just write

i have 3 things to share that were nuggets of gold from my day yesterday that i want to live on...in writing....so here goes:



1.  i did the run for the cure with my mom yesterday.  i had several moments where every part of me was filled with love, empathy, gratitude, & hope.  as i stood next to my mother at the beginning of the race, i looked around to take in the moment.  there were survivors proudly parading to the stage, daughters hugging mothers, husbands taking pictures of their wives & people proudly wearing pink.  i realized in that moment just how many families have been affected by this terrible disease.  i felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude that i was running with my mother that day.  the person next to me may have been running for or in honour of theirs.  tears came to my eyes for those who lost the battle,  those who were grieving that loved one & for those who have fought and continue to fight.  it felt so amazing to be running to find a cure to end breast cancer.  oh & i'll also have you know, that not only did i run with my mother, she beat me too...what an inspiring {fit} lady!

2.  the second nugget of the day was coming back to my apartment & going through the letters that my grama wrote to my papa just after the war.  1946...a different time, a different place, a different world.  they met during the war.  a lovely, bright, joyful one-of-a-kind british lady & a handsome, brave canadian solider.  as my mother & i read in wonder, i realized how BIG this idea i have really is.  i am going to england to retrace my grandmothers steps.  knock on the door of the house that she wrote from, walk the streets she walked, visit the places she speaks of in her letters.  see where she worked, watch the films she mentions & hear the music of the time she speaks so highly of.  i will share my journey discovering hers.  honouring the generations before me, realizing that i am a part of something WAY bigger here.  the letters start in December of 1945 & go all the way to her highly anticipated departure to Canada as a Warbride in June of 1946.  i will share a lesson i gain from the letters, do something that makes it a shared parallel journey between the two of us & leave it with an inquiry to my readers.  what did she bring up, what does it bring up for me & what does it bring up for you. oh it's going to be magical

3.  the 3rd nugget of the day was this "AWESOME" Ted Talk that i watched.  watch it, people!!  it makes me realize just how limited our time is here & that we MUST go out into the world & do the thing that we're meant to do.  if you live a life with a positive Attitude, while being Authentic & having the Awareness that's needed to really ENJOY life......it's gonna be AWESOME~!!!!

queen mary connection

Well...the word of the day was definitely, by far, AWESOME. We started the day off exploring the amazing Balboa Island. What. A. Place. The picturesque little island is home to some of the most beautiful all american type beach homes that spell out: relaxation. Being surrounded by yacht clubs, marinas & harbour store fronts made for just the kind of vibe we were looking for. Afer breakfast at Wilma's Patio Diner, we took the ferry over to the peninsula and enjoyed the weather that even the locals were saying was nicer than most of their summer days last year. At one point it even got up to 80 degrees. You know what the calls for: a hat to protect my pastey skin. I bought one of those floppy hats that made me say "these...are the days of our lives." The houses that lines these shores were pretty amazing in the price range of $5 million and up. One can dream. As we trekked on...we got back onto the #1 hwy, went through one beach town to the next...all with their own look, crowd & vibe. Surfers. Hippies. Travelers. Locals. Joggers. Bikers. Tourist. Wanderers...and many moreeeee. Newport beach. Huntington Beach. Long Beach. Santa Monica. Malibu. All very amazing. We stopped for a while at Long Beach for Thai lunch and made our way for a photo op at the Queen Mary. There is a picture of my grama and papa w at this very spot several years ago very much in love and in their traveling glory. I found the exact spot they stood and even lined myself up with the very fence they posed against. I took in the moment with wonder. The moment made me so very full of love & gratitude. I felt grateful for where I've come from, who I've become & where I'm going. I felt grateful for having the opportunity to do the things I'm doing with the amazing people that have come into my life. I felt grateful for being clear on what my values in life are. For me its all about living a grateful life. Traveling often. Experiencing the world. Talking with people on a new kind of level. Living a life on PURPOSE. So can you tell I've been in california for 3 weeks??? Haha...and to think that 6 days in Sonoma wine country talking about living a life on PURPOSE is still to come. Oh the excitement of all the growing I'll be doing is unreal. Suppose I'd better finish this gushy blog post up...signing off from quaint as ever, Santa Barbara. Xoxo

lucky lady in laguna

What a magical day it truly was. The skies were blue without a cloud in sight. From the moment we started our journey on the open highway we knew it would be a day of wonder. We stopped in Laguna beach at the Montage. What an unbelievablely beautiful place. The ambiance of that place is like nothing I've ever experienced before in my life. People are relaxed and taking in the joys of life. The birds are singing lullabies to everyone who walks by. The palm trees dance in the ocean breeze. The dolphins...yes we saw dolphins...were playfully making themselves seen. The creativity of the artists painting a spectacular view of what was before their eyes made me smile. The laughter of children, the hand-holding of loved ones and the constant music of the waves added to the magic. The perspective of life changes when you're in this space. We ate lunch with a stunning view, walked along the cliff-lined coast and finished off our time at the Montage listening to a grand pianist while sipping iced tea. Glorious! We walked along the artisan streets of Laguna Beach and took in the most beautiful sunset! Looking out at the ocean really does make me think about the wonders of life. How big this world is and how very blessed I am to be having these experiences. Living this California dream. I had to pinch myself a few times today. How did i get here? This is one of my favorite things about travel. Getting a glimpse of life in a different place. Thinking about things that are beyond my imagination and more. Taking in the people, the sounds, the sights & the smells. Being curious about everything around me. I'm one lucky lady.

coastal road trip

up the coast we go!!!!! san diego - sonoma - in 4 days

 mary & carly's road trip adventure

 "riches through knowledge, knowledge through travel" - edward j hogan

california loop

so the last 12 days have been an absolute blast! i did a california loop~!

here goes:

day1: transportation day...trains, planes & automobiles.

-i took the train from solana beach to L.A....coming into the BIG city of L.A. was really cool to see on the train. i then took a bus to Bakersfield where i met chris to get into his 4 seater 1967 cherokee airplane! what an experience. we flew all the way up to Chico!~ What an experience. Ended the trains, plane & automobiles day with dinner at the local Sierra Nevada Brewery

day 2: chico chico chico

-chris showed me around his town & i felt like i was right back in guelph! the fun college town had a great feel & we went to an old fashion breakfast diner & hung out in coffee shops & pizza joints.

day 3: all nighter

-this was our day filled with coffee (lots of it), last minute video editing & project collaboration for our big Make Your Mark - Legacy project.

day 4: the road trip begins

-we decided to take hwy 395 through the sierra mountains so i could OFFICIALLY see all that california has to offer. Lake Tahoe was unreal! the reflection of the mountains in the crystal clear lake was stunning. we crossed the state line into nevada and *didn't* go to a casino! they were everywhere. we saw the brockway summit and drove down in the carson valley! all STUNNING!

day 5: on the road again day 2

-beautiful views - mountains, snow, lakes & trees. sooooo pretty. a few hours later...we were in the mojave desert & totally felt like i was in the wild wild west. there were tonnes of cactus & joshua trees everywhere.. just like in the movies. i even got a picture with a huge gun sale billboard. wild wild west for sure.

day 6: visit to venue & sushi din w B&B

-went to national city to paradise village to check out our venue. it was beautiful and even had a 250 seat auditorium - WOW! talk about nerves :s haha...we calmed down very quickly after having a great sushi dinner with chris' aunt belinda & uncle brian! big shout out to them for putting us up for a few days! it was a pleasure staying with them in sunny san diego!

day 7: "make your mark" project day

-met some amazing people including a friend of Lucille Ball & some other cute seniors with amazing life stories. our first official presentation & screening of our make your mark project was a SUCCESS! went to oceanbeach afterwards to celebrate, take in the magic of the beach & watch the very talented surfers doing their thang. what a gig. ocean beach just happened to also have a wednesday farmers market going on at the time with music, street food & local art. it was a great atmosphere. i loved it. we cheers some Guinness at a local pub to a great day!

day 8: hollywoooooood

-off to hollywood we go. as some of you know, my friend chris has invented this amazing alien gingerbread cookie called: XORKNOB. well, he had an unbelievable hook up at a hollywood recording studio on sunset blvd owned by a member of DEVO. people in this studio had a taste of xorknob & loved him. just a phone call later, we had a code name & an address to get into this studio to not only drop off xorknob, but to also spend about an hour touring the studio & seeing the life of a recording studio musician! how cool! we seriously felt like we were on mission impossible. we then had some great lebanese cuisine on the sunset strip before going on a hiking mission to see the hollywood sign (maybe not the best combo haha). Runyon Canyon Park here we come! the cool thing was, since we asked the waitress for her opinion on how to do it in a non-tourist way, she gave us some local insight & we really got a taste of what it feels like to be a local hollywoodian (?! is that the correct term?! ) well guess what that called for? more celebrating. we decided to embrace being in hollywood...where dreams come true....and go to the country western bar. yeee haaa! 'twas amazing. it was also amazing because across the street we noticed flashing lights, and being 3 days away from the Oscars and all, we decided to go have a peek. SURE enough: paparazzi & stars! we saw donna from that 70's show, ben stiller & mischa barton. we also met some amazing people that were also checking out what the hype was all about and it happened to be a really nice couple. the producer of a show called Web Masters that will be out soon & Miss Bikini California 2011. they were from Australia & had been living in hollywood for 2 weeks. what fun! the people you meet in the streets of california. drove to bakersfield through the night, high on life, singing JOURNEY~! what a journey this has been so far.

day 9: Bakersfield -- L.A. --- Solana beach

-back with Mary in San Diego

day 10: San Diego

-went out for mexican & had yet another fish taco (love them) & went to the Comedy Store. laughed. all. night. Brent Morin was by far the funniest. check him out on myspace

day 11: San Diego

-spent the sunny day at Mission Bay - BEAUTY of a place! & experienced PF Changs for the first time before OSCAR night

and since then, i've been chillin in San Diego.....going to the beach, lounging at the pool, diving into my learning for my course and LOVING life. :) friday mary & i will head up the coast from san diego, all the way up to sonoma. we're taking #1 hwy & we're taking our time. we have 4 days to make it there. this should be yet another california adventure.

this chick-o is off to chico

so i've had an amazing few days in san diego. mary & i did our "seen" photography musical. it was a blast & we sang our hearts out. to celebrate we went over the coronado. we ate lots of great food, walked all over the place, took in the beauty of the beach & captured amazing cityscape views.

i am now off to chico to visit & co-create with chris. our "make your mark" legacy presentation & screening will be a hit no doubt.

love from cali

goodbye snow

ready to go

made it to cali

sand like bali

love from cali xo

off to the airport i go

i love airports! everything about them! the people, the atmosphere, the hugs (like on love actually), the adventure, the sounds. i always wonder where people are going, what they're doing, and who they're gonna see. here i go!

california dreamin'

in the morning i am off to california! oh what an adventure this is going to be. i will be staying with friends that i have met through my leadership course for the first 3 weeks and then the last week will be at our 3rd retreat. SAN diego, here i come! i MUST go to sleep! eeeek!

lesson from papa

on tuesday i did the eulogy for my papa. he would have been proud.

love you papa,

car

xo

Lessons From Papa: My papa. An artist, a writer, a music-lover, a mr.fix-it, a golfer & an activist. My papa was a true inspiration to many. He taught so many lessons that will live on forever. He taught effort, determination and motivation. He taught leadership, commitment and love. He taught people around him how to live a positive and grateful life and to always help others. He taught me what it means to make a positive mark in the world and how one creates a legacy.

I have a few stories that outline these...

i remember when i was really young and had a soother he always told me to get rid of it. i remember having the courage one day to say....fine! if you get rid of YOUR soother, which was his pipe, i would get rid of mine. he did. he quit smoking cold turkey. he proved to me that anyone can quit. they just need the right kind of motivation. apparently i was it for him. That sure was a lesson for me of motivation and determination that he taught me at 2 years old.

he was an amazing man around the community. He was named citizen of the year in 2006. he was actively involved with the art gallery, migrant workers community & countless boards & committees. His favourite involvement was with art at the marina. He loved being the first one there in the morning, deciding who was going to set up where, how things were going to run& what it was going to take to make the weekend a beautiful community event. Seeing the leadership & commitment for all of these things, makes me realize that involvement in a community creates love.

my last visit with papa was on Sunday.when I went to see him at the hospital he was so happy to see me. he touched my face and said "oh my beautiful dolly." i had to hold myself together so all i could do was plaster the biggest smile on my face that i could. he said the funniest thing to me that I'll never forget. He looked at me and said "have i ever told you that you have really nice teeth?" haha..it made me giggle. he told me that i had a beautiful smile and to keep on smiling. he said that i have so many beautiful years ahead of me and to just go and live and enjoy my life to the fullest.

I will do just that and encourage every one of you who has been touched by his presence to do the same. Keep on smiling and live your life the fullest.

We all love you papa.

forever remembering hugs

someone amazing in my life has passed away. my papa butler.

Ralph M. Butler
Feb. 1st, 1929 - Jan. 27th, 2012

i submitted this to dear photograph today....it will read:

__________________________________


dear photograph,
i will forever remember your hugs.
i miss you already papa.
with love,
carly
xoxox

__________________________________


i will share more soon about what a mark this amazing man made in this world. he definitely knew what it meant to create & leave a legacy.

loving life

went for a walk today along the river. loved every minute of it. the reflection in the detroit river of the skyline was unreal! like a mirror. it made me think of reflection therefore i began my own reflection on life. i am so happy & feel so grateful every day. i am a part of something BIGger. i am doing things i'm passionate about. i'm really finding who I AM. and enjoying every moment of it! my course in california offered through CTI has a lot to do with it. check it out people. more to come! smile~ life's amazing & it's a gift!

i am the happy in "happy birthday" ~

well today is my birthday & i feel like a queen. life is amazing! i am so blessed to have so many amazing people in my life. lastnight was spent watching eat, pray, love....getting inspired for my month long california trip that's coming up. woke up, opened my cards, did some yoga & off to work to share my happiness with the world.

life's amazing!
here's to my best year yet!
xoxo

winter wonderland

check out my cozy little apartment that i was talking about on my favourite things list:

check out my view on this cozy little winter wonderland evening i'm spending in.

here's the solo cozy saturday nights~!

these are a few of my favourite things....

i'm carly

i love to travel.

i love photography.

i am inspired by good ideas like this

i love my cowboy boots.

i love talking about how much i love life.

one of my favourite words is GRATITUDE.

my favourite holiday is thanksgiving.

i love hearing life stories.

i have a soft spot for seniors.

i love chocolate.

i love my apartment.

it has a great view of the detroit skyline.

some days i stare out my window & pretend that it's New York City.

i love NYC

i love this blog about NYC

i rarely use capital letters.

2012's description is an exception. BIG. the year 2012 is gonna be capital: BIG.

i have a day job.

i love to dream.

i love country music.

i love dancing to top 40 though too.

i'm not too fond of hot summer days.

i love sunscreen.

i love when it snows.

my favourite season is fall.

i love leaves.

i love getting snail mail.

i sing in my car.

i want to be carrie underwood's friend.

some day i will experience INDIA.

i want to write a book.

smiling is one of my favourite things to do.

i like the idea of reading.

i read 16 novels in 2008. that's a big deal.

want to do it again.

i want to live a minimalist lifestyle.

i love this blog

i am excited to write.

here goes nothin'

all about me

so...i've started a few blogs in my day. i can't even keep track of how many blogspots i have.

1. http://carlyranaway.blogspot.com
2. http://carlyjogshome.blogspot.com
3. http://korearoundtwo.blogspot.com
4. one about re-entry into canada
5. one about my job
6. http://capturedbycarlybutler.blogspot.com
7. http://coachedbycarlybutler.blogspot.com
8. http://droptheshop.blogspot.com
9. one about a new project - make your mark: legacy project
10. one about another new project - "seen" - the musical

that's 10!
TOOOO many!
this i declare is my very own. all about me.
i'm gonna share about things i'm doing. things that i love. things i'm passionate about. all things me!