I started Dear Wendy in January of this year with a couple of goals in mind. The first was to create a space where people could get advice, support, community engagement, and entertainment. The second goal — a more personal one — was to create a job for myself where I could do something I love and eventually be able to financially contribute to my household while having the flexibility to work at home and raise my future child(ren). After less than eight months, I’ve reached some of those goals already and am on my way to reaching the others, and for that I have you to thank. Thank you for your letters of encouragement, your comments, your constructive criticism, your behind-the-scenes tech help, your guest columns, your His Take contributions, your relationship questions, your post-advice updates, and for being part of the DW community.
Because of you, traffic has exceeded my expectations at this point in the game, and I’m already beginning to make a (small) profit. But as I gear up to have a baby (five and half more weeks!), and look forward to taking some time off to adjust to new motherhood, I need to keep up the momentum and continue pushing the site forward. And you can help! Here are seven ways you can support Dear Wendy:
1. I just added a “Support Dear Wendy” button, a virtual tip jar, at the top of the right sidebar. If you’re a fan of the site, consider donating a few bucks to show your love. Money will go towards hosting fees, my photo budget, future re-designs, advertising costs and Tootsie Rolls for me.
2. Link to the site in your blogroll. Increasing the number of incoming links that Dear Wendy gets makes it more attractive to potential advertisers.
3. Spread the word: “Like” posts on Facebook, share links on Twitter, and tell your friends to check out Dear Wendy.
4. Visit and make a purchase from my affiliates.
5. Submit a pitch for an essay, article, or fun list to publish while I’m taking time with the new baby (I have enough guest columnist submissions now, thank you.).
6. Send me links of relationship-themed articles or funny videos you find around the web so that I can share them on the site.
7. Keep being awesome.
![\"\"](\"https://d5nxst8fruw4z.cloudfront.net/atrk.gif?account=r/y/j1a0Sn00OI\")
lets_be_honest September 15, 2011, 11:07 am
This is really exciting and I’m glad you’re giving us readers a way to pay you back for all you do. I’m big on gift giving, and thank you gifts, so I’m glad you’re offering this.
lets_be_honest September 15, 2011, 11:09 am
It actually crossed my mind a couple months ago that wouldn’t it be cool if you linked your baby registry. Is that weird? It sounds weird.
pinkjellyfishy September 15, 2011, 11:20 am
Perhaps some type of registry for an unlimited amount of diapers sent to you by fans! You can never have enough diapers, right? …Is that weird, too?
Wendy September 15, 2011, 11:19 am
We’ve been so lucky to have generous friends and family pass along and gift us with lots of baby stuff, so we don’t need too much at this point. I did think about how the DW community could sort of “adopt” an expectant family in need though. I researched it a little bit, but couldn’t find what I was looking for. There are always all sorts of gift drives for the holidays, but someone needs to set up a baby registry website for families in need. Or maybe there already is one and I just couldn’t find it. Anyone know?
lets_be_honest September 15, 2011, 11:29 am
That’s a great idea. I’ve “adopted” families in need at Christmas time. Usually, local churches and police stations can provide you with a particular family to buy childrens’ gifts for. And there’s always toys for tots, too.
MsMisery September 15, 2011, 1:11 pm
Or you could tell us what charities you like, and Readers could donate on behalf of Young Jasper! (No Human Funds, plz).
MsMisery September 15, 2011, 1:12 pm
BTW, I meant like the Costanza-esque Human Fund. Not funds that suport humans. That typed wrong and I can’t find the edit -__-
Budjer September 15, 2011, 1:28 pm
Sort of like….”TBD”?
6napkinburger September 15, 2011, 2:26 pm
You hate humans? for shame…
Wendy September 15, 2011, 1:26 pm
I’m a big fan of Kiva.
honeybeenicki September 15, 2011, 1:43 pm
I have never heard of Kiva, but I was perusing the website and I love the concept!
Wendy September 15, 2011, 2:12 pm
It’s great — I highly recommend it. My other favorite charity is the animal shelter in chicago where I used to volunteer and where I adopted Miles.
Elizabeth September 15, 2011, 2:35 pm
Paws? treehouse?
Wendy September 15, 2011, 2:55 pm
Treehouse!
Elizabeth September 16, 2011, 9:39 am
Nice!
honeybeenicki September 15, 2011, 4:21 pm
I’ve been perusing all of the available borrowers and have also routed the website around all my email lists and social media.
honeybeenicki September 15, 2011, 11:38 am
I’m always happy to help someone get Tootsie Rolls 🙂
melikeycheesecake September 15, 2011, 11:42 am
5 and 1/2 weeks!!! Yay! Can’t wait to see pics of Mr. Cutie!
I’ll do what I can to help!
MissDre September 15, 2011, 12:17 pm
Me too!
Elizabeth September 15, 2011, 11:49 am
if you give us a PO Box, we could all send you tootsie rolls! (in properly sealed packaging of course.
And THIS of course must be your child’s halloween costume
http://www.stupid.com/tootsie-roll-baby-costume.html
silver_dragon_girl September 15, 2011, 11:58 am
OMG that’s so cute!
Elizabeth September 15, 2011, 12:13 pm
I know, right? There are so many cute baby costumes.
Also, Carters at the outlet mall is a complete TRAP! I know so many people have bebes that I went in there and thought i would just browse. 100 bucks later…so damn cute
silver_dragon_girl September 15, 2011, 2:32 pm
Oh, Carter baby clothes are soooo adorable. Someone I know needs to hurry up and have a baby so I can have an excuse to buy some!!
MissDre September 15, 2011, 12:15 pm
Hahaha I love it!
Addie Pray September 15, 2011, 12:04 pm
Tootsie Rolls are so weird, don’t you think? I mean, what are they? Candy? Chocolate? Make up your mind, Tootsie Roll!
honeybeenicki September 15, 2011, 12:13 pm
And then you get into the whole confusion of the Fruity Tootsie Rolls.
amber September 15, 2011, 1:37 pm
i’ve never been a fan of the chocolate tootsie rolls but i love the fruity ones! i used to get so excited at halloween when i found them in my bag!
honeybeenicki September 15, 2011, 1:41 pm
I like pretty much all forms of Tootsie Roll, but I must admit I am partial to the fruity ones. I just don’t like the vanilla ones. Yuck.
silver_dragon_girl September 15, 2011, 2:33 pm
Me tooo! The lemon ones are the best. EVER.
Addie Pray September 15, 2011, 3:11 pm
I would get home from trick-or-treating and immediately sort my candy into piles. I always gave the tootsie roll pile to my mom. (I know, I’m such a giver.)
thyme September 15, 2011, 1:21 pm
I honestly didn’t know that there are people who like Tootsie Rolls. You learn something new every day!
Budjer September 15, 2011, 2:39 pm
I heard a rhyme as a kid once that detailed how they were made and it wasn’t too appealing.
Addie Pray September 15, 2011, 3:09 pm
Do tell!
Groovekitten September 16, 2011, 12:53 pm
If you want to post a funny video, it must be this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uBZRE5mXpc