Photo Shoot!

Yesterday Sharpe Designs had our first personal photo shoot.  We're updating our website and we needed pictures of us.  Abby designed a theme for the shoot that was both clever and beautiful.  I was so excited!  It's not every day that you get a chance to get all dolled up and be the center of attention.  Not since senior prom have I spent so much time on my makeup!  Having a professional photo shoot would be like living a model's life, if just for a moment.  I was sure it was going to be the most fun!

A sneak peek at the photos' theme!

With the incredible photographic skills of Jim McLaughlin, the day was set to be a huge success.  Abby designed a beautiful backdrop and incredible props.  Our husbands pitched in to hang chandeliers and offer cheering from the sidelines.  We used the expertise of our friend and professional model Alicia Bevan for makeup and posing tips.  There was just one minor hitch. Apparently, I am not a natural on camera.  As soon as the lens is in focus, I freeze up.  If you've ever seen the Friends episode where Monica and Chandler go for their engagement photo, then you've seen a bit of what I am like.  And in case you haven't seen it, let's just say that this photo sums it up.

It took considerable skills on the part of Jim McLaughlin to get me to relax.  Most of the early pictures show me in some type of frozen awkwardness.  But after much encouragement and laughter, I finally stopped feeling weird and started having fun.  The final photos we will use on our website.  I'll let you know when we've posted them.  But here are some of the shots taken during the shoot.

Our handsome husbands looking on while Jim frames the shot

Alicia and Jim examining the test pics

I know what they're thinking - How can we get her to relax already?

My husband, offering emotional support with a cupcake!

In the coming weeks, we will be making many changes to our website.  To issue in those changes, we will be having a contest.  But to kick things off, take a guess at what the theme is for the photo shoot!  Leave your ideas in the comment section, or on our facebook page.  Good luck!

Marveling at The Wayside

This Wednesday night we had the great honor hearing an incredibly talented musician playing at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs.  Johnny Marsi, lead guitarist and vocalist of The Wayside, along with the rest of the band, performed a diverse and lyrically inspiring set.

Enjoying a grown-up night out at Caffe Lena

I have to say, when I first considered attending this performance by The Wayside, I was immediately excited.  After all, I am a working mom, who owns her own business, has two children and a rather full schedule.  It's not every day I get out of the house after the kids go to bed, and when I do, it's normally to go grocery shopping.  So the idea of spending an entire evening with actual adults, at a cultural event.... thrilling!  And to make the prospect even more interesting, Johnny Marsi is a musician I know!  One who I have the amazing fortune of making music alongside occasionally.  (Of course, compared to Johnny's talent, you can't really call what I do to my guitar 'making music', but he never even raises an eyebrow at my missed chords and terrible timing.  This is why I was so keen to support his band as well.)  The Wayside was wonderful.

From the first song, I was hooked.  Johnny's stage presence is laid back and humorous, but when he starts to sing, the lyrics are deep and powerful.  The melodies are haunting.  His fingers move up and down the guitar neck with speed and grace, stretching to get every note out of the instrument to complement the message of the song.  The rhythms and changes within each song are intricate, and yet you find that you are humming the melodies as you leave.  Nothing The Wayside performed was in any way simple, but the music will nevertheless stay with you when you go.

The only downside of the entire evening was that The Wayside didn't have any CD's for sale.  I would have bought one.  If you can hear me fellas, get yourselves into a studio.  STAT.

Since this particular performance was acoustic, I am setting aside space on my calendar to hear the band again.  I learned while chatting with other people at the concert, that The Wayside usually performs an electric set; which adds another level of dynamics to an already spectacular sound. I want to experience them fully electric and see what else the band can bring to the table once the drummer and other musicians are given free reign.

We took a video of the band which I have posted here.  The sound quality isn't great on the recording, but keep your eyes on Johnny's hands while he manipulates the frets.  And when you get the chance, go and see The Wayside in person.  You won't be disappointed.

A Tale of Two Thanksgivings

A beautiful table with neatly pressed, white linens.  Cream colored dishes and candlelight.  Cranberries floating in crystal vases.  Delicate decanters of ginger syrup.  Conversations and laughter, flickering jewelry and smiles.

Two oddly shaped tables shoved together.  Stained tablecloths and mismatched plates.  Bowls of creamed vegetables, spilling over.  Lasagna as a side dish kept in the kitchen.  Loud laughter and chaotic conversations.

These are the two Thanksgivings of Sharpe Designs.  Abby and her family celebrated with style and class.  As for me and mine?  Well, we celebrated with volume and vigor.  And despite the massive differences between our two days, the similarities were all that mattered.  Lots of love, fantastic friendships, incredible enjoyment, delicious food, and overwhelming thanks.

(Send us photos of your thanksgivings or a description of how your day was different than ours and we may post it.)

Jon Sharpe's Upcoming Trip to Kenya

In just a few weeks' time, Abby's husband Jon will be traveling to Ndhiwa, Kenya on a trip that will change lives - including his own.  He goes with the mission to build desks for the students in that village, and to teach those building skills to the men who live there.  While in Kenya, 2 colleagues with whom he travels will be taking video footage that will communicate to us the incredible stories of the people of that village.

It was several years ago that Jon first met a man from Kenya, Peter Midodo, who was traveling in upstate New York.  Peter spread the word of his dreams for the village and his hope to gain the financial support that would see those dreams become reality.  In response to the great needs that Peter shared, and with increasing excitement for the changes possible, Hope for Kenya was born.

Hope for Kenya is a non-for-profit organization that pledges every penny it raises to go directly to the work in Ndhiwa, Kenya.  They have committed to building a school open to all children, building a water tower and supplying clean water to every person in the village.

Next month, when Jon visits Peter and spends time at the school and in the village, he will have made a specific and tangible difference in the lives of children and parents.  In respect and support, we dedicate this blog today to Jon, and to the people of the village of Ndhiwa, Kenya.

For more information, please see Jon's facebook page, or visit

www.hopeforkenya.org

www.thejoyschools.org

An Unusual Birthday Present

Three weeks ago, when Abby asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday, I could not think of a respectable reply.  I know that at my age (which is a delightfully young 35), the expected response would have been along the lines of, "I don't need to celebrate my birthday anymore!  That's just for young people."  Or perhaps, "Dinner and a movie would be great."  Or maybe even, "A mani-pedi and a facial, please."  But none of those answers rang true for me.  The truth was that all I really wanted to do for my birthday was have a ridiculous amount of silly, stupid, rip-roaring fun.


Fast forward three weeks.  Along with two very wonderful friends, Abby and I spent the day at Six Flags Great Escape in Lake George.  We went on every fast and crazy ride the park offers.  We even went on the SkyCoaster - the 175 foot free-fall ride, which consists of only a harness and a very strong steel cable.  And I went on it twice.  Yes, twice.  In one day.


Four girls, long past our foolish teenage years, screamed, shouted and celebrated in the most outrageous and unusual ways.  We held our hands up in the back row of the Comet.  We plunged down 190 feet on the Sasquatch.  We got absolutely soaked and shivering on the Raging River.  It was the best birthday I could have ever imagined.


So here's to unusual birthdays and fantastic friends.  May this coming year of life be as blessed as the day that kicked it off.  And may all of your birthdays make you as happy as this year's birthday made me.
http://www.skycoaster.com/home.html