Gratitude.

I'm sitting here enjoying the rain outside, waiting for my husband to get ready to head to the studio with me and help me label and wrap all the awesome Wunder Budder stuff I will be making today.  And, I'm feeling grateful.  Deep down, just wholeheartedly thankful for everyone who helped me get to this point, and everyone who continues to give me their support.  I really love you guys, and I wanted to let everyone know how much you've done.  Maybe you didn't know, maybe you already did, I'm not sure.  Some of these things are part of my story, which I have yet to continue, but I just wanted to get this out.  Like, now, when I'm really feeling it.  I wasn't going to name names, but I just have to for some of you...

In no particular order.. my love and gratitude goes out to:

Midge from Green Clean who is a total inspiration to me.  She started and continues to run a successful home cleaning business using environmentally friendly products, and she did it all on her own.  When I was thinking about quitting school to do Wunder Budder full time, she was the only person who told me straight out to go for it.  Do what feels right.  And don't get me wrong.. I appreciate all the stay-in-school pep talks I got from many people, but my heart just wasn't in it anymore.  Midge encouraged me to follow my heart, and just take the risk.. figure it out later.  I felt like I was stuck in someone else's life, and her words helped me get back into myself.

My husband, who not only was ok with me using some of our savings as an initial investment for Wunder Budder, but when I told him I wanted to rent a studio, he said "go for it" without a thought.  Even when I explained the risks to him, he just wanted me to do it.  He's been amazingly supportive and I couldn't ask for a better husband and best friend to help me through this.

Friends like Elisa, who supported Wunder Budder through the slow times, before I was making it full time.. When I only had a new batch out a couple times a year and sold out quickly.. she took many opportunities to remind me that she "needed" (!) Wunder Budder and it pushed me to make more.  Maggie, who just keeps buying stuff, for herself and to give to others.. she's been my biggest customer so far (and one of the most delightful I must say.. delightful really did have to be said)!  Timm who told people "Wunder Budder saved my life" on more than one occasion.. Ok, Wunder Budder didn't really save anyone's life, but those words just make me smile!  He tells everyone how much he loves it, and he always has a Firecracker (a Cinnatimm, as I once heard it called) or a Black in his pocket.  Jane, a stranger at the time, who tried out some Wunder Budder and then made a point to let me know that she loved it, and who then came back for more.  All my friends and family who have been helpful in spreading the word..  All who bought Wunder Budder at first just because it was mine, just because they wanted to support what I was doing (and people like Courtney and Meredith who essentially bought doubles of everything), and then kept buying stuff because they were not only being super supportive, but they also liked it!  Heidi for continuously asking me for more stuff, spreading the word through giving Wunder Budder as presents, and for the amazing words she gave me the other night.  Oh, and Hal!  I can't forget Hal, who I think has one of everything, and soon will have the bottle of Sunshine he paid for in advance (it's waiting for you in my lab-OR-a-tory).  Kristy for being so excited about Wunder Budder from the beginning... like, the very beginning, years back.  Thank you guys, it means a lot to me.  Really.  More than I can fully explain in one shortish blog.

Front Street Coffeehouse for... just so much.  Chris and Brenda, with all their experience, for first gently trying to talk me down from my spur of the moment studio rental idea, but then turning around and being awesomely supportive once I told them I did it.  For the advice, the help with the sink, for the counters and more.. the counter space at Front Street, and the continued support.. you guys are great!  Chris who continues to get on my ass for getting Wunder Budder into more stores (sometimes I need it!).  Maggie, Deirdre and the rest of the girls for telling people that Wunder Budder is great and helping spread the word both in person and online, and for offering your help in various things.  I love all you guys!

My mom, who once she got over the initial shock of me kinda sorta dropping out of school and spending a bunch of money she knew I really don't have on "starting" a business, has been endlessly supportive.  Every girl (with few exceptions) wants her mom's love and support, and I feel so lucky to have one that gives them to me.

Roost for approaching me to talk about them carrying Wunder Budder at their shop in Salem.  They took the scary out of my first wholesale sale, and I'm grateful for it.

I feel like I'm forgetting a lot.. So many of you helped in ways you probably didn't even realize.. all the fans on the Wunder Budder FaceBook fan page.. all of you that are interactive, talk and share the page.. all of you who sit back but are still there as fans.. everyone who reads this blog, checks the website.. Everyone who has ever bought Wunder Budder and helped me keep it going. 

Ok, so maybe this wasn't shortish.. I even feel like I could go on, but I'd be repeating myself.  Just, thanks guys.  Thanks for the support, thanks for the love, and thanks for helping me to believe that I can make this whole thing real.  Wunder Budder is still very young and I still have a lot of work to do to get where it will be self-sufficient (and then hopefully grow to support me), but you guys make it easier.

XoXo,
Lisa at Wunder Budder
http://www.wunderbudder.com/