And it’s snowing! Maybe we’ll get a white Christmas after all. I am very excited to see my family and give them the presents I’ve bought and made. I’m almost ready and just have to get one last minute present, in case my knitting project doesn’t get finished in time today. Oh and I need to get Harley a little something because he has been a very good boy this year. I’m going to forego the Show and Tell this week, for now, because I just don’t have the time to put it together before we leave for our parent’s house. I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday with family and friends.

Merry Christmas!

Haha… Here’s another photo of Harley in his sweater. He got it from my sister and doesn’t really like to wear it itl, but it’s so funny to put it on him and watch him walk around.

On Sunday Dec 13 I got an early Christmas present from Kathryn. She took me to see Matthew Good’s Live at the Concert Hall taping. I was so excited to go and see him play songs from the new album Vancouver. I have been fan of his since the first album “Last of the Ghetto Astronauts” came out. I’ve seen more of his concerts than any other artist and he has never disappointed at a show.

We had 2nd row seats and the camera guy was sitting in front of me, so it was really like a front row seat, since he was up and crouched near the stage. I can’t remember the exact set list from the show but he did play Great Whales of the Sea, Born Losers & Strange Days which are some of my favourites. There is just something about his music that pulls at my emotions. I think he is a brilliant writer and applaud that he is who he is, and doesn’t try to bend to what a “rock star” should be.

I wish I could’ve brought my camera inside, but it will air on Feb 23 at 10pm on Bravo. I will probably be on camera, since pink hair seems to attract a lot of attention. I don’t mind though

It was a great night and such a thoughtful gift. Thank you so much Kathryn. You really are a great friend and I’m lucky to have you.

Some fun news to share. A project that I have been working on has just launched it’s newly redesigned website in time for the holidays, Shkank.com. If you haven’t been to the Shkank store on Yonge St you have to get down there. The dresses and designs make you feel like a kid in a candy store. They will work with you to create a custom dress or you can choose from one of their many “one-of-a-kind” pieces. The designers, Rod Philpott, Phi and Trevor are very talented and creative guys who can whip up the most insane outfits in a matter of hours.

Check out their completely redesigned site, done by The Digital Beach and make sure you if you are in Toronto you take a trip to the store to check it out, you will not be disappointed. Make sure you tell them Carly sent you

“Soon the bells will start
And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing
Right within your heart.”

I am so excited! Chad and I are off to do the last of our shopping and then all I need to do is bake and finish wrapping. This might be the first year that I’m not scrambling on Christmas Eve day to finish up. Fingers crossed.

What do you have left to do before Christmas?

Meowers in his Christmas Sweater

Whatever Sticks is a new 4 piece band that my Dad has put together. They have a show in Aurora tomorrow night, Fri Dec 19 and if you’re looking for a fun night out with great entertainment you should check them out.

FB creeping Ally’s page and saw this. This pretty much sums up how I feel.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

Last night was early Christmas present #2. Tickets to the Leafs vs Coyotes game with my Dad! For the past three years Dad has taken one kid each to a hockey game. It is so much fun and I was really looking forward to it. We have the same seats every year and they’re pretty good. Right at the front of the 300 section sitting across from the home goal. Last year he had surgery when we were supposed to go so Chad and I went instead. It was fun, but not as fun as with Dad!

We got there around 7:20 and ran in to get dinner, big beers and pizza, Yum! We got to our seats just as they dimmed the lights to announce the line up and then stood for the anthem. The singer was ok, but he nailed the words to the US anthem and completely botched the Canadian one. The whole stadium booed and the guy behind us said it was the Newfie version.

The game was pretty good except for the fact that they lost 6-3. I’ve never seen a game where they lose so it was kinda sad. We were on the edge of our seats the whole time.

During 2nd intermission we went out to get dessert, Oreo Cookie Sandwiches, and ran into one of Dad’s old bass players. I used to be pretty good friends with his son and apparently he lives in the city too.

It was such a fun night just me and Dad and I’m glad we go to go. Thank you so much Dad. I had the best time and I love hanging out with you. So glad you’re a musician and cool

My Dad wins.

I have been told many times that in order to be someone of importance I need a piece of paper from an institution that says I have been trained to do something.

Obviously elementary and high school are important, but post-secondary education was never for me. I couldn’t concentrate in the big lecture halls (and could barely see the professor) and found that the smaller in-class sessions just annoyed me. I went to 2 different colleges for 3 different programs and hated all of them. All I have to show are some expensive textbooks and the last $3000 of a student loan that I have been paying off for 5 or 6 years.

Now don’t get me wrong – I am not saying don’t go to college or university.  There are a lot of benefits for specialized education in certain industries and it is required for a lot of jobs.  In my case it was a waste of time and money.

The only thing I have ever wanted to do was be in business for myself in the entertainment industry and no one could teach me that. I am a person who learns by doing things for myself. This has most definitely led to me having a hard time during certain periods of my life and making some bad decisions, but I do not have regrets. I believe that everything in my life has happened for a reason. Whether it was to teach me a lesson or make me a stronger person, it has made me who I am today.

At 28 years old I am finally doing what I want to do and not what was expected. I am a strong, independent woman, who is living my life on my terms and although there are moments of anxiety and uncertainty I am generally happy and fulfilled. This is in part thanks to having amazing parents who always told us we could do anything we put our minds too, supportive friends and siblings, and most of all a partner who loves me for who I am and does not try to change me. I am a lucky girl and I know it.

This post was spawned from this paragraph:

“You’re stupid if you spent four to eight years of your life getting a piece of paper that says you have the right to opine on any subject that is offered online through the University Of Phoenix. Beyond requiring some form of training to ensure that one knows how to successfully conduct triple bypass surgery, we’re all stupid for buying into the notion that to not be considered stupid we have to adhere to a scholastic pyramid scheme that, in most cases, places you in immense debt but doesn’t result in lasting, secure employment.”

-From Matthew Good, Dear San Diego

Here is my Christmas Tree version 1. Chad’s mom bought us decorations our first year and it was very nice of her to do that.

After having it up for a week I really wanted to change up the decorations. So we went to Mom & Dad’s for dinner (where I found my paintings) and I took my box of ornaments. Mom has been giving us kids an ornament every year on Christmas Eve since we were born and I have always wanted to put them on my own tree.

This was my first one. I was supposed to be born on Dec 25, 1980 but I was exactly a week late, so they put a sticker over the 0. haha.

Kathryn and I did the switch and it was really fun to remember all the years past when the three of us kids would decorate. We would each get to put the angel on top every three years to be equal and Mom would play the Sesame Street Christmas record. Do you remember that? I remember listening to “The Count” sing all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth when I was about 7 and was missing my two front teeth. haha.

Here is my tree version 2.

I’ll have to get a better photo tonight when it’s dark.

I am so excited for Christmas!