Can't Stop the Feeling (For the Joys of My Life)

8 years ago today I did something that changed my life completely. March 1st 2009 was the day I took 3 bags with me and moved to Spain. (You can read the story behind it in this old blog post.)

My life today is simply amazing and I am so in love with it and everything in it and the best thing is that it keeps getting better and better by the day. Honestly! Sure, I have days that are not great, but most days are and those that aren't are still good days because I have so many things and people in my life that are amazing.

One of the most fun and amazing things I have done lately was to be able to make two people happy by giving away one regular Home Free ticket and selling a Home Free VIP ticket to a reduced price as Fry It Forwards (Read the story behind it here.). Those tickets now have new and happy homes and I can't wait for them to experience Home Free live. Congratulations to Rae Ellen and Sherry! It gives me so much joy to make other people happy.

Another thing a do to make people happy is my job. I am lucky enough to spend my days calling people to let them know that the company I work for cares. I absolutely love hearing the happiness in our customers' voices when they realize that's why I call them. Amazing!

On Monday I did something new and fun when I attended a choir practice for the first time since I was a teenager. I have been thinking about it on and off for a few years, but never done anything about it because - you know - I'm lazy and comfortable. But back in early January I decided that this was the year to find a fun choir to join. Of course it only took one day for someone to ask me, seemingly out of the blue, if I wanted to join one. I have been busy with other things since then, but on Monday I was finally able to go and I absolutely loved it and will try to go every week from now on! Of course it seems like the perfect choir for me where the joy and the heart is the most important thing and the choir leader believes that everybody has a good singing voice inside that is waiting to be discovered and let loose. I can't wait to hear it! Hehe

Today I went to see an apartment that I loved, loved, loved. I have wanted one of those apartments for years, but they don't get available very often. Well, this is my chance! It's got a big roof terrace and partial views to both the Sea and the mountains and it's in a perfect location and has a perfect layout. It is my right-now-dream-house (because I keep growing, evolving and expanding so eventually I will want something even better). Keep your fingers crossed that I will get it! Send me lots of love and positive vibes!

This blog is something else I love about my life. It fills my heart with joy to write and it fills my heart with joy, love and pride when someone reads and likes what I write. Thank you to all who do!

Today's video is one of my favourite Home Free covers lately. OK, I say that about all of them, I know, but seriously, they all are! Anyway, this is a cover of Justin Timberlake's Can't Stop The Feeling and it's a happy, fun, good feeling song. Perfect for how I feel about my life!

Oh, and one more thing! My life didn't get this amazing just by chance and by me waiting for it to become it - it is this fantastic because whenever something in my life isn't as good as I want it to be I change it to something closer to what I want than it was, one step at a time, and I make sure to enjoy every single step on the way. If something in your life isn't what you want change it - if you can't change it find a way to love it - and even if you do change it find a way to love, or at least like, it before it changes. That's the only way to do it, that's the most joyful way to live your life.
Now, go sing and dance and look at the good things in your life!

Love//
Carina

Home Free Tickets - Fry It Forward

Fry It Forward

As I mentioned in my last post I have two Home Free tickets I will not need. Here is what I am doing with them;

1) This is a regular ticket to the show in Aurora, IL on March 24. The seat is Orchestra One/R 8

Who can get it?

I want to give this to someone you think would love Home Free, but won't give them the time, or the money, to actually listen to them, and certainly not go see them. Maybe you have a partner, a parent, sibling. child, other relative, good friend or even a colleague you think would get blown away by their amazing talents, humour and on key singing. The important thing here is that this ticket will not go to anyone that has seen them or are truly considering seeing them. This person is not already a fan. Do you know anyone like this?

Leave a comment below stating that it's ticket 1, who you want to have it and why.


2) The second ticket is a VIP ticket for Terre Haute, IN on March 25. Seat A 14

Who can get it?

This ticket is for a Fry. I will not give this ticket away, but I will sell to a reduced price. I paid 102 USD for the ticket, I will sell it to you for 60 USD. You will have to have PayPal for the transaction. I would like it to go to someone who has never been to a VIP. Is that person you or maybe another Fry you think deserves it?

Leave a comment below stating it's ticket 2 and why you want it, or why you think someone else should have it.


Leave your comment no later than Thursday 23d of February, and I will draw the winning names during next weekend.

Now, what song would be more suitable right now than "Sold!, by John Michael Montgomery! This is one of my favourite Home Free covers, and I am so happy I got to see it live several times last month! As soon as I start singing it I feel like a pretty lady, and I start to smile! I hope you do the same!

  "Hey, pretty lady won't you give me a smile" 

I hope to see a lot of entries for the tickets! Have fun, spread the Home Free love and always love yourself and your life!

Love//
Carina

Home Free Talk-along

For those of you that have been to a live show with Home Free - you already know what an amazing experience that is, but for those of you that have yet to see this amazing group perform live - what the heck are you waiting for?? Seriously, you will not have a better time at any live show, ever. Or at a live comedy act. These Guys are just so talented, with such amazing voices, serious charm, good looks and they top it all off with an amazing sense of humour that at times will make your cheeks hurt because you are laughing so much.

I have so many impressions and stories to tell from the three UK shows that I just attended, but I am still sorting them out in my head, trying to understand what the heck I got myself into on August 16, 2014 when I clicked to watch the first video with them that I came across. All I can say is that it made my life better in a lot of different ways, and I know we are many that say the same thing. Home Free certainly brings people together and their music help people heal from all sorts of different things. And I love every minute of it. I really miss my Euro Fry Family. I can't wait to see them all again. Oh, and I obviously can't wait to see Home Free again. One thing I've learned to be true is that every show with them is different from the last one you saw, even if that last one was only a few hours earlier. Every show is a unique experience. That's why we keep going to as many shows as we possibly can, they all stand on their own.

Anyway, I have a little treat for you all today, At the 4pm show in London, at the London A Cappella Festival, we, the audience, kind of blew the Guys away when we all sang/talked along with Tim to Champagne Taste (On a Beer Budget), a song that Tim wrote. Everything in this clip is so great; Austin's reaction, Tim's smile and even laughter, the audience and of course the back-up dancers - all of it was such great fun. It is surely one of my fondest memories from all the shows I went to. 

Luckily one of the Euro Fries caught this gem on film so I can re-watch it over and over again. Just see for yourself, and send a big thank you to zollykod for sharing it with us all. Thank you so much, C!

And this is what Tim said after the song ended, big thanks to my sister Helena for sharing it with us. It's my holler you can hear, btw. hehehe

A big thank to both ladies who uploaded these two clips to YouTube just so I could share this moment with you! You are both amazing!

Some of you might know that I had plans to go the US to see them next month, but I had to cancel those plans. I'm ok with not seeing Home Free because I just saw them three times and I will see them in 3 months again, in Spain (although, I could never get enough of seeing them live.) and maybe somewhere else too. Oh, did I forget to mention that they are looking to do a short Euro tour in May? Well, THEY ARE!! It's not been confirmed but straight from their mouths is that they are looking at Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands for May when they are over for the Spain gig. As I said it's not 100 percent certain yet, which is why they haven't announced it properly yet, but they are close to being there. I hope I can make it to at least one of those shows, but I will at least have Spain. I am already excited about it and our plans are starting to come together. Bring it on!!

Back to the fact that I will not be going to see them in the US - this leaves me with tickets to two shows. I have a regular ticket for Aurora, IL on March 24 and a VIP for Terre Haute, IN on March 25. Keep your eyes on this space for more information on how to get your hands on one of them. The Aurora, IL ticket will be Fried Forward and the Terre Haute, IN will be sold. That is all I am saying at the moment. Stayed tuned!

I will also say that I am sad that I don't get to see my US Frie(nd)s as soon as I was hoping to, but I will go there at some point in the future. A Christmas show in the US is on my bucket list, after all. 

Love//
Carina

Home Free at London A Cappella Festival, baby! I'll be there!

I can't believe it's been almost 2 weeks since my last post! And I am sorry I lied when I promised I'd post a short story the other week. What can I say other than that I have been completely sucked up by Home Free coming to Europe. It is still very surreal to me and I expect it to continue to be like that for another lifetime. I honestly have a hard time thinking it will ever feel real, not before, not during and not after. It feels like, and will keep feeling like, it's a dream. But that won't stop me from enjoying the ride. Dreams are the fruits of life. Dreams coming true are the juice from the fruits of life. At least if you like juice. If not you have to come up with something that fits you.

So, I have to tell you about the day the tickets for Home Free's show at the London A Cappella Festival were released.

The background story is that the previous week, when they announced the show and release date for tickets, I knew I wouldn't have any money to get a ticket (I had spent it all on my awesome vacation when my nephew was here). I was still extremely happy because somehow I knew I wouldn't miss out. Only minutes after I mentioned it in one of the Fan groups another Fry offered to get a ticket for me. I was ecstatic! Wow! That is truly amazing, and I was so filled with gratitude and love for this person, and I accepted the offer.

So the day for ticket release arrives, they were due to go live sometime mid-day. Just before going to work in the morning I checked my Patreon page and found out that they had VIP tickets on sale. Of course, I still didn't have any money, but I was so happy for those that could get a VIP ticket, and there was always the hope there would be tickets left when I got paid. If not, the most important thing was that I would have a ticket thanks to my fellow Fry friend.

I was in a really good mood on my way to work, listening to Home Free and dancing on the streets and while waiting for the lift (elevator) at work our security guard caught me and applauded. (I think I made his day haha). I immediately logged into Facebook when I got to work, to check all the comments and be part of the excitement. I had PM's from 3 different Fries about checking Patreon for VIP tickets. I was so excited for them all for getting one, and I was stunned and moved to the core of my soul when one of them offered to get one for me, to pay back on pay day. Without thinking for even a second I accepted her offer and a couple of minutes later she told me I had a VIP ticket.

I can't even begin to describe my gratitude and love for these two people. These are people I have not met in real life yet. And they were there for me. The person getting me the VIP ticket said that she wasn't about to let someone that loves Home Free even more than she does miss out when she had the money to help. I was amazed and I was in disbelief, I still am, and as all this went down I was crying and laughing all at once in the office. My colleagues got worried until they realized it was tears of joy and love. I feel humbled by how much these people care.

The whole day I was crying on and off, and as I'm writing this I am crying too. My heart is pouring over and I feel like the luckiest person in the whole world.

So, what happened to the other ticket? Well, the fantastic Fry was gracious enough to still get it for me. That ticket I am giving away to someone. At this time I'm not sure who'll get it. I have asked someone,, if she can't make it I have someone else in mind. If she doesn't want it I have another idea, but I will keep you posted on what will happen to it.

And I am so happy because C, one of my best friends here in Spain, got a VIP ticket too! Yes!

Oh, and the VIP tickets were sold out even before the regular tickets went on sale! Way to make the Guys feel welcome to Europe, Fries!!

So what are my plans? Well, I already got my vacation days approved so I'll be going to London on the 27th or the 28th to do some touristing (it should be a real word) and meet up with some fellow Fries. They are coming from all over Europe. There will be Fries flying in from Estonia, the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany as far as I know. At least some of us will be doing some sight seeing together the day before the show. This is just as exciting as seeing Home Free, sorry, MEETING Home Free!

I have hotel rooms booked close to the venue for the night of the show for four people; myself, C, the Fry that got me my VIP and the person that will get my second ticket. I'm Frying It Forward, spreading the love like rings on the water. The person that got me the front row ticket, cause yeah it's front row, will get something else.

I'm also hoping to be able to squeeze in a couple of more Home Free shows while there, we're still waiting for dates and places for additional shows, though. And maybe I'll catch more of the shows at the London A Cappella Festival; Naturally 7 is tempting, but time will tell.

There are so many things I want to do in London, and I am so excited I can barely keep myself together at times, but that will make a great post sometime in the future.

Today's video is, of course, Home Free's and FifGen's latest awesomeness;  the video for Alabama Sampler! Enjoy!

What do like doing in London, or what do you dream about doing in London?

Oh, and there are still a few tickets left so head on over to the London A Cappella Festival page and pick one or two up! You will not regret it!

118 days to go!

Love//
Carina