this post, I’m not going to direct you towards a particular brand or model.  What I WILL do, however, is give you guidelines- tell you what to look for when purchasing a new camera.

The first thing you want to ask yourself is, “Self, do I have any intention of learning how to use this camera?”  Because if you don’t (and it’s totally okay if you don’t want to), save your money and space and get a good point and shoot.  Seriously.

I know, I know.  Everyone is getting a DSLR these days.  And they look awesome.  And expensive.  And make a great sound when you take a photo.  I totally get the appeal.  Trust me.

But DSLR cameras are enormous.  And heavy.  And don’t fit in your purse.  So, really, if you’re not going to learn how to use the controls, if you’re not going to use your focus points, if you don’t care a thing about ISO, f-stops, or shutter speed, then stick with a top-range point and shoot.

And to find out what point and shoot is the best at this particular point in time, simply Google, “best point and shoot.”  At this point and time, PC World rates the Canon PowerShot S100 as the best point and shoot around.

But if you DO want to learn how to use a camera, here’s what you want to think about:

*How well does the camera work in low-light situations?  Because remember, the light from a pop up flash doesn’t flatter anyone.

*Does the camera autofocus with all available lenses?  My first camera, a Nikon D60, didn’t AF with the cheap 50mm lens I bought.  And since I wanted to shoot with my 50mm (pretty much exclusively), the D60 became useless to me, and I had to upgrade.

*Do you intend to shoot video with the camera?  If so, you’ll want a DSLR that has AF in video mode (the Nikon D90, for instance, doesn’t)

*How many focus points does it have?  Some cameras have as little as three.  Some have as much as 45.  Three is too little.  45 might not be necessary.

*How fantastic are the brand’s lenses?  Because remember, you’re not just investing the 500 bucks in a camera.  If this becomes more serious, you’ll be investing in lenses.  And if you’re shooting with a Canon, you’re going to need Canon lenses.  Pretty soon, you’ve invested thousands in a brand, and it becomes difficult to switch halfway through.

*Is the newest Canon/Nikon/Sony the best it offers?  Just because it’s newer doesn’t mean it’s better.  I still maintain the Nikon D90 is some of the best value for money you’ll get.  It’s the body of a Nikon D300 at half the cost.  And since it’s older, it might be cheaper than some of the newer models out there.  Does it have it’s drawbacks?  Of course.  It doesn’t AF in video mode, for one.  But it’s still an EXCELLENT camera.

My takeaway message is this:  Before you buy a camera, Google it.  Google the reviews.  See what people are saying.  See if people are saying, “Save your money and buy a refurbished camera.”  Reviews are so, so helpful.

Whatever camera you buy, DSLR or point and shoot- I suggest you spend a few hours learning how to use it.  And *shameless plug* what better way to learn than with a Starting Out Workshop offered by yours truly?  I offer fancy camera and point and shoot classes for those just starting out on their photography adventure!

Good luck!  And happy shooting!

However.

The embassy was in the middle of an insane renovation.

The entire foreign service was changing the way it processed foreign birth registrations.

Henry’s name was too long for their new system and everything went pear shaped.

So, although we submitted our paperwork to the Embassy three months before traveling, we were issued only an emergency passport the day before we were due to travel.  And THAT was only good for a year.

Yipee!  I get to do this all over again! thought I, as I received the news.

Well, it’s already one year on, and thus time for his second round of passport applications.

I was going to suck it up and take him to get his passport photo taken at the shop where they would have ROBBED ME BLIND (19 euros they would have charged!  Insanity!), but then a blizzard hit.  And the blizzard made me think twice about bundling up and heading out when not extremely necessary.

Besides which, am I a photographer or am I a photographer?  If I can’t take my kid’s own passport photo, then I’m not worth much.

The trouble being that Olli wasn’t home and we didn’t have his booster seat to lock him into place.  This meant that Henry was going to need to SIT STILL on his own long enough for me to get his photo taken.

And, I’m sure you know, they’re rather particular about the photos.

The person must face forward, for one.

Face forward with both ears showing.

Hands need to be down.

I said hands need to be down.

No smiling.  Or evil grins for that matter.

Yes, Henry.  Just like this.

For the next five years, his beautiful passport photo will remind me of one of the coldest, snowiest days of the year.  I’ll remember a white sheet thrown over the back of the couch, and an impossibly adorable little boy making my heart melt.

And I saved 19 euros.

I still have my Nook, it’s still fantastic, and it still keeps me plenty entertained.

And if I’m not particularly entertained by my Nook, that’s okay, too, because there are PLENTY of ginormous TV monitors directly ahead of me.  Only, Finnish daytime TV leaves something to be desired.  By and large it’s infomercials, infomercials, and oh, look!  Another infomercial.

My favorite infomercial is the one for the Genie Bra.  It features a ton of women totally incapable of a) putting on a bra correctly and b) choosing a bra in their actual size who are magically transformed once they don their Genie Bra (a glorified sports bra).

Wow!  Just look how uncomfortable it is to put on a AA bra when your chest is actually size C!!  And look at how silly it is to put on a C bra when you have barely and boobs at all!

But when you put on this MAGICAL Genie Bra, everything is PERFECT!

It’s laughable.  And there are days that I do laugh.  Out loud.  It’s so terrible and so gimmicky and SO EXPENSIVE.  ”People would gladly pay 120 dollars for a good-fitting bra, but the Genie Bra is yours for the low price of 20 euros/bra.”

Come again?

20 euros for a sports bra?

No stinkin’ way.

But today, on City Deal (the Finnish Groupon) they were offering the Ahh Bra (an infomerical rival of the Genie Bra) for the genuinely low price of 29 euros for three bras.  That’s 10 bucks a bra, and that’s not bad- even for a glorified sports bra.

And so I bought them.  Three Ahh Bras.

I’m not expecting miracles.  I don’t for a second believe it’ll provide the same support as a real actual bra with actual straps and wires.  But it might be comfortable for lounging at home or heading to the gym, where I’ll no doubt watch the infomercial again and gain immense satisfaction in knowing that I didn’t have to pay 120 dollars for a bra or even 20 euros, but the low, low price of 10 euros!  What a deal!

People who are the oldest children in the family tend to be quieter, more cautious, more reserved, more responsible.  I’m not saying EVERY eldest child is like this, but that is the trend.

The youngest is usually louder, more demanding, and more independent.

And this is because they MUST be.  If they want to be heard, they’ve got to scream.  If they want something, they’ve got to take it before it’s gone.  And since Mom is too stinkin’ busy taking care of everyone else, well they’ve just got to entertain themselves.

Henry is all of these things.  Loud, demanding, and independent.

Oh, so independent.

He will sit quietly and play all by himself long enough for me to vacuum the whole house, clean the bathroom, and get lunch ready.

And I feel TERRIBLE about it.  Of course I want him to be independent.  I want him to be able to think for himself.  I want him to have his own imagination and own ideas.  But I feel HORRIBLE that he’s so independent at such a young age, because I’m too busy/bored/whatever to play with him.

I think it’s safe to say I’ve not much improved with my Happiness Project when it comes to playing with my kids…  February might be the month to tackle that.

Backlight is exactly what it sounds like- lighting your photo from the back.  It means shooting INTO the sun.  It means your background might be rather bright, but your subject is lit well.

Here are some examples:

Some benefits of backlighting your photos:

1.  If your subject is looking at you, then they are facing away from the sun.  No squinty eyes from looking INTO the sun.  Lovely, natural faces.

2.  Beautiful pastel tones.

3.  Convenient.  There isn’t always a huge rock or building to provide open shade.  You don’t have to put away your camera just because the light is too intense.  Just backlight.

Jose Villa- a brilliant, brilliant photographer- takes it one step further when he backlights.  He tries to get something behind his subjects to break up the sun- branches from a tree, a fence, whatever.  Just so the backlighting isn’t so dramatic.

For instance:

Things to remember when backlighting your photos:

1.  You need to expose for the face.  You need to expose for the face.  YOU NEED TO EXPOSE FOR THE FACE.  This means that no matter what is going on in the background- no matter how bright it is- the subject’s face needs to be properly lit.  If your subject’s face is too dark, it’s just not going to look good.

2.  Sometimes properly exposing for your subject means you have to sacrifice the background, which is something I don’t mind doing AT ALL.  For instance:

The sea is behind my groom.  But because I wanted his face to be well lit, I had to sacrifice the blue of the sea.  I don’t care.  I love my groom.  He looks great.  I’d sacrifice the sea again in a heartbeat so he’d look good.

(Sidenote:  if you want both to be exposed properly, you’d use your flash or a reflector- great if you can find a natural reflector like pavement or sand.  But that’s a whole different post, because now I’ve just confused you, haven’t I?)

The way to make sure your subject is lit properly is switch the settings on your camera to SPOT METERING.  Look it up in your manual.  What SPOT METERING does is it gauges the light of your focus area.  It doesn’t matter if it’s bright as the Fourth of July behind your subject- it’ll sense the light reflecting off of your subject only.  That way the face will be properly exposed no matter what the rest of your photo is doing.

I hope I’ve answered more questions than I’ve created with this post.  If anything is unclear, you know where to find me!

How very domestic of me, right?  But here’s the thing:  I’m not really that domestic.

I didn’t make my kids’ own baby food.  We don’t have a compost heap.  We don’t grow our own vegetables.  Heck, at this point, we’re not even recycling glass jars (woe to me, I know!).  But Mindee- the blog I always talk about- posted about how SHE made her own laundry detergent.  And she seems like a very normal non-composting person (although I bet she recycles her glass jars), so I thought, “Huh.  I’ll give it a shot.”

The main reason behind making your own laundry detergent is saving money.  And if you live in America, it definitely IS cheaper than buying pre-made laundry detergent.  Some Borax, some Washing Soda, some Fels Naptha soap and you’re golden.  I only use two heaping teaspoons of this stuff for my loads, and everything comes out smelling roses.

The thing is, though, that 2/3 ingredients aren’t available in Finland.  So, for me to continue to make my own laundry detergent, I’ll either have to import Borax and Fels Naptha soap OR I’ll have to find another recipe.

It’s just that this one is so easy.  For the dry recipe, head here.  It seriously took five minutes to make.  Seriously.  Five minutes.

There’s also a liquid recipe which I didn’t make because a) it took a whole lot more effort and b) it made five gallons at a time, and we don’t have any place to store five gallons of laundry detergent in our flat.  But if you have some spare time and storage space, the liquid recipe is here.

Now go forth and make thine own detergent!  Your wallet will thank you!

Hurry up and Wait:  Strategies for surviving winter with children in the city.

The table of contents would look something like this:

Chapter 1:  Dressing multiple children for outdoor adventures
1.a.  Who to dress first?
1.b.  Bribery secrets for kids who refuse to dress warmly.
1.c.  Tricks for keeping yourself sweat-free whilst wrestling your 1 year old into his coveralls.
1.d.  Tricks for dressing your child on the run, in hopes of getting to the bus in time.

Chapter 2:  Public transportation insights
2.a.  When to ride?  When to walk?
2.b.  How long is too long to wait for a bus?
2.c.  Which form of public transportation is most suitable?
2.d.  Which snacks must you always keep on hand to avoid a teary meltdown, remembering that at these temperatures tears freeze to faces and can cause frostbite?
2.e.  Tricks for slowing buses until you’ve arrived at stop.

Chapter 3:  The car
3.a.  How many metres of snow is too many before you dig your car out?
3.b.  Where should you park the car?
3.c.  When is it pointless to own a car?

Excepts from the dissertation would read as such:

…  Although it seems disgraceful, considering your child has just brushed his teeth, M&M’s prove to be a necessary tool in getting your child to don his fifth layer of mittens without further tantrums…

…  While walking is usually better than waiting for the bus (as hands and feet tend to go numb when one is idle), if the sidewalks have not been adequately plowed, you will find yourself boiling to death inside your winter parka from the exertion of shoving a stroller through slush and over ice.  In this situation, it is best to find some place warm to hide (a grocery store, the entrance to the metro station, etc.) whilst waiting for the bus, the arrival of which is unpredictable due to the outrageous amounts of snow still lining the streets…

…  Although the metro may technically be the fastest and most reliable form of public transportation, one must remember that walking to and from the metro means precious minutes outside, exposed to the frozen air.  Instead consider taking a bus, which might take longer but leaves you closer to your final destination.  It’s important to keep in mind, however, two things that make bus riding rather risky business.  First, since buses are so unreliable during cold and snowy times, it’s impossible to plan for their departure.  You might arrive at the bus stop, only to watch the bus departing mere seconds earlier.  Also, since only two strollers are allowed in buses at a time, you very well may need to wait for the next bus.  In either case, you spend more time outside exposed to the elements than you would if you had simply taken the metro.  Is the risk worth it?  That’s for you to decide…

… While it might not be the safest option, I’ve found that throwing myself and children directly in the path of the bus is a surefire way of keeping the bus from pulling away from the stop before you get there.  For if it moves, it will surely hit you and that ensuing debacle would certainly take longer than simply waiting the extra 20 seconds necessary to get you and your little ones safely on the bus…

…  Now that you’ve happily joined the ranks as a city dweller, there is no longer any sort of covered parking or place to plug in your car to warm the engine.  This means that if it’s -10 outside, it’s also -10 inside your car.  And by the time you’ve dug out your car and heated it to the point of habitability, an hour has passed and taking public transportation would have been both quicker and warmer.  It’s up to you to decide if having a car is worth it at all…

Hi, my name is Sarah.  And I’m addicted to stroller purchases.

Except that’s not entirely true.  I’m not so much addicted to strollers as I am in the UNDYING BELIEF that perfection exists out there somewhere.  Somewhere in this universe, with all the technology available, there MUST be a stroller that is lightweight, sturdy, small enough to use in the city, big enough to trudge through the snow, easily folded for storage.

It MUST be out there.

But I haven’t found it yet.

And so, we have settled on three (I sold one today).

We now have one stroller for summer city use (Maxi Cosi Elea)

One stroller for winter city use (a Hartan Topline we got it used on huuto.net for 50 bucks. It’s as good as new.  I can’t believe our luck!)

And one stroller to be folded and kept in the car for trips to shopping centres (our trusty Sit ‘n Stand).

And now we’re done.  I swear it.  No more.  No. More. Strollers.

Anyway, this last weekend, I happened to have my camera when we went to visit the Natural History Museum in Helsinki.  And I’m very glad I did.

Ever since I started learning how to take photos, I’ve tried to pretend like I’m shooting for REAL.  Like, I’m shooting for a magazine or a newspaper or a website (this actually causes quite a bit of stress for me, and might also be another reason I stopped bringing my camera everywhere), because hopefully someday I WILL shoot for a magazine or a newspaper or a website.

And yesterday, at the Natural History Museum (which is totally fascinating, by the way, and is totally worth seeing), I shot for REAL.  Especially the Gigantasaurus (which is bigger than a T-Rex, by the way- one of the many interesting facts I learned yesterday.  I also learned a hyena is a cat- not a dog, there was a relative of the elephant which lived underwater (the sea cow, now extinct)

and a one-horned whale (a narwhal) is a real animal that exists today).

Gigantasaurus skeletons are very photogenic.

I also liked the looks of the reindeer looking thing.  Although I didn’t have time to check if he was really a reindeer.  But whatever the animal, it sure looked regal.

I really, really want to go back.  This time with both lenses and withOUT any kids.