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 In Europe x 2

Happy New Year, and hey, I'm back!!

I took an unplanned and unexpected break from blogging, actually from almost all kind of writing, after my last post in April. I had a lot of things going on in my life that needed my focus and attention, and it has taken some time to find the inspiration and true will and love for writing again. It happens, even though I know I feel much happier when I do write.

Anyway, I am great, I still love my life - that never changed - and I still love writing. So, here I am again. Yayy! Welcome back me!!

So, what's this about Home Free coming to Europe? Well, they are coming to Europe. Soon. But before I get deeper into that I should mention that they have been back here once since I last saw them. They were headliners for the 2nd Annual Country Festival in the Austrian alps back in September, and needless to say they were a hit and they absolutely loved it. I hope they will be back this year, but time will tell. Also, they are actually scheduled to come to Europe TWICE during the first half of this year.

First off, they are coming back to the UK (and Ireland) in a few weeks time. They are doing a total of 5 shows starting with Dublin, Ireland on January 24 followed by Cardiff, Wales on the 25th, Birmingham, England on the 26th and they are finishing the tour up with 2 shorter shows at the London A Cappella Festival at Kings Place in London, UK on the 28th. The London shows have been sold out for a long time (it didn't take long before they were), but I believe there might still be tickets available for the other shows. So if you are anywhere near or have the possibility to travel you should go grab one! It is well worth the money, I promise. To buy tickets for their shows just go to their website.

I am flying to London on the 22nd to meet up my sister and our fried E for a week of fun. We have a lot planned and are not only going to the Birmingham show, but also have VIP tickets for the first London show and regular tickets for the second one later that same day. Yup, we are going to the same show twice in one day. (Call us fanatics or groupies or whatever, we don't care.) To say that we are excited is an understatement. We are very eager to not only see and meet Home Free again, but to meet up with our "old" Home Fry friends as well as getting to meet "new" ones. There is going to be a whole lot of laughter, hugs, love and music that week.

We are not only going to do Home Free related things, though. We are also going to go sightseeing, have afternoon tea, visit the Harry Potter Studios and see the musical Kinky Boots. So much fun is planned!! I can't wait!! The best part is that I get to do it all with my little sister! I love her so much, she is the very best!

On the 29th we will fly to Sweden and I will spend a few days visiting with family and friends, and I am mostly looking forward to hug my mum. I haven't seen her since May 2015. She doesn't know I'm coming so I hope she'll be happy to see me. Hahaha

But, didn't I say that Home Free are scheduled to come to Europe TWICE in the first half of this year? Yes, yes, I sure did! The details about the second time has not been publicly shared yet, but

THEY ARE COMNG TO SPAIN!!!!

Wooohooooo!!! All I can say about it now is that they are coming to an area around Barcelona on a Saturday in May - and I have a VIP ticket for it!! Of course.

Go support them on Patreon for more information and a chance to buy tickets.

Actually, this one is extra exciting for me because in the information they shared to the Patrons, on Patreon, they mentioned me personally, by name, as someone they knew would be excited to visit with them in Spain! For Real!! There I was, on the first day of the year, snuggled up on the sofa with the best man in the world when I got the email and I saw Spain and then my name - and I kind of freaked out a bit. And then their manager Luke shared a link to the information in the official Patreon group on Facebook and he tagged me. I didn't even finish reading all the information so at first I missed that VIP tickets were already on sale. I'm glad someone mentioned it to me only minutes later so I could get one for me and my sister. I am still a bit in shock and disbelief about it all. It is kind of surreal that my all-time favourite band would mention me.

Do I need to say that I love it? Big time! What an amazing start to the year!

Oh, wait! I'm not done with Home Free related Euro shows yet! Chris Rupp, the founder and former baritone of the group is scheduled to do a solo tour in Northern Europe during the second half of March. He hasn't released all the details yet, but he will be doing 4 shows in Germany, 2 in Sweden, 1 in the Netherlands. 1 outside of London and 1 in Dublin. He hasn't even toured the USA yet. We get him first! How cool is that! Stay tuned for more information! Or better yet;

Go support Chris on his Patreon page to get a heads-up.

Wow! That is a lot!

I'd like to end this post with one of my all-time favourite Home Free songs. Their cover on Thomas Rhett's "Die A Happy Man". I love it for several reasons; it showcases Home Free's newest member Adam Chance's voice so well - it's such a smooth voice with a whisky rasp filled with a lot of emotions, Also, the love shown between Tim and his lady is so sweet and uplifting. They married last week and are currently on their honeymoon. I hope they will keep looking at each other with such love for the rest of their lives. Congratulations to them!

Have a nice weekend!
Love//
Carina

Return of the Blogger

Hello, good people of the internet world, and especially my readers!

How are you all doing? I am very well, thanks for asking!

As you have noticed I haven't been around at all for a long time. I felt I needed a bit of a break, but I am back again now.

So much have happened, well, that was probably an exaggeration but some things have happened.

In my life of writing absolutely nothing has happened for a long time, which is why I needed the break, I just hit a wall when it came to all writing and I needed to re-evaluate it. What is it that I love about writing? Why do I want to write? For whom do I want to write? What do I expect from it? And other questions of similar kind have been floating around in my head. I don't have it all in place yet, but I'm getting there, and I know that when it all fits again I will have taken a step further up the staircase leading me to where I am going.

Unfortunately this means there will not be a book released this year, but don't worry, it will be there when the timing for it is right.

My personal life is the same as before; the same boyfriend, cats and son; although we have been crazy busy at work which has left me exhausted and tired and with a lack of creativity and energy outside of work. It's not ideal but I do still love my job, mainly because of my amazing colleagues. I am so happy to have them in my day-to-day life.

So, what about Home Free? I know you are all wondering, because let's face it, this blog has become in big parts a blog about them.

Well, they are currently on a break between their Don't It Feel Good Tour that ended about a week ago, and their Home Free For the Holidays Tour that begins on the 1st of December and will be leading up to Christmas. After that they have a break before coming to Europe! Yay! We are ready for them!

Oh, and I'm sure you all know by now that they finally released more dates for Europe but here it is if you didn't;

• 27th of January; Birmingham, England
• 28th of January; St Andrews, Scotland
• 29th of January; Dublin, Ireland
• 30th of January; London, England. 

You can get tickets to all the shows except the London show at their website. The London show is sold out as far as individual tickets are concerned, but you can still see them if you get the (full) Festival Pass for the London A Cappella Festival. The Festival Pass is more expensive, but will give you access to a whole lot of other acts like Naturally 7 and the Swingles as well as workshops and some other fun activities. You can find more information about the Festival and the Festival Passes on their website. 

Y'all know I have a VIP ticket, and my sister has a front row ticket, for London, but you might not know that we also have regular tickets for the Birmingham show. Yiiipppiiiiee!!! After all, that will be their real European debut, and I just had to be there for it! And thanks to the same Fry Angel Friend that helped me get my VIP ticket, we have at least a chance of getting to the Birmingham show in time before the show starts without having to pay for a 2-2,5 hour taxi ride.

You see, it is a matter of things falling perfectly into place; my sister's flight need to be on time, her luggage need to arrive on the belt quickly and the weather and the traffic need to be on our side too. My Fry Angel Friend is picking us up at the airport on her way to the show. If everything falls into place smoothly she should arrive there at about the same time my sister gets through customs and everything, and I am completely confident that they will, because, why else would things be naturally lining up like that. Send everybody that might have an effect on the outcome some love, you know; pilots, other airport staff, other people in the traffic and so on! Thanks!

On to other subjects; we are coming up to Christmas. Hooray! In Sweden we have the tradition of Advent with the four Sundays leading up to Christmas Eve (which is when we celebrate Christmas), and next Sunday is the 1st Sunday of Advent. This means putting up at least some of the Christmas decorations. I can't wait,

But, as someone who used to live where it was snow, darkness and pretty lights in all the windows during December (Swedes put electrical candles in their windows that light up the darkness) finding the "right" Christmas feeling is more work when living somewhere where it is blue skies, sunlight and a lot warmer. It doesn't come as naturally because all of those things are a part of it. So, I have to find ways to build it up deliberately instead.

Over the years I have found that smells, tastes and sounds are most important, so beginning next weekend I will start baking traditional Swedish Christmas yummies such as saffron buns and ginger snaps. Or maybe I'll buy some of it, because I can and it's less messy and saves time. The Swedish Christmas food is quite traditional, but I'll get into that some more when we're getting closer. Next Sunday our friends will be over for some Christmas dinner planning, some Glögg (mulled wine) and some saffron buns and ginger snaps. This is when Christmas becomes real every year.

Another very important thing to me this time of year is the music. I have to have Christmas music! I love Christmas music, always have and always will, and of course, Home Free has some of the best Christmas music out there. And, yes, I am partial because I already love them, but over the next month I will be sharing their Christmas music with you, just because I've been waiting to do so for months now, so if you haven't already heard their Christmas songs prepare yourself for some ear goodies!

First out is the newest one. I had never heard this song before we heard that they were going to collaborate with the one and only Kenny Rogers on it for Kenny's new Christmas album (another great album, btw) Once Again It's Christmas. I of course looked it up on YouTube and I didn't really like it. So, I was a bit skeptic. Of course, I should have known better. After all it is Home Free, my greatest music love of all times, together with one of my first loves in music. Kenny Rogers (and Dolly Parton) was my introduction to country music when I was just a kid and I have loved his voice ever since. Now, having said that; I still wasn't too excited when I first heard it, but I bought it and put it on my playlist, and the more I heard it the more I liked it. And now, now I absolutely love it. It is happy and fun and it has the trademarks of Home Free's unbeatable beats and unbelievably tight harmonies along with the strong, raspy and yet smooth voice of Kenny Rogers. The video shows the five men of Home Free looking sleek, all decked up in suits and vests, and Kenny with his white hair and beard in a red shirt and cowboy boots in the middle, like a countrified Santa Claus. It is perfect and simple and distinguished. It is Christmas. So, even if at first listen or look you don't really like this song, give it a few listens. Feel the song, hear the fun and the different parts of it. The details are so much fun in this song.

Anyway, that's it from me for now. I am glad to be back. I'll see you soon. Have fun, spread the love and take care!

Here's "Children, Go Where I Send Thee".

Love//

Carina

Ups, Downs, Love, Joy, Music = My Life

What's up, y'all?

So, it's been a while since I posted anything that wasn't Home Free related, and today is not the day to do it either. But it's not all about Home Free, and the music isn't Home Free's music. Say what? Yes, I'm featuring another one of my favourite musicians today. But first;

I am so happy to let you all now that I have found a home for my second ticket to Home Free's show at the London A Cappella Festival, you know the front row seat one. None other than my amazing and wonderful baby sister will be joining me in London for 4 whole nights! Yaaay! It is so great that I get to spend my first few days ever in London with her. We live so far apart, she's in Sweden and I'm in Spain, and we don't get to see each other even close to often enough, and I am so happy that I get to treat her to this. She is a Home Free fan, but not a hard core Fry yet, but she will be after the show, of course. I am even more excited about this trip now! I didn't think that was even possible!

I also want to mention that we all need to stop stressing and rushing around and at least once a day we need to stop, take a breath and enjoy all the good things we all have in the lives we live. Because, well, you are alive. That is something worth being grateful for every single day. You are alive right now, that can change very quickly. My son and his colleagues were witnesses to one of their newest colleagues being hit by a car and killed when they were leaving their office on Tuesday evening. The woman that were killed had dreamed her whole life about living in Spain, and she finally moved here at the age of almost 65. She got 5 days in her paradise. My son had his back to it, but was only 20 m (60-65 feet) away when he heard the hit. He had crossed the road in the exact same place only a minute earlier. I am so glad he didn't see the actual hit, and I am so grateful it wasn't him. So many people were affected in a that split second, the woman who lost hers, the driver who hit her, all her family and friends, and those present. Take care of yourselves, your lives and your loved ones. You just don't know. Follow your hearts, follow your dreams. And do it now!

On a happier note; today is my boyfriends birthday. I woke him up with a cup of coffee and a chocolate covered, chocolate filled doughnut, and I cooked him an English breakfast for lunch. We're having pizza and film at home by his choice tonight. Wow, you think, the food of the day is not very healthy, and I say, as long as you enjoy every bite of it and don't eat it every day, it is great for you. Just love what you eat, and what you eat will work in your favour.

Lastly, I am so proud of my son. For a lot of reasons, but here's one:

Red Umbrella Beneath a Waterfall.

That's my music choice of the day, one of my favourite musicians. Check out his other stuff as well, it's pretty cool, and consider supporting him on Patreon.

He is also featured on a new album called Materia; Final Fantasy VII Remixed with his rendition of a track called

Feel The Edge of That Spear

and yeah, I can feel it. The edge of that spear.

The whole album is pretty cool so be sure to check it out.

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