Five years ago I was working from home, writing copy, putting together presentations, compiling articles for industry newsletters and you know, surfing the web. In reality I was doing more web surfing then anything else and it was there that I found my two happy places – Twitter and Mamamia.
Mamamia and Twitter were inextricably linked for me – the friends I met on Mamamia were the friends I saw in my Twitter feed. We were taking Mamamia to Twitter and taking our new friendships back to Mamamia like a perfectly formed circle of conversation.
I commented on Mamamia a lot (l’ve always had a lot to say). I commented enough for Mia to notice me and to start talking to me on Twitter as well. It was more than 4 years ago – both Twitter and Mamamia were much smaller.
In a glorious turn of events Mia reached out to me, the very gorgeous and gifted Kerri Sackville and the amazingly talented Amanda Whitely. We worked together scurrying around the back end of Mamamia for a short while before Amanda and Kerri went on their very successful ways and I went to work for Mia at Mamamia.
It was the dream job for me – I learned more than I could possibly have imagined I would ever know. I got to meet amazing people and experience extraordinary things. I was often bruised – just from pinching myself that it was actually my life I was leading.
The move to iVillage last year was a big step for me – I left the safety zone of the Mamamia community and I embraced iVillage with everything I had. And it was an amazing ride.
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But I’m getting off.
I resigned from Mamamia/iVillage yesterday with a heavy heart and an eternity full of beautiful memories. Mia, Jason and the team at Mamamia – especially Nat, Nicky, Lucy, Bec and Rick (although he is no longer there) with whom I have shared SO much, have built me the perfect ramp from which to fly my coop. I need to spread my wings with these incredible memories , I need to fly to new places.
And even though my first foray into Mamamia was almost 5 years ago, it is testament to the strength of that early community that when I announced on Facebook that I was leaving, it was the people that I met all those years ago commenting on Mamamia as Sharpest Pencil, wishing me well.
Benita, Angela, Danya, Rachel, Emma, Julie, Amanda, Sandra and of course my very dearest Kerri* let’s raise our glasses to Welfington – hope we get there soon
*with a special mention to Miss Manly 😉
And let’s not forget that you’ll be fabulous at WHATEVER you do next. Even I’ve taken on Mia’s editorial style – notice the CAPS ?;) Matt xx
Matt – you are FABULOUS yourself xxxxxx
Oh Lana, I know how hard this must be but there does come a time to soar (and find unicorns!) and now you must… I thank you, dear Lana, for an amazing on-line (and yes, we did meet finally at Kerri’s first book launch!) friendship and journey. For me, those years ago in 2009 & 2010 via Mamamia I found friends. You and I emailed a bit & we cheered each other & I do think had a few tears over the unkindness of some commenters who went out of their way to cause pain to people who needed none! A true community spirit via twitter emerged for me as well. I met, after mamamia’s kind commenters, some people who’ve come to be friends (still!) on-line and off. Without Mamamia & encouragement from you…yes, you…I may never have ventured into blogging, which has now taken me further in this world of no-retirement via a happy mix of education roles including consultancy to pre schools, working with University of Western Sydney to help practice teachers and observing the standards in practice for NSW Institute of Techers. You, in so many ways, cared for me (and that loving man of mine!) so much. Please let’s keep in touch. I have always loved your “way with words” and long may you write!!! Love and hugs, Denyse xxxx
PS – some memories— choosing the front door colour (green?) …taking the pooch for walkies …cooking via Mamamia ( well it was Mia, but we know it was you!) …. The beautiful protective and loving mama of Ethan..sorry, LP.
Oh Denyse – you just made me cry. Thank YOU – for always being so supportive and protective. You deserve only happiness now and forever xxx
Lana if it weren’t for you I’m not sure I would have ever thought of writing in a professional capacity. I have a lot to thank you for, in particular the opportunity at the beginning and the gentle nudges along the way. I’ll miss you at MM & ivillage, you are always so kind and generous. xx
Kirsty – you are an amazing writer. Just amazing. One of my favourite parts of the morning is reading your posts when they come through to my inbox in the morning. You won’t miss me – you’ll find me here and on your blog FOREVER
It has been a pleasure Lana love. xxx
xxxxx always
I will forever be grateful that you were the first editor I ever came in contact with – the loveliest knock backs ever – as a writer this is a real and much appreciated skill 🙂
Can’t wait to see what kind of unicorns you unearth 🙂
xx
There were a lot more acceptances than knock backs. Love love love reading your work. xxx
Shhh. I’m still in denial.
Shut up – you will never get rid of me. I know where you live
and Gig?
GIG!!! Where are you??? I miss you!
Gig!!! How could I forget you GigDiary? Come out of hiding. Kerri and I miss you
OH MY GOD!!! Miss Manly!!!!! Dear Miss Manly, if you are reading this, Lana, Amanda & I owe it all to you.
Lana, the biggest love. And a lifetime of friendship. xxxxxxxx
You have been my number one Kerri – always will be
I’m a Mamamia old timer, and still check out the comments every now and then to see if Miss Manly might pop her head up again! LOL
Lana, thanks for publishing my posts on MM… your support and encouragement gave me the confidence to start my own website with Miss T (kikiandtea.com) as well as beginning my own journey in discovering and exploring my talents as a writer…
So, thanks once again, and good luck in all your future endeavours! 🙂
Thank you John James – how weird is it to me that your name needs to be John James to me not just John? Loving reading kikiandtea
That’s cool – you’re allowed to keep thinking of me as “JohnJames” 😉
I’m glad you are enjoying KK&T – it means a lot that you do… 🙂
Oh my goodness! You will be amazing wherever you go Lana, all the best x
I miss your beautiful words Anna – prepare to be stalked by me when and if I have some time (in the nicest possible way)
No way! Get out of town! It is certainly going to be different without your smiling face around those traps. Best of luck to you Lana, and I look forward to following your next adventures xxx
You’ll see me Mrs Woog – I spend way to much time on your site (and love every minute)
Cannot believe you are leaving! I was very sad when you made the jump to iVillage and now sad that you will be gone. I wish you all the best in this next stage of your life!
Thank you Monique and huge congrats on the engagement. I’ll be here at Sharpest Pencil till I am 98 so pop around more often
Thank you! I’m still buzzing! I will definitely be stopping by 🙂
Aww Lana it was YOU who was my first contact point at MM and I am forever grateful to you for giving me the opportunities. I wish you all the best for your new journey. Lots of love xx
Thanks so much Carly – it’s been awesome getting to know you
One of my great thrills was you asking me to write a piece (on quirky Christmas traditions) for MM. Thank you for reading and appreciating my words.
Best wishes for your future adventures
X
One of my greatest disappointments was not meeting you in Singapore – I feel like we should meet each other already. We’ve known each other for so long 🙂
Good luck Lana. You will be super fabulous at whatever you take on!
Thank you Fleur xxx
Oh Lana, you will be missed as you were always the integral cog in the works at Mamamia and iVillage. Good luck to you in all your future endevours. And it is so nice to see people I thought had dropped off the face of the planet here! xx
Thank you so much for your lovely words. Hope to see you at Sharpest Pencil much more often
So sad to see you go Lana. I think it was a special time 5 years ago when we all “met” on Mamamia. Those conversations, both on MM and also Twitter, pulled me out of a horrible rut and allowed me to ask questions of myself I’d never asked before. I cherish that time and sometimes am sad that MM got so big. But I can’t be too sad because it’s huge success meant the rise of people like you, Rick, Kerri, Amanda…the list goes on. I hope you stay around on FB, congratulations on everything the last 5 years has brought you, and good luck with the next phase of your life.
PS – Hi Gig!! Where you been???
Benita – you need to stop commenting on my post and start writing your own blog or book. The world needs to read your words!
I will be here and on Facebook in between waiting for your blog to come up!
P.S How cool was it to see Gig pop up?
I’m working on it. I promise you. xx
My darling Lana, I’ve been reading through the names of people who have come forward to thank you – a whos who of online voices who have become my real-life friends – and now I must add my own thanks as well.
I don’t think most newer readers to MM realise just how instrumental you were in launching so many writing careers, my own amongst them. In Mia’s absence you were wise counsel, supportive, incredibly encouraging and bloody efficient. I will NEVER be able to thank you for all you did in those wild days when opportunity knocked, even though I know you think you did not much at all.
Most impressive to me is how you kept a cool head in moderating the ratbags and trolls and steering a dissasociated rabble of voices towards an inclusive and bloody lovely online community. That’s your legacy and we all love you for it.
So proud to call you friend and I can’t wait to see what you do next.
Sandra x
Oh Sandra how on earth could I have forgotten to include your name – I edited the post as soon as I realised that. You, my dear lady, have been an inspiration to so many people. A wise woman with an incredible gift with words (and food) . I am proud to call YOU a friend – and always will be xxxx
As I said yesterday – chasing unicorns will be thrilling, amazing and rewarding. Thanks so much for the support you’ve shown me. Good luck in all you pursue xxB
Thank you so much Bianca – I’m going to take this opportunity to tell you how much I ADORE your writing. Can’t wait to read more of it now that I am no longer full time employed…. xxx
What they all said 🙂 Thank you for noticing my writing and giving me opportunities and thank you for being so warm and welcoming on Twitter. I still remember our first conversation about grilled pineapple. You and Kerri were my first Sydney Twitter friends. I will be in Sydney next month and you and I WILL be drinking tea together. xxxxx
You see what good timing it was to resign – now I have ALL the tea time! Can’t wait xxxx
Noooooo! How can this be?! What will we do without our Sharpest Pencil? I’ve never met you but I feel like I know you (lame, I know. That’s me!) – and I will truly miss you. Can’t wait to hear what amazing things you get up to next and hope to be able to still keep in touch with you. Don’t ever change. You are just gorgeous.
Big Al xx
You won’t miss me – because I will be here on this blog (and hopefully lots of other places) in between scampering around on Style Counsel getting tips and advice. xxxxxxxx
Oh thank the lord, woman! I was worried the sharpest pencil might not even be hanging out in the same pencil-case either. I LOVE your blogs and look forward to each and every one. On so many occasions, I’ve sworn we’re sisters from “anudder mudder”. I’m very relieved to hear that you’re not makin’ out like (or with) an eraser!
Big Al xx
You will be fabulous at whatever you do next. Can’t wait to read of your adventures. x
Thank you bronnie xx
Sad to see you go Lana. Thank you so much for all of your support and I wish you well with whatever the future brings xxx
I’ll be here (and reading your blog as well) xx
Thanks Lana xx
Don’t stray too far! Unicorns are cool though. I wish you luck on your endeavour!
Thank you a million for all your support – was truly wonderful working with you and I won’t forget it in a hurry. See you round, toots! <3
You can’t forget me because I urgently need to meet your beautiful girls and squish them a bit. Not only do you write beautiful words – you make magnificent babies xxxx
I’m a bit rubbish at the internet. There’s only one reason that bother me, and that is that a long time ago through MM I came across some truly lovely people, who I wish I could have more to do with. I was a huge admirer of your work at MM, as well as being very grateful for it, and I love to read your tweets and posts. Whatever your plans are, I hope they turn out every bit as wonderfully as you deserve.
Thank you thank you thank you – love chatting to you on Twitter and fully intend for that never to change
Sorry to hear you’re leaving, Lana, but what a journey you’ve been on! All the best to you and your boys. xx
Thank you so much – see you on Twitter (and hopefully lots of other places) xxx
A huge step but no doubt you are more than ready to take it. You’ve certainly put in your time and your steep online education and now you can spread your wings, your skills and your love much further afield. I wish you all the best Lana xx
Best wishes in your future endeavours Lana.
Oh my gosh- am very late to the party here. Such a loss for them, I’m sure, but hopefully there are some exciting things in store for you. You always brought such grace to that site. Am back in Sydney in June for good- would be lovely to catch up for coffee…? x
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