One of the biggest things I’ve learned over the past year is a very deep understanding of the importance of friends.
This past weekend featured an adventure to Portland to get together with some of those good friends (many of which were attending or speaking at Chris Guilbeau’s World Domination Summit).
There was lots of talking (and more talking), eating, getting together with other friends, and then we went paddle-boarding on Sunday morning in the Willamette River.
It was a refueling emotionally and creatively and physically (loved going paddle-boarding for the first time).
To top it off I got to reconnect with an old friend I haven’t seen in years.
And I felt so darn happy all weekend long.
Here’s to finding the fun parts of yourself again.
What an awesome, awesome weekend for you, Ali. Isn’t it wonderful to have the opportunity to be with other women and enjoy a special time and especially important for a busy mom! Laughter, talks, sharing…all precious!
now you being happy actually makes me happy today!
So glad you got to go be with friends! There is nothing better then that! You look so stinkin’ cute in all these pictures:) Love the stripe dress! Super cute!!
so glad you had a wonderful weekend!!
WOW! Gorgeous, awesome photos! SO happy to see YOU happy! And love love love your ‘do in the stripe-y dress shot at the bottom. You have the prettiest hair! {{{sigh}}}
Keep smiling, sweet girl!
Sounds fantastic!
Beside of all i just want to say: you look gorgeous! Its wonderful to see you smile after a lot of reflectively and melancholic posts and photos. Makes me a happy, too.
Marit
Yes, it’s been a really hard year.
Friends are the best !
I love the photo of you on the dock. You can see the absolute joy on your face, so glad that you are in a great place. Many blessings to the entire Edwards clan!
You look lovely and rested and happy! So glad to hear you had a great weekend.
You’re beautiful!
Friends are a wonderful thing & it looks like you had a fabulous weekend.
Love it! Thanks for the reminder to get out and have fun with friends. On my list this week to plan some fun stuff!
So very happy for you! You look great!
you seem younger!!!! thi is the right way!!
I’m so pleased you had a rejunivating and most importantly, happy time this weekend.
Yay, Ali!
Wonderful!
Hear hear!
Loved reading this and feeling your happiness exude from this post
. You look amazing! And so happy. Love that dress…
So great that you got to go paddle boarding. I love Portland, especially Voodoo doughnuts.
Has anyone told you how dang hot you are lately? Well if not, let me remind you. xo.
Love it! Great to hear you had such a fabulous weekend and really enjoyed yourself. Sounds like your summer (with the kids at the beach and your parents) is going wonderfully! Continue to have fun!
You know when you forget that there is a fun part of yourself, that it is time to go and find it! So glad you had that opportunity!
That’s exactly what i’ve been doing – it’s awesome.
Awesome Ali – enjoy your life!!!
EXTREMELY happy for YOu Ali!
you deserve to be happy!
glad you are able to have great friends
and see them and do new things!
tara
Here’s to happiness!!
I’m so happy that you have good dear friends in life who can share in joyful, new and comforting experiences with you. In difficult times, those are part of the sustenance that can carry us through.
friends are the best! so happy to hear that you had an awesome weekend:)
So glad you found the ” fun parts of yourself” again!
You look so beautiful! Glad you had a great weekend!
Oh I can relate!! I recently took a baking class and was totally happy about being around people who love to bake too. I plan on taking CE classes also. So Excited!!!
Yay for you! Women friends are so important, they truly soothe the soul. So glad to see you thriving and come through a challenging time. You look happy and beautiful in these photos!
i just realized that 1st picture is a reflection in a baby mirror. awesome!
Glad to see you so happy. I treasure my time with girlfriends too. Love the Atlanta Braves hat (although I know the A is probably for Ali).
Nice…just very nice!!!
yay!! so, so happy for you!!
such a pleasure to watch you come alive in this next chapter of your life.
xo
So very, very happy for you!
I’m so excited to see you living with such a smile on your face. Loving watching you dream big and living out your adventures. And the paddle boarding is oh so going on my list.
Awesome!! You look fabulous, too… Good on ya trying paddle boarding!
The conference sounds cool and you look really happy. What kinds of workshops do they do?
You look amazing in these pictures. Your love for your friends shines through in your photos. So glad you had an amazing weekend!
So happy for you Ali, you look gorgeous and happy!!
Ali, the joy on your face is priceless! You look like you are radiating happiness from within
I can totally relate. I split up with my partner of 13 years two years ago, it made me realise that I had neglected my friendships. It has been really hard trying to reconnect with people and forge new friendships but when it happens, oh man, it’s the best feeling!
Looks like you had a lovely weekend Ali! So very happy for you. LAst year was indeed rough one. Glad to see you smiling and looking radiant!
Take care you!
Suz
You look years younger! I did a double take.
It’s amazing what time with friends doing fun things can do for a person.
Looks like a great time! Friends are so important in our lives – I’m off to lunch with a good friend today.
This warmed my heart for you and brought a smile to my face. There truly is nothing like experiencing a day (or days) of pure joy, when so many days have been dark. Thank you for sharing your life with us!
Hi Ali,
I have lots of blog friends from all over the world and hope to be with them one day to meet and craft together. Friends are the best even when they aren’t near by.
Thought you might like my post today, it’s about me and my friend from Australia and what we did together but from two countries to celebrate our friendship.
I actually met her thru your blog and we’ve been friends for over a year now.
Hope your day is a good one!
Dawn
http://everydaymemorieswithprojectlife.blogspot.com
Sounds like Stella may be getting her groove back! Keep moving forward. Always forward, never straight.
LOVE!!!