Girls Trip

Oh my heart...looking back at these pictures are giving me all the happy feels.

We started our annual girl's trip for my 40th birthday, and have been going strong ever since.

I had been in a very dark place emotionally for the past few months, and honestly didn't even feel like going anymore, didn't want to be around people, and just stay in the dark hole I had buried myself in.

I figured, if anything, it will give me a chance to relax, read my book, and I knew no one would even blink an eye, if I needed alone time during the trip, but I couldn't have been more wrong about the weekend that was about to unfold.

I hardly drink, maybe five times a year at most, but my dear friend Becky and I started the weekend with some drinks on the beautiful patio of the home we had rented in Prescott, Arizona. She is my ride or die, and I'm so grateful for her.

It was a smaller group than usual, and while I initially was a little worried about it, it ended up being the perfect group and I think we all loved that it wasn't a huge group like it has been in years before.

The first night, we cooked at home, had drinks, caught up with each other, read, and just relaxed. The house was absolutely perfect, it was so beautiful and for the first time ever, we each got our own room.

Morning mimosas!

There were so many trees, the weather was gorgeous, and we even saw a family of deer just casually strolling through our yard.

We made a big charcuterie board for lunch and there was so much laughter, my abs hurt and there were tears streaming down my face. 

We all took an afternoon nap (I fell asleep in the hammock), and when I woke up I watched the beautiful sunset on the patio with my book. PERFECTION!

We initially had planned to go out for drinks and dinner, but we were all happy to just stay in, so we ordered dinner, played some games, and went into the hot tub.

And just like that, it was our last morning together. The air was cool, we snuggled up with blankets outside, drank coffee, read our books or chatted, and it was everything I didn't know I needed and more.

We were all sad to leave, and every year we say that we need to stay longer next time.

We ended up having lunch in town, did some shopping, and then went home to our families.

This weekend set my soul on fire. I didn't remember the last time I felt so happy, so loved, so completely relaxed, and it was so good for my heart and filled my cup. I am beyond grateful for these friendships that we formed over the last 12 years, and I can't imagine my life without these beautiful women in it.