This post is sponsored by L’Occitane, however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

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As I become older (and wiser!), I have learned that friendships are more and more important these days. I soon realized this when I was no longer in college and working a regular nine to five job, and opportunities to meet new people (outside of work) became really difficult to come by. After college I moved up to Boston where I knew no one besides my boyfriend at the time. It became difficult to A) Meet new people and be accepted into their already established “friendship circle” and B) find the time to actually go out and meet people since working basically becomes your life. This is when I really started to understand the true value of having a “best friend.” Being up in Boston, I just wanted to hang out with someone who already knew me, someone who understood my humor and sarcasm, knew my history and even knew something about my family members. I didn’t want to go out on that first awkward “friendship date” with someone and run down the list of first date type questions, because honestly, it was exhausting. I met a lot of amazing people while I was up in New England for the 10 years I was there and still have people in my life up there that are like family members to me. These were people who really took me in while I was on my own up there and became great friends of mine, but there really is something to be said about that one person who you’ve been friends with for over 15 years and who just “gets you.”

This is my best friend, Doria. We have been friends since high school and have had some pretty fun and amazing times in this lifetime together. She is someone I can always rely on (like getting her to do a photoshoot with with me, ha!), someone I can trust with all things sacred and most importantly, be myself with. I don’t have to put on a front when I’m with her or try to impress her, because she already knows me. She’s seen me laugh, she’s seen me cry, and she lets me complain to her whenever I need someone to just listen. Over the years I have learned many things about Friendships, but here are 7 Things I Have Learned About Adult Friendships:

1. You have to make time. Life gets busy, people get married and have kids, but this no excuse to let your friendships fall by the wayside.
2. Its ok to end friendships.?Because of #1, I have realized that I get very little time to actually spend with friends as an adult, so I would rather hold onto the friendships that really matter to me and put all my efforts into those relationships. Its ok to end friendships, ?and only keep people around who do your soul some good!
3. We need friends of all ages. I have so many friends that vary in age and seriously, age is just a number. Having friends of different ages has really helped me grow as a person and see things from other perspectives.
4. Call Your friend.? In this day and age of texting, things get lost in translation sometimes. Texting is great for quick messages to people, but picking up the phone and takin the time to talk to someone can really show you care.
5. Friendship is always a give and take.?There might be periods of time that you are constantly being there for your friend (she gets married, you attend the shower, the wedding, etc.) but your time will come too. Friendship is not about keeping track, its about giving and receiving
6. Show up.? This goes back to #5, but the single most important thing you can do in a friendship is to show up. Go to all of those important events for someone, even though you might not feel like it sometimes.
7. Forgive.?I have really hard time forgiving people sometimes. As I’ve gotten older, I feel like life is too short for drama or unkindest, but it is also important to forgive those that really matter to you.

I recently took Doria with me to a L’Occitane store and as we walked in, she told me “I have never used their products before.” L’Occitane is my favorite skincare product line and I really couldn’t believe she had never tried a product ?line that I loved so much! As her friend, I felt like it was my responsibility to introduce her such an amazing skincare line. L’Occitane is actually doing a “Share the Love” program right now where you can gift someone (or they can gift themselves) a free mini gift set and no purchase is necessary!

The mini gift set includes some of my favorite items; the Divine cream, the Almond Delicious Hand Cream and the?Aromachologie Repairing Shampoo. You can get your own mini gift set (plus 20% off any purchase the same day) by going here!

One of my favorite things about the Almond Delicious Hand Cream is the smell! I love the fresh smell of almonds and how the hand cream moisturizes without leaving a greasy residue. It is perfect for using on the go and I keep a tube of it in both my car and in my handbag. ?The Aromoachologie Repairing Shampoo is one of my favorite products too, because it helps repair my poor colored and heat processed hair. The Divine Cream is new to me, but I am excited to use it because it has quite the reputation! It has been described as their “best selling, award-winning “miracle” cream that helps fight visible signs of aging. ” I have been using the cream for the past two weeks and my face has felt and looked really moisturized, which is going to be even better for me once the weather gets cold.

Having good friends in your life is really important, but I have also learned that so is being a good friend in return. Doria and I both have a mutual respect and understanding of this, and I truly believe it is why we have been friends for so long! Friendships are not one-way streets, so its important that you are giving your friendships the same treatment would like to receive in return. As life gets busier and busier and families grow, friendships take work. Hold onto to the ones that you have and don’t forget to share the love!