{Sarah O’Brien, Founder + Creative Director of the lifestyle blog, Connecticut in Style}

Happy Birthday Connecticut in Style! I need to take a moment to celebrate and I hope that you will celebrate with me. I blogged everyday for an entire year! Yahoo! This was the most challenging year of my life, but it was also the most gratifying. As I think back to my very first blog post (here) I was excited and a little apprehensive. Launching a lifestyle blog is like releasing a balloon. Once your fingers let go, you can’t get it back. You watch it float away and disappear into the internet and hope that it is headed somewhere really good.

I want to thank the loyal readers who have signed up to have Connecticut in Style sent to their inbox everyday. Please know how important you are to me and that your interest in this blog is what keeps me going. The first person who subscribed to my blog has also been my biggest cheerleader privately and publicly. Thank you Sonal Rajan for having my back. A year ago you gave me a card that says “BEGIN ANYWHERE” and I cherish it.

I can’t thank my wonderful book club enough; Alexi, Alicia, Jennie, Jessica, Kirstin, Lisa, Regina and Sonal for your unwavering support and optimism. I’d like to especially thank Jenn Record and Susan Ludwig, women who I met through the Junior League of Eastern Fairfield County, who quickly emerged to offered ideas and have provided consistent feedback. Your virtual “pats on my back” through emails and social media are warmly felt – and so appreciated.

To Mary Bentley, Cara Forgione, Kim Carr, Stephanie Covino, Mary Ann Degala-Parasio, Christine McLaughlin Wegener, Lisa Sugarman Costello, Patty Kustom, Charlene Stanley Hill, Megan Holland-Donofrio, Ruth Frank and Violet Bauks – thank you for your on-going encouragement.

Every one of these women has played a role in supporting me in different ways and I want you to know how grateful I am. You possess the strength and self-confidence to give freely of yourself and to be genuinely happy for someone. It’s a really nice quality to have.

To Kerry, Jackson and Catherine – my heart. Thank you for being part of this adventure. You all held props, took photos, sampled recipes and gave me the time and freedom to build my dream. And I get to live with you too.

xo,
Sarah