Dear Readers,

This article is a love-letter... to you!  Why?  Because today is our one-year anniversary and we couldn't have gotten here without you.

momready started like most of my projects, as an idea I had when I was lying in bed with the flu.  Although I felt lousy, my 102° temperature provided me with the only break I get from my busy schedule, and so my mind begins to percolate.

At the time, I had been itching to go back to work.  It was eight (8) years since I left my job as a TV producer to have children and become a stay at home mom.  I loved the years I spent at home with my kids and wouldn't have traded them for anything.  

But as they years went by and my kids got older, I began to dream about going back to work and starting a business.  Late last February, with my youngest child about to finish nursery school, I came down with a nasty flu which left me in bed for three days and voilà - momready was born.
By October, the site was up and running.  

The months between were filled with hours of research, meetings with designers, lots of writing and many hours on the phone with the owner of our brilliant host Site 51.  

Was my family thrilled with my new endeavor?  Not exactly.  Suddenly I wasn't available for everything everyone needed.  I was "always working" my kids whined, and although my husband completely supported my decision to start a business, I could see the strain on his face.  Indeed there was a long adjustment period.

Of course none of this ended with the launch of the site - in fact for the first three months it was worse.  Now I had actual deadlines and bills to pay.  The worst thing about it was this was all self-imposed.  What had I gotten myself into?

But then there was you -- our readers.  

When we started out, momready was a one-woman-in-her-bathrobe operation, and it was the wonderful emails I received that kept me going.  You wrote about how you loved the site, and how our articles had helped you.  Even the constructive criticism was a welcome sight to tired eyes.  You had great ideas that improved momready, and at least I knew someone out there was reading.  You were invested in my tiny site.  In other word, I wasn't alone.

The continued emails from Julie F., Rachel LM.,  Renee W., Marianne G, Irene N., Vicki SB., and Sharon O., among others, have been a big part of making our site a success.  I thank you and all of our readers from the bottom of my heart.

As a small token of my appreciation, today is a BIG giveaway day.  Instead of the normal couple of weekly giveaways - today we will be having twenty (20)! Keep your eyes out for an email later today announcing the winners.

So as this letter comes to an end, and my workday begins, I again want to thank you all for your continued support over the past year.  I don't know where momready is headed in the coming months,  but with you behind me I am confident that the future is bright.  


Best regards,
Elisa

©2006 photo istockphoto.com/Sandra O'Claire