Sports Recruiting Video

On Saturday, I was at the New Haven Track & Field Center, shooting a recruiting video for two runners, a brother and sister. Sports recruiting videos are often used to give a college coach their first impression of a high school athlete. They are more commonly used in basketball, soccer, baseball, or football recruiting.

I taped each athlete running a 1600m race, and they each won their heat! What's usually done next is adding graphics & text, like a short bio or list of accomplishments. Freeze frames and graphic arrows can be used to highlight a player, so the coach knows who they're supposed to be watching.

With scholarship money hanging in the balance, recruiting videos are becoming a common investment for potential college athletes.

Pearl Bridal Boutique

I was dropping off my taxes at my accountant's office in Holyoke's Open Square. As described in their website, Open Square is a new mixed-use urban community in the heart of Holyoke's Historic Canal District.

As we were discussing weddings, my accountant suggested that I stop in to the Pearl Bridal Boutique in the next building. I hadn't been there before, so I stopped in and met Ryan, the owner, and explained a little about my business. As for the boutique, it's very stylish and hip looking, set in a renovated factory building with a lot of brickwork and natural light.

As Ryan put it to me in an e-mail: "We too are trying to do something different. We like to be thought of as a specialty bridal boutique. Meaning that you will find designers and accessories not found anywhere else. Brides are able to sit back, relax, and be pampered in a private loft style setting. They feel like they are in a couture salon in Boston or NY, but are here in W.Mass."

Chuppah

I love when these connections happen!

I e-mailed a prospective bride a few months ago, and she recently responded. She was watching the "Ron & Jen" wedding video on my website, and absolutely loved their chuppah. She e-mailed me to find out where they they got it. I e-mailed Jen, who explained that she made it herself, but had blogged about the experience and sent me the link. Actually, Jen reposted the very detailed information onto her newest blog, Willow Street Creative, and the prospective bride was very thankful. It's a must-see!

Jen is an amazingly talented illustrator and artisan who crafted a lot of her wedding accessories. Her blog is filled with detailed descriptions of her handmade wedding items and with great wedding advice, all accompanied by photos. Ron and Jen were married at the Lyman Estate in Waltham, MA.

Hartsbrook Agricultural Arts

Check out this sweet article in the Hampshire Daily Gazette about the Hartsbrook Agricultural Arts program. My kids have really enjoyed working with the animals there, and we've volunteered for weekend duty as a family. It's been very rewarding for all of us to have responsibility for the animals.

Happy Mother of the Bride

Just sent out Allison and Eric's video. They were married at St. Mary's Church in Longmeadow, MA, with the reception at Longmeadow Country Club. Got this e-mail from the Allison's mother:

"The videos arrived today. What an absolutely wonderful job you did capturing so much detail as well as all the warm feelings. Everything is clear and beautiful and the sound is fantastic. Thank you so very much. It was worth the wait!!!!"

Gingerbread House

No, we did not make this. As much as we mean to be ambitious each year, we never got around to making our own. But each year, we bid on a house (or two) at the Hartsbrook School Holiday Fair in Hadley, MA. This is what we won this year, put together by some students at the school.

Cookies

My daughters and I made a traditional holiday cookie this past weekend. I don't know the "real" name of the cookie, but it's one my mom always made, and still does. I think it's a Slovak recipe.

They're a rolled pastry cookie, filled with apricot, apple, or prune butter (which sounds better if you use the Hungarian or Slovak word "lekvar"). Serve topped with powdered sugar. Yum!