Saying Hello To 40

Today I am 40. 

FORTY. 

Dude. Can I still say dude? Actually, don't answer that because I'll probably still do it anyway. 

Well, I'm writing this when I'm still 39. I imagine that tomorrow I will feel much like feel today which, like I wrote about last week, is pretty good. 

I'm celebrating with many of the people I love most and missing some that are far away. My Mom's here. Paolo's here for a few days. Aaron's around. The kids are here. People are taking care of me and helping me celebrate and I'm letting them. That's a big step in the right direction for me. 

Today I just want you to know how thankful I am for you. Thank you for being here and reading and supporting and signing up and cheering on and commiserating and asking good questions and encouraging and sharing and celebrating your own lives. Doing what I do has been a crazy, wonderful ride - one that I never expected to be part of my life experience. 

Here's to many more opportunities to celebrate where we are right this very minute with open hearts. 

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181 thoughts

  1. MariaElena says…
    11/05/2015

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALI!!!!
    40 is GREAT!
    Buon compleanno!

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Cookingmylife says…
    11/05/2015

    Happy Birthday! you really are loved by so many more than you noted. One of them is me! Keep being real as that's how we connect. :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Shannon_Primicerio says…
    11/05/2015

    Happy Birthday, Ali! Forty looks great on you and I hope you have a beautiful and happy year. Thank you for sharing your life with us and you help us get our stories told. While there are so many inspiring people in the scrapbook industry, you have been the single greatest influence for me. You're the first blog I read and the first products I purchase again and again. Thank you. Have a great day!

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. SusanBowers says…
    11/05/2015

    Happy Birthday, Ali!

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. LaLa2012 says…
    11/05/2015

    You already have plenty of wishes, but I'll throw mine in, too. May you enjoy a wealth of the happiest memories! Happy birthday and many, many more.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Kristin_A_ says…
    11/05/2015

    Wishing you a very happy birthday! You have such a positive impact on many more than you realize. All the best you today...and forever!

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. happytoscrap says…
    11/05/2015

    Happy Birthday, Ali! You are a joy!

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. mfgarc says…
    11/05/2015

    Happy Birthday, Ali! I hope the coming year is just wonderful for you!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. SuzMannecke says…
    11/05/2015

    So happy you had an amazing birthday filled with family and friends Ali! Here's hoping you will reunite with faraway loved ones soon! Take care you. Suz

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Laurie_Anne says…
    11/05/2015

    Oh Ali!! Love and embrace 40! I think it is such a great age! At 40 you are experienced enough to understand life, love, and yourself--while still being youthful! Love the decade of your 40's -- enjoy this age, really. Next year I'll be 60! Eek! I remember when my mum turned 65 and she said "I know I'm old now, but I don't feel it. I still feel like I'm in my early to mid-twenties!" That has stayed with me all these years, as a testament to how unimportant numbers are -- my mum stayed young right to the end, while being authentically who she was regardless of age number. As 60 looms near, I try to keep her in mind! Happiest of Birthdays! Embrace!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. JenHart says…
    11/05/2015

    Many happy returns of the day Ali (as we say in deepest North Devon , England :-) )
    I will never be able to tell you how much your story means to me. Your personal mantra of the width and breadth resonates, your go-person-go cheer is replicated with my gang, your thoughtfulness, your understanding and sharing of your strengths and edges and your work on them makes me stop and think, your wonderful scrapbooking and creativity inspires...but the way you are dealing with your divorce and difficulties have helped me do better. My whole family and friends and colleagues get a better experience of me due to the lessons I learn from you sharing. For that I extend the thanks of us all and I wish you an amazing new decade on behalf of us all. I doubt I need to advise you, but as a nearly 42 year old I have really found a wonderful phase of my life and I am enhancing it with a kick-ass bucket list for my forties. So if you haven't done it,I recommend, I am loving my progress.
    Your mum's hair is just splendid. I have seen recent photos of it and it is still splendid! Your photo is gorgeous, what a lovely family you have and what a great photo to have :-) happy birthday again and I hope you are spoiled as you well deserve after the wonderful spoiling you do for yours.

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. kim21673 says…
    11/05/2015

    Happy Birthday!!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. wendywhitten says…
    11/05/2015

    Happy, Happy Birthday!

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. katiedidit says…
    11/05/2015

    Happy Birthday! I admire your approach to life and all that it entails. Don't worry about saying "Dude". I still say "kiddo". So you know I'm past 40. And life is still good. Just gets better and better. Enjoy your day!

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. platoj says…
    11/05/2015

    I am 46, and I drop, "Dude," frequently. Welcome to the decade, young one. It is an interesting adventure.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Maggie_Zygo says…
    11/07/2015

    Happy life anniversary! Celebrating YOU, Ali!! You deserve nothing but the best, and as a woman who will turn 40 this coming February, I remember what an absolute privilege it is to get older~one that too many don't have. Couldn't love you more!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. scraptician says…
    11/07/2015

    Happy happy happy birthday, Ali.

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. amandacarey says…
    11/07/2015

    Happy Birthday Ali, thank you being such an open and real person who shares her life with a world of strangers. You leave a positive mark on peoples lives all around the world xxx

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. ginaegg says…
    11/08/2015

    Hope you had a great day, Ali! I turned 50 just a couple of months ago. :) It was a big one, but not as big as my 40th...when I was pregnant with my 3rd child. (hahahaha...so much for all those cups that say "I'd rather be 40 than pregnant")

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. mmolloy says…
    11/08/2015

    Happy Birthday! Joyful to follow along with your journey!

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Anle717 says…
    11/09/2015

    Happy birthday Ali!! Thank YOU for endless inspiration & always pushing me on the right track with my own scrapbooking & how to think more "story" to get the story told ;)

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. littletoki says…
    11/10/2015

    Happy belated birthday Ali!

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. junea says…
    11/10/2015

    Wow! Such a milestone birthday! Happy Birthday lovely lady. I've been enjoying your work since the beginning and I look forward to what great work you will share with us in the future.

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Frenchie says…
    11/11/2015

    Happy belated birthday, Ali! You have accomplished much more than most 40 year olds that I know/have known, and you have done it so beautifully! Embrace it!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. NinaChow says…
    11/12/2015

    Happy birthday Ali. You look fab! Being 40 is amazing.

    Reply 0 Replies

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