Spring Break 2008

This Spring Break, most people went to some place sunny. Florida, Hawaii, Mexico, anywhere you can think of with a beach. Not us. We went to Wyoming. Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I mean, seriously! To be perfectly honest, I was hoping to actually get a tan. I got a GOGGLES tan. But I’m not complaining. I had a really great time. We learned how to snowboard (Chase broke her wrist, by the way… she’s officially hardcore), and after skiing/snowboarding, we would go to the hot tub.

We would get hot chocolate, which was always way too much for me to drink. I mean, who drinks a giant cup of hot chocolate in one sitting? Especially with caramel in it. Gosh, that thing was rich. But it was good. We’d get s'mores occasionally. They had Hershey’s chocolate in them. What can I say? Hershey’s is everywhere, even when I try to escape my parents’ career life.
That’s all for now!

Sweet Fashions

A few weeks ago, “Project Runway” had auctions where people got to bid on dresses made by designers. On one of the shows, the final 10 designers made dresses from items they got at the Hershey Times Square store. When my dad found out that they were being auctioned, he had to get at least one. Instead, he got eight of them. And on the weekend of March 29th, my dad and I went to Hershey, Pennsylvania. While we were there, we went to an event called “Sweet Fashions by Hershey.” For part of the event, Dylan Lauren, owner and founder of Dylan’s Candy Bar, was there. The week before, I broke my wrist, and Dylan was nice enough to sign my cast for me. The dresses aren’t at CARSON yet, but they will be soon and I can’t wait!

OMG

Well, here's the story with this. On Thanksgiving Break, I was told this by my dad:

There's this charity organization called UGive, founded by Anthony Muñoz and Cris Collinsworth from the Bengals, and apparently, they're tight with Rascal Flatts (Jay DeMarcus, Gary LeVox, and Joe Don Rooney). So they were playing a special benefit concert at the launch party. Cincinnati Music Hall. They have like, ballets there.
Well, guess whose parents' company was one of the sponsors for the event?

I SCREAMED when I found out what we'd be doing that night!

There was a dinner, where they arrived and I screamed, a concert, where I screamed ten times more (and didn't SIT DOWN, unlike EVERYBODY ELSE), and the after party.

Guess who I met at the after party?

JAY DEMARCUS.

This is how it went:

Me: Hey Jay!
Jay: Heyy!
Then I asked for his autograph and he said sure! Convoooo:

Me: Thank you so much!
Jay: You're welcome!
Me: Oh, oh. uhm. your biggest fan from Greenville says hi!

By that, I meant Grace, my crazy friend who's in love with Jay.

Jay: You mean my BIGGEST fan or.? *puts hands out as if to say his largest fan*

So of course, I crack up like crazy.

Me: Nooo! I mean your GREATEST fan! You know. long blonde hair, completely ignored Gary and Joe Don.
Jay: Oh, yeah!
Me: Yeahh! Haha.
Jay: Well, tell her I say hi.
Me: I definitely will!

And they left before I could give them their gift from me, candy bars with one for each of the three amazing guys.

And you think this is over? PSH.

So, 29 days later, I received a letter. I think it's strange. Then I open.

There's another envelope.

It says RASCAL FLATTS.

I slowly opened the rest.

Autographs on three wrappers. One from Gary, one from Jay, and one from Joe Don.

And there's one thing more. A letter.

It reads:

Ellis,
Thanks for all your hard work on the candy wrappers. They look awesome!
<3 RF

THEY KNOW MY NAAAAAAAAAME.

I started bawling my eyes out. I couldn't breathe. I'm a little shocked I'm breathing now. Haha. Well, it was a good day.

And I'm gonna see them again in less than 40 days.

Hershey's and Brad Paisley

I’ve only been to one concert after my Rascal Flatts adventures in August, and that concert was Brad Paisley. It just so happened to be sponsored by Hershey’s. We had asked for tickets to see him from Hershey about a month before the date, October 5th. They never got back to us. Until the day of the concert, that is.

I basically woke up that morning with no tickets to the show and an assumption that the show wasn’t sold out. The show didn’t sell out when he was with Carrie Underwood last year, and we had left that show early, so we didn’t see Brad. It wouldn’t sell out now. Would it?

So, my dad picks me up from school with my sister Chase. He gives us two pieces of paper from Hershey’s. One with a schedule, and one reading this:

“Congrats, Scott Frederick! You and another person get the VIP treatment and get to meet Brad Paisley!”

Not those words exactly of course… But you get my point. Of course, I start jumping up and down in my seat, thinking that I would be the one going with my dad to meet him. But he says to me that Chase was getting it since I had my Rascal Flatts adventures that summer.

Now, we are talking about Chase. Chase, the ANTI-COUNTRY.

Chase?

Meeting Brad Paisley?

I held my feelings, thinking: I’m so happy for Chase! She might even meet Taylor Swift, who was opening for Brad, along with Rodney Atkins. She loves Taylor.

Me, Julie (our former babysitter, who remains a good friend with our family), and Kristy (Julie’s friend), however, were still ticketless.

So we get home, and according to the schedule, Chase and my dad have to leave right right away to get to Riverbend. So it’s just me and my mom, waiting for Julie. And of course, I lost it in front of her. CHASE! MEETING BRAD PAISLEY! And then to make matters much, much worse, we go online to Ticketmaster to get tickets that you can print out. “Tickets for this show are unavailable at this time.” So we check Riverbend’s website.

Sold out?

So Julie comes. We were getting ready to scalp three tickets. And then all the sudden, I get a call from dad right before we go to Julie’s house to pick up Kristy.

And apparently, he was working his ways on the Hershey people to get us to meet Brad and have good seats.

We quickly called Kristy, telling her to head straight to Riverbend. Stat. Dad called again. He got the passes.

AHHHHHHHHH.

Well, almost.

One Meet and Greet/Backstage Pass wasn’t going to come to us. We called Kristy to tell her, and she was fine with just being in the VIP section. We get there, met up with my dad, Chase, and Kristy, and all the sudden, we had gotten the third pass. We were all going to meet Brad Paisley. All that from almost having to scalp tickets. Absolute luck. That’s all I can say.

I ended up meeting Taylor Swift with Chase as well, and Chase got to meet Rodney Atkins. Taylor was extremely nice, and simply the tallest girl I’ve ever seen. Much taller than me, 5’1½”. Meeting Brad was also amazing, as he called me “darling.” And after the concert, Chase even started saying that she thought Brad Paisley was “hot” along with me. Now, she just needs to start liking Rascal Flatts…

Anyway, our tickets were in the middle, and while they weren’t very close to the stage, it was much better than my lawn seat assumption that morning. All in all, an amazing night, and certainly one I’m going to remember for a long time.

Now, soon enough, I’ll be Rascal Flattin’ all night… *wink*

Read More About the Concert »

Hershey's Chicago

Over the summer, my mom and I went to Chicago. We did all of the things that you would do in Chicago, eat, sleep, and shop of course! One of the stores there is the Hershey's Store near the Water tower off of Michigan Avenue. There are so many things there to like! They even have a bakery there with really good cupcakes. Thanks for reading!!!!!!

Rascal Flatts in Hartford CT. <3

August 24th can be proclaimed the best day of my life. Why? I. Met. Rascal.
Flatts!  I found out a month before that date, and unfortunately, this meant
we would be going to Hartford. Oh well. One more concert for me!

Because my dad told me it would be great to give them Hershey Bars wrapped
by Carson, I figured... heck, why not, so I designed the wrapper and it came
out perfectly.

We made the trip to Hartford Ct. and arrived at the Dodge Music Center at 2 PM the first ones in line!  5 hours standing in the heat, they opened the gates and I made my way backstage.  There were some that had meet and greets with Jason Aldean who opened up for Rascal Flatts, and he is also great to see.

My time came for my meet and greet, so I went up to Gary first, considering he was the closest.

Gary: Hey!
Me: Hi Gary!

Hug. <333

Me: I came all the way from Cincinnati just to see you guys.

Gary: Really, that's great.

Me: Here. *hands box to Gary of my custom designed wrapped Hershey's bars*  I have a box, it's your present.

Gary: A box?

Me: Well, there's stuff inside of it, of course! It's a little heavy, hope
you don't mind.

JOE DON... my favorite .. AHHHHHHHHH.

Me: Hi!

Joe Don: Hey, babe, how you doin'?

Me: I'm really good.

HUUUUUUUUUUG. <333333333

So, then I go to Jay.

Me: Hey Jay!
Jay: Heyyyy.

Hug. <3

So of course I go back in between Gary and Joe Don, just do a simple little
stand-there-and-smile picture, which of course, I do NOT mind. Joe Don told
me "Come here baby," which of course, about made me die of happiness.
And at last minute. I turn to Joe Don. I CANNOT believe I said
this but man, I am so glad this came out of my mouth.

Me: I like you the most.
Joe Don: Haha.
Me: Just thought I'd let you know that!
Joe Don: Awh, well, thanks for letting me know, babe.

This lead to a.

Oh, you can guess it by now.

HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG. AHHHHHH. <3333333333333333

See a pattern there?

Unfortunately, at this time, I had to say goodbye to the guys. It was a
moment I'll never forget. And according to a secret source (haha), the candy
made it onto the guys' bus! I really appreciated their kindness, and I was
getting way too much love during the concert.

When can I see them again?  Stay tuned...

xx<3Ellis.

PS> School officially started on August 28th so I may not be posting for a while as I focus very hard on my studies for awhile.. wink.

Camp Wicosuta

This year was my first year at summer camp. I went to a camp called Wicosuta, or Wico for short. I made really good friends from all over the country. One of my best friends Maddie is from Charlotte, NC. My other friends Jessica and Jessica are best friends from Stamford, CT.

I was in the play, The Aristocats. I played the part of Marie. 

On visiting day, which is also my birthday, my parents brought Hershey bars for me to give out to my friends. Camp is so fun! I have already signed up for next year and can’t wait to go back!

Wrapped Hershey’s, Camp & My Ipod

Alright, I want EVERYBODY reading this blog to go to THEHUSHSOUND.COM because we are talking about perhaps one of the greatest overlooked bands you could know. They’re on the same label as Fall Out Boy and Panic! At the Disco (favorites of mine), and I discovered them through Wikipedia. The band consists of two lead singers, a girl (Greta, my new idol!), and a guy. They’re extremely creative and both have amazing voices and lyrics.  I’m spreading the Hush Love. My dad claims that all they do is say “SHHHHHHHHHHH.” No. Ha ha.

So, to add Carson-ness to this blog, at the end of summer camp, I gave out chocolate bars. They’re purtyful.

Camp was really fun. I’d talk about it, but this blog article would seem much too long. Which is kind of stupid for me because I like writing really short blog articles. Ha. I’m such a procrastinator. Well, I’ll go on about my friends. A list, perhaps.

Alex N.
Alex W.
Ali
Emma
Hannah G.
Hannah W.
Isabel
Lily
Madi
Rachel
Rachael
Raquel
Sophie

Alphabetical order. I’m so cool. :-D

REMEMBER THE HUSH SOUND!

xx<3Ellis.

Cupcakes and Icing

Today I was at the grocery store with my mom and we saw some cake batter. We then decided that we were going to make cupcakes for dessert. I let them cool before I put icing on them. Hershey’s icing!

Let me just tell you they are great! I hope you can be patient enough for next month’s blog post!

Photography and Marvin Lewis

This is Ellis’

Every once in a while, I find a new awesome hobby to take over my life for about five days. My newest? Photography. And this one I LOVE. It's so incredibly different, because you can do so many things with it. I've taken loads of pictures so far. My cat Mocha, my lil' sis Chase, my mom's foot (bah ha ha ha), cupcakes, orchids, and an action figure have become pictures.

Gorgeous pictures by yours truly.

I have also taken a  picture of two candy bars that Carson wrapped from the Marvin Lewis Golf Tournament.

We went to it last Sunday, and, well, let's just say I'm so jealous of my dad. HE MET CHAD JOHNSON! He's my HERO for catching that really long catch in the Chargers game last season (best half I've ever seen for the first, worst for the second). Not to mention HE WAS IN A COMMERCIAL WITH RASCAL FLATTS! MY FAVORITE BAND! But I did meet Marvin Lewis for the second time in my life. He gave me a hug! Man, he's so awesome. Incredibly nice. And Coach Sheppard (Wide Receivers Coach) is going to make sure he has a great season catching even more long bombs. I love these connections. I really do.

Well, I'm going to go take more pictures.

xx<3Ellis.

PS: I know Jordin won American Idol. I'm so sad. I remain a Blaker
Girl.

My Chocolate Cats

My name is Chase Frederick and this is my first blog article that I will be writing for Carson. I’m not really sure what to write, but I’ll try to figure it out. I have two cats named Coco and Mocha so that goes with the chocolate theme. I got Coco for my birthday and we got Mocha because we thought that Coco wanted a buddy. We chose their names because they both have chocolate brown fur. They are Burmese and Coco is 3 and Mocha is 2. They are half sisters from Atlanta, Georgia. I will probably tell you more about them when I write more for the blog. Thanks for reading this article!!!

El Blogo

Hello, my name is Ellis Frederick. I'm thirteen years old and I am the daughter of the owners for Carson. The first one (and the better one, I think).

To introduce myself, I will use a survey that I made up. It shall reveal much, but you won't know much until I really start blogging.

Facts
Full Name: Ellis Anne Frederick
Gender: Female, HECK YEAH!
Occupation: 7th Grader
Birth Date: 11/13/93
Age: 13... durrrrr.
Income: $20 per every 6 months (because my parents never pay me my allowance
(I'm hinting something, mom!)
Eye Color: Hazel
Hair Color: Auburn with blonde highlights
Height: 5'1"
Shoe Size: 7, depending on the brand
Pets: Two female cats named Coco and Mocha
Household Members: Sharon (mom), Scott (dad), Chase (sister)

Favorites
Color: Blue, lighter shade prefered
Number: 13
Fruit: Apple
Vegetable: None, are you kidding?
Candy: BUTTERFINGERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRS
Movie: Cars
Band: Rascal Flatts
Duo: The Veronicas, The Wreckers
Female Singer: Jordan Pruitt, Carrie Underwood
Male Singer: Justin Timberlake, John Mayer
Song: Candyman - Christina Aguilera

Basically, you'll learn more as we go on. Well, more later. I have a life to live to the fullest.

xx<3Ellis