Loving the Elvis Tribute Spotlights ...Meet Joseph Ramsey !

Hellllllloooooooo Monday !

Well, being sick last week has taken its toll.... I fell asleep over the lap top last night after a long day. If you are under the weather, ease back in slowly.... whatever is going around, it wiping us out !  Now this is your Balcony Blogger telling you, yes I said Telling You, to put good liquids in your body and take it easy....... Now onto our Elvis Tribute monthly Spotlight with the amazing Joseph Ramsey !

I just love doing these ETA Spotlights and I love the story behind Joseph Ramsey..... everyone has a story right? I love how things evolve.... especially here.... It's not a long story, just cool how it came together....

So here is Joseph with this amazing voice and resemblance to Elvis.... OK, let's go back a bit and  give credit where credit is due yes?  Angela Ramsey, Joseph's Wife, got him started at a Karaoke Bar.... singing Country Music. He enjoyed that....people kept telling him he sounded like Elvis...and with the resemblance he decided to give Elvis a try.... He entered the Lake George  ETA competition and came in 2nd place.... He was on his way to doing what he loved with style and grace....

He visited Graceland and told me that it was really cool to be inside Elvis' home and all. I know many of us that go there feel the "Elvis" Aura, if you may, upon visiting Graceland. Highly recommended. 

Joseph has made a career out of being an ETA. For those of you just joining us, that stands for Elvis Tribute Artist. I asked Joseph, as I ask all of the ETA's I speak with, what is something that fills you with joy in doing this?  His response, as many of the others said, is the smiles on people's faces when he is doing his tribute to the KING.  That time in Lake George was Joe's first time competing EVER.... Here is a sneak peek from a Lake George Competition in 2007.....

And we've come a long way baby !

You can catch Joe at the Lake George Festival Competition in NY May 31st - June 4th

This is the festival where Joseph Ramsey got his start..... 

I always find it interesting to hear the love of Elvis from every ETA I've met and spoken with. It's obvious that the ones I am meeting are celebrating the famed career of Elvis with dignity and grace. These are the stories I want to bring you. I think , personally, that many people didn't understand Elvis and that is what made for controversy. People don't normally like to accept "change" easily and at the time, Elvis and his music, were definitely a change of pace.... People like Joseph keep that legacy alive and doing it WELL, is the best tribute anyone can get. 

Joseph is also doing a special show on March 24th in Glen's Falls.... this one is taking place at the VFW on Luzerne Rd., Queensbury , NY

5.00 from each ticket sold is going to our TROOPS in the form of care packages sent out !

WAY COOL !

If you are in the area, come out and support this great event. 

You can find info and more about Joseph at his Face Book page JOSEPH RAMSEY

 I love the fact that his biggest supporters are his wife Angela and his daughter Sierra....

Joseph also asked me to thank all the people that have loved and supported what he brings to the stage over the years..... 

Way to go Joseph, we love you !

Enjoy !

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Next week we add our annual new feature...the FANTASTIC FLIP.... join us right here with your Balcony Blogger, Ava Holly . Have a great week !

#ETA

Take your networking opportunities from everywhere !

Hello Monday and Happy President's Day....

I'm home in bed sick and I got a chance to see the amazing MACY on the Ellen Show for the 2nd time. She is an 8 year old Presidential Expert !  On that note, I had the opportunity to network with another expert this weekend at Atlantic City Fashion Week.

Meet Taneice Chavers, author of "PRAY FOR RAIN ....A guide to building your business with little to no money..."

I found Taneice to be a beautiful soul.... I had to the opportunity to interview Taneice and this is her story....

Taneice owns and operates Shear Bliss, a hair lounge and spa catering to Women with hair loss.
It took 8 years for this dream to come to reality. Taneice didn't have enough resources to get the business going. 8 years took her on a journey that she now realizes is important to share....

Over these years, she learned and researched ideas, strategies, and principles to continue the journey. She found many ways to keep afloat with little or no money. These tips are revealied in her book.  I asked Taneice what the one thing that stands out for her was... her reply was, "How important the wait time is..."  Taneice went on to say that things happen in their right time, things happen to allow other things to happen and we have to trust in that process. Those of you that know me best, know that is exactly what I believe as well.

She added special motivational mugs to her book table. I also asked her about that. Taneice told me that we don't always wake up in the positive. In fact, it's hard to find that some days.... the positive quoted mugs add to the whole experience of keeping your faith in your dream.

The response has been amazing , Taneiece explains.  Her Salon is open 3 years now .  About a year ago, she realized that she needed to be sharing this message to help others.

Many entrepreneurs give up on their dreams for it is not an easy road to ride. Timing is everything and you have to keep going if you want to see your dream become reality.

       Shear Bliss  Hair Lounge  is located at 457 Pleasant Valley Way  West Orange, NJ 07052
                                                              973-731-7778
                                                www.shearblisshariandspa.com

Taneice specializes in clients with Cancer, Lupus and Alopecia. Even if you are not in the area, Taneice is there to help.

If you are starting a business or in a business already and need a little help with resources, pick up a copy of PRAY FOR RAIN and get some great tips. I am so excited to start reading my copy !

Enjoy !

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Do you measure and "O" factor?

Good Tuesday morning.... Wow ! Amazing time at New York Fashion week and even saw our bags on the runway !  More to come on that next week..... Fell asleep over the computer both Sunday eve. and Monday eve..... guess I'm getting old.....or maybe I was just tired ! LOL

Let's talk this week about the "O" factor.... I don't mean Oprah , although that "O" is amazing too !

I'm talking OLYMPICS... Whether you are an avid fan, a sometimes fan or not a fan at all, you can't escape that feeling of pride when you watch the medals given out, when you watch the end of a performance and the athletes are just beaming with pride, or when you hear about the amazing stories of how these fine young people got to the Olympics.....

I had to watch the opening ceremonies later as I had recorded them because I was in N.Y. at NY Fashion Week. I was happy that I could watch it later at my convenience. One of the things I thought was amazing was the imagery made to look like stars in the sky..... yet they were not stars , they were DRONES...making snowboarder shapes and more.....

Olympic Rings made by drones

For me, the opening ceremonies did NOT disappoint. Many historical moments as the various Countries walked in too !!!

I am a huge Olympic fan. I have been all my life. I love watching mostly all of the events. With technology today, I can see many more events later on etc... Of course, my ears perked up when Ice skating brought in "Elvis" music....yet that is not a first time occurrence for this particular skater who took his routine to a Silver Medal.... Congratulations Mikhail Kolyada of Russia....

One of the events I got to enjoy last night was the Women's Half pipe.... It was amazing to see Chloe Kim skate to Gold for the US.... her parents are from Korea. How cool is That ! Go Chloe....

I sometimes get a little emotional when I see the feelings of the athletes at the end of their performances....you know how much they have worked to get to this point.....

Mirai Nagasu

Adam Rippon

Both of these athletes  (above) did not make the selection for the last Olympic games....seeing them here winning medals is so cool !

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Patrick Chan

So what is the "O" factor ?... it may be different for everyone.... yet if you are an Olympic fan, that is a boost of energy, confidence or whatever you want to call it. The Olympics bring together the feeling of hope. If we all set an example, this is how we can survive in a World that is brimming with hate and violence. If we take one moment away from these games and make a better place to live for ourselves and others, we collect the pieces of hope and confidence to push through whatever is bad.... not only in the World yet in our own lives.... We get a boost of confidence, a boost of "Follow your dreams" and a boost of Pride. 

I have seen events in part that I have never seen before ! I am looking forward to watching some curling events and the Women's Jamaican Bob Sled Team, first time ever !!!

Whether a fan or not, I know there is something that the Olympics bring that is like nothing else.... Maybe you want to find a sport to watch and become a fan if you are not already !  Let's all go for the Gold in our own lives and bring out the "O" factor !!!

Enjoy !

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Fire or Ice??? How about both !

Well it's late Monday evening and after a huge win the for the Eagles yesterday in the Super Bowl, we traveled and didn't get home until after 1 AM....so here we are late on Monday. I'm pinching the Balcony Blogger to make sure I'm still functioning... LOL

Let's take a trip back in time a bit....oh about 25 years ago when one Audrey Winzinger was looking to do something to bring people to her town at the end of January. It's a good time, too. I mean, after the holidays and sometime into January when we all come back to life, we are looking for something to do. Weather doesn't always cooperate yet we still want to get out and do something in January.....

Audrey and Ava 

So in comes the ice festival.... ice carvers would compete and it was a great event yet when carvers had to compete in bigger events around the Globe, it became harder and harder to get carvers to com out.... Also, it was difficult for carvers to chat with the visitors as they were timed on their sculptures.... eventually, the powers that be put their heads together and something great came out of it.

Together with partner Rocky D'entremont the ice festival changed to more of an ice demonstration. This gave the carvers a chance to chat with visitors, relax and spend time with the creations under no time constraint...AND it took out the realm of "competition" in an effort to bring the carvers out to a fun event as well.

Rocky D'entremont is a chef and ice carver at a local establishment and together with Audrey they created this event. Now in it's 25th year, it has gotten bigger and better every year.
So at first, there was also a separate cook off event.... putting heads together again, these 2 events were combined  about 15 years ago to create "FIRE AND ICE"

The Fire part is the Chili cook off that you can apply for IF you are professional chef or in the culinary field. Visitors get to taste chili for as little as a one dollar donation and vote on their favorite.  There is also a professional judging too !  So much fun....the line stretched around the block to taste chili and directly from Audrey, "once it's gone , it's gone".... so getting in that line early is important if you want to be in the tasting.

The Ice part is now a demonstration of 10 carvers chosen from those that apply for the event.

#RebelReyesPhotography

Along with that, there are fire engine rides,and animals from the Cedar run Wildlife shows . Sled Dogs, Curling demonstration, petting area, Vendors, food, quaint shops and more are along the streets where thousands were walking around this year. So much fun.  Also this year, the event was on my birthday so I had a huge group celebrating with me ! Hahahahaha.... actually, we did go up with 2 car loads of people.

So if you are in the area and are looking for something to do at the end of January. Mount Holly N.J. is waiting for you with warm chili and cold ice sculptures as part of he Fire and Ice festival. Look for me there again next year !  This event runs rain, snow or shine !

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Above Courtesy of Rebel Reyes Photography

Above Courtesy of Marcia Moser

Above Courtesy of Jen Munko

www.fireandicefestival.com

Contact Audrey directly at 609 937 5700....and tell her Ava sent you !

Enjoy !

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