Whip Cheesy is his name. Workin’ the crowd is his game. I was initially grateful to hide behind my lens . . . not wanting to be called up on stage to play “Meal or No Meal,” or NACE Feud, but after the first game, I was ready to make a run for the stage to play. Seriously. Dave Ricklin of The Original Game Show Live hosted NACE’s meeting at in the Raven’s locker room and Club House last night and I laughed the whole night!

And the party begins . . .  Wedding Designer, Victoria Clausen of Romance of Flowers, and Raven’s makeup artist, Jamie Leboe are jerseyed up and ready to go!

Designer Stephanie Bradshaw of Bradshaw Interiors played Vanna for Whip Cheesy in her usual exquisite style . . .  {Here’s my “fight the February blah’s” tip . . . subscribe to Stephanie’s “The Girl About Town” newsletter on her website. . . it’s like a box a Godiva arriving in the inbox each month . . . Steph sent out retro paper dolls for her Christmas card this year . . . custom designed by Baltimore’s edgiest graphic designer, Carla David! }

Cate Buscher of Plan it Perfect Events won big last night . . . charades was her game.

NACE sponsors for the evening . . .

Kathy Freundel, photography

Tonya Davis, Blue Sky Video
Midory Takeda-Ragonese, BBJ Linens
Bill Reeder, Affairs  to Remember – Elegant Balloons
John Paul Berry, Absolute Entertainment
Carly Mistovich, Aramark M & T bank Stadium

Linsey Poletti, Aramark  M & T Bank Stadium

Dave Ricklin, Game Show Live

I spent much of the night thinking . . . wow, this would be such a fun rehearsal dinner activity or bachelor/ bachelorette party activity. Dave Ricklin is such a personality on stage . . . but the best part of Dave is that he’s safe. Everyone was a winner, even when he wasn’t really a winner. Know what I mean? And THAT’S the gift of encouragement and the big heart that Dave wears on his bright yellow jacket:)

I caught up with event planner Anne Berman and Chef’s Expression’s Jerry Edwards in the Raven’s Locker Room. Jerry is excited about hosting wine tours through California this winter. He takes his clients on a vineyard tour . . . how’s that for a good way to escape the Baltimore winter for a shot in the arm?  Jerry is also still hosting his exquisite meals and wine tastings  at Gramercy Mansion . . . your turn to plan date night? check out Jerry’s website for details.

One of many things I love about NACE is her big heart. Last night’s NACE chapter meeting was a benefit for  Art with a Heart, Inc. which  brings the joy and benefit of visual art to those who need it most by providing interactive,hands-on art activities to disadvantaged families and children, and to people with developmental and physical challenges.

Visit the gallery of images here!

Tim  and I were shooting a wedding at the Historic Savage Mill in Bowie, MD, and he said, “Hey. I’m thinking of putting together a Help-Portrait session here in town. Do you want in?”

Over the next weeks, Tim went to town on this project, praying that God would bring us the right opportunities and people.   I called my peeps . . . Baltimore makeup artists  Jamie Leboe , Jenn Cassell and Debbie Williams. They wanted in before I even finished my explanation. My incredible sister, Nancy hosted the hospitality room, my husband, Carl entertained the kiddos with his guitar. Videographer, Jeff Fritz kept the camera rolling and Tim and I were armed with our best portrait lenses.We did twenty one portrait sessions in an afternoon!

Our team set up camp at the Crossroads Restoration Church in Westminster and we did portraits for the residents of New Life for Girls . . . one of the best things our community has going. New Life for Girls is a residential rehabilitation facility established and committed to freeing women from addiction, restoring self-worth, and providing tools for success . . . all in a Christian context.

These women are fighters. Day by day, they fight to break the clutches of addiction. But the women are so much more than that. They are bright, strong women, full of hope and grace. When they smile, it’s real, and when they can’t smile, it’s real. Tim and I have already been back to the facility to deliver their portraits. On that cold winter night, they had just finished eating a homecooked ham dinner, and were gathered in the kitchen humming Christmas carols and drying dishes. In the time that we were there, they had a choir of Christmas carolers serenade them, and then another group of women from Lifepoint Church come to spend the evening hanging out with them.I can understand why many women who go through the New Life program want to come back and help other women through the program.

Tim and Jeff . . . armed with the big guns.

Our photojournalists on set. Megan Hinsche, Abigail Howard, and Kristiana Freundel.

Chattin’ with a mother- daughter pair.

MAC makeup artist, Debbie Williams works her magic.

Jamie Leboe . . . artist to countless Baltimore brides paints her canvas.

And MAC makeup artist, Jenn Cassell doin’ her thang.

I love this shot of Jamie Leboe. It came from Megan Hinsche’s eye!

This is our team (sans Debbie Williams who had to scoot for another gig). I am honored to work alongside these huge hearts. Baltimore has some of the most amazing industry professionals.

Here’s just a little taste of what we caught that day.  Yea, the portraits turned our beautifually, and the women brought their children, their mothers, (some even brought nieces and nephews!), because ,after all, free is free. But it’s not all about the portraits. It’s about taking the gifts that God has given you and finding a way to share those gifts with others. And that can be done in myriad ways.

For the makeup artsits, it was about speaking life giving words while face to face with another woman. For my sister, Nancy, is was about drawing women out over a cup of tea and some cookies and for our kids, it was about making bellybuttons to share, playing with shy kids, and spreading the joy that bubbles up inside.

Sharon, Suzie and Tito are the directors of New Life, and have poured their lives into countless struggling women.  Suzie and Tito are parents to ten children, five of whom they’ve adopted from the New Life program. Faith in action.

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