There are Friends and Then There are Friends Who Become Family.
A true lifelong friend is one who brightens your day, makes your smiles bigger, and is by your side through the good, the bad, and the ugly (cough cough, the Ex-Lax chocolate debacle😲😆).
Side note, this is not a typical Happy Friday post where we feature awesome reader pics with great tips and ideas! Today I wanted to do something different and celebrate friendship… and a new baby! 👶❤️
I first met my dearest friend and Hip sidekick, Erica over 10 years ago when both of our hubbies were in the Marine Corps. She started out babysitting my kids who were little at the time. I had my hands full, and was trying to juggle a business that I didn’t really even know was a business at the time (Hip2Save!) and family life, and let’s just say I really needed some help! Enter sweet Erica… 🥰
Although we hired her to help out with the kids, she quickly became a big part of our family, and looking back, it seems like our strong friendship grew almost overnight.
Isn’t it so amazing when you meet someone and immediately feel that sister friendship bond?!
When Hip2Save really started to take off years & years ago, Erica actually became part of our Hip team and has been by my side ever since – and I seriously don’t know what I would do without this goofy, energetic, and loyal friend in my life!
We ate Ex-Lax chocolate together and it was not a pretty situation. 💩
We’ve made so many amazing memories and I still get a good laugh out of all of the hilarious selfies and silly pictures we’ve taken together over the years. And I’ll NEVER forget the Ex-Lax and socks incident (by the way, if you need a good laugh, go read the full story over here– well, if you’re ok with poop talk)! 💩🤣
We’ve been couponing buddies since the beginning, but our friendship goes way beyond bargain-hunting and chit-chat. Erica is my soul sister. ❤️
She’s not just a dear friend to me, she’s been such a big part of my kid’s lives and loves them like they’re her own. It’s not every day you find someone so special who makes such an impact on you and your family, and I’m so so thankful for this incredible woman.
I’m also extremely excited for her right now, as she is about to welcome her third child into the world! I am filled with love, joy, and all kinds of other emotions right now as she prepares to meet her new little one, so I wanted to take this time to give her a shoutout and send all the happy vibes her way!
When Erica had her first child seven years ago, she sent me the cutest video of her dancing with her big belly, and as tradition goes, she surprised me with another one this week and I’ve gotta say, this mama has still got moves! 🤣💃
Go see for yourself on my Instagram stories!
Anyways, friends like these don’t come around very often so if you have an Erica in your life, make sure you let them know how much they mean to you. Life’s too short to not let the people we love dearly know how important they are to us! 🤗
Erica, you are one in a million and I’m so lucky to call you my friend AND work with you every day. Me and the rest of the Hip team are thinking about you and sending you and your bundle of joy all the love and support! 💕
UPDATE: Her sweet baby boy arrived! ❤️
HAPPY FRIDAY!
Do you have a funny, “Hip”, or unique tip to share?! Fill out our Happy Friday form. Every Friday, we post one submission by a Hip2Save reader (view past submissions) that gives us a glimpse into their frugal lifestyle or simply makes us smile. If yours is published on Hip2Save, we’ll email you a $10 Amazon eGift card!
Great post! Any chance she wants to share where she picked up the espresso blanket ladder?
I’m honestly not sure, and since she’s not available at the moment ❤️👶, here’s a similar one available on Amazon – https://amzn.to/3r0PeL9
Super sweet post! Great way to start the weekend on a positive note! 🥰
😍❤️🙌
Definitely a feel good happy Friday post… so many blessings all around. safe delivery and speedy recovery for mommy and baby
Thank you so much… I will share your sweet message with her. ❤️
Oh, the onions…my eyes…!!! This is so sweet. Congrats on the new baby!!
Thank you… I will definitely pass along these sweet messages to Erica. ❤️
Aww this is so sweet. Congrats to her!
My kids have more “aunts” and “uncles” then blood ones. Sometime we are lucky enough to choose our family. Congrats on the newest addition to be.
Thank you so much! We will make sure to let Erica know!
Solid friends make the world a much better place…❤️
This is so very true. ❤️
Lol , I also agree that Erica is the best friend a girl can have – and I have never met her, but I see her in Walmart Wednesday posts and I can just tell ❤️Is it the smile , the eyes??? Who knows 😉 ——congratulations too !!!
Awwww… it’s both! 😍 She’s the best!
That was lovely ☺️. Lives well lived and loved can only be applauded. 😊
❤️
Such a great post! Congrats Erica!!
I enjoyed your story of your friendship on Instagram stories – and loved the video of her dancing! Friends are a huge blessing in life!
I so agree Julie. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. ❤️
Congratulations, Erica! 🥳 👶🏼
What a sweet post! Thankful for each and everyone of the hip2save crew! 🥰
Thanks so much KB! 🤗
Thank you for sharing this. I got misty-eyed reading it and seeing that precious newborn picture. Life is certainly too short…relationships that are irreplaceable are to certainly be celebrated!
Love, love, love your comment and I couldn’t agree more. 🙌
Great Post!! Congratulations Erica!!!
🥰💕❤️ aww congratulations Erica!! And to be honest I always thought she was your sister! Friendship is the strongest bond.. I have met my best friend when I was 4 that was 33 years ago..
Awww… love that you thought we were sisters! And so amazing how long you and your best friend have known each other. ❤️
Oh my goodness what a sweet little guy! That face ❤ Congratulations!
Super sweet post. Thank you for sharing. And congratulations to Erica for her sweet baby boy.
This was an amazing tribute to Erica! And a confirmation that you receive what you put out into the world, Collin!!! You bless so many lives, it’s only fair that you received Erica to bless yours! 😍🤗 Congrats Erica on the baby!!! What a warm & fuzzy Friday post! ♥️
Thank you for the kind words… I will for sure pass along to Erica too! ❤️
What a blessing! Thank you for sharing 🙂
A wonderful post about your close friend Erica. Erica congrats on your baby boy to this world. I have a best friend that is a joy part of my life. I have a small circle of friends are my strong support system.
Having a circle of friends is the BEST!
So sweet! It’s HARD to find friends in adulthood. Yours is a special friendship, and it’s so beautiful. Congrats on that adorable new baby!!
Congratulations Erica on the newest bundle of joy!!! Thank you for sharing a beautiful story of your friendship!
Congrats Erica!! Some of the greatest friends I have are the ones I met while my husband served in the military. There’s just a bond us military wives have that no one else can understand. It’s instant family forever ❤️❤️
Yes, yes, yes!!! ❤️
This is a beautiful post. Congratulations Erica!
Congratulations on the beautiful baby boy, Erica! Such a beautiful story of an amazing friendship.
This really made me smile, but also sad that I don’t have an Erica in my life. Happy for all of you that do 😊
Wow….!!! That is Awesome…!! What a fantastic post and the love it shows…!!👍❤️😊
Thank you so much for being a part of the Hip community, Karbear52!
All females need good friends like Erica. To ground us, talk us down from the proverbial ledge and to make allow us to be our true selves. What we need in an “Erica” is different for all of us. Congratulations on her beautiful boy.
How wonderful! Many blessings to her & her family! At 48, I’ve been friends with my BFF since 2nd grade. There’s just something about having that person in your life who you can’t fool! Lol Wishing you all a lifetime of laughs.
Such a beautiful tribute! Congratulations on the baby, Erica!!!
Amazing and beautiful! Love it! Good news and uplifting too!!
Such a sweet post! Congrats to Erica on the new baby!
How very sweet! Thank you for sharing ❤️
You’re welcome! 🥰
Love love love! Friendships like this are everything. Thank you for sharing such a sweet story. (Ps I actually starred following Hip2save forever ago all because when I first had my first son I regularly read the “Hooked on bargains” blog for all my baby purchases which then turned me onto your blog when she started working for H2S. Congrats on a special friendship and baby #3! Thanks for a decade of savings and laughs 🥰)
Aww, You’re SO very welcome! Thank YOU for the super sweet comment and for being a longtime reader! It sure means a lot. 🤗💕
(Call BFF ): hey ‘sup
BFF: oh not too much , you?
Me: come over, bring ex-lax
😂🤣😂😅