I’m so happy it’s Friday (and I’m sure you feel the same exact way). Some weeks feel like a month rolled into one…and this was definitely one of those. My friend and Branch client Mary Bee came to town so we spent Sunday and Monday exploring Portland, snapping silly photos and eating so much ice cream, pizza and pastries that I literally felt sick. We’re kindred spirits so even though I only see her twice a year, we always pick right back up where we left off. Aren’t those the best kinds of friends?

Did I mention that Mary Bee is the manager of Hidden Treasures? Why is that of importance? Well my friend, they source some of the most epic vintage in all of LA. This coat is a perfect example. Also of importance: the store has the original boat from Gilligan’s Island PROPPED UP ON THE ROOF. They take eccentricity to a whole new level and…I love them for it.

When a friend is in town, the first order of business is to catch up on news over coffee. We spent the afternoon sitting on the green couches in the Ace Hotel lobby, chatting away.

The next day, I showed Mary Bee around my neck of the woods in S.E. Portland. We strolled through cluttered antiques shops, tried on piles of questionable clothes and visited countless coffee shops and bars. It’s always so much fun to be a tourist in your own city.

Before she left town, Mary Bee surprised me with Roman Candle biscotti. Heaven in a bag. Really.

I’m thankful this week for the sun peeking out right as my friend arrived to town. I’m thankful for Salt & Straw ice cream. I’m thankful for Joey delivering lunch and dinner to my office during this crazy week of launching Blogcademy Online. I’m thankful for my mom who’s been ambitiously balancing both the Branch and Blogcademy books. And I’m thankful for Kat and Gala for hanging on during the highs and lows of the last 8 months as we planned, built and launched Blogcademy Online.

Launching a course of this size was no easy feat. Now that the launch has happened, I’m only now able to grasp what we pulled off. Having a course that’s completely digital means that everything has to run smoothly. It all has to make sense too, since you’re not there to explain it in person. And then there’s the task of showing what a digital course looks like….since it’s all digital. If you want to read more about what went on behind the scenes, check out this post.

If you’re in the middle of a big project yourself, hang in there. I know what it feels like to be in the thick of it, very far from the finish line. One thing that helped us tremendously was setting a firm launch date — a launch date that absolutely could not budge. The night before the launch, I was still making transcript edits and building promo graphics….because I knew there was no wiggle room. It was 100% worth it. Those projects are what add a richness to your life because there’s nothing better than being able to share your knowledge with others and teach them something that can potentially transform their lives. On that note, I love this quote:

“Your life should consist of more than commuting, working, eating, surfing the Internet, sleeping and watching TV. Your life should be filled with purpose-driven experiences and projects that bring excitement, passion, energy, and authentic meaning and joy into your life.” ― Richie Norton

Have a great weekend, everyone!