I Want, I Want, I Need, I Need!

I've been putting off making my official New Year's resolution because there are so many things I want to get done this year and I'm afraid that by focusing on just one, the rest will fall by the wayside. Which is better - doing kind of well on lots of things or really well on one thing? So I think I'm going to just have a list of New Year suggestions and I can flit between them as my mood sees fit and maybe accomplish something as opposed to be a big failure in one thing. Here's my list of goals:

Make Fertile and Fabulous a real gag mag that I could mail out quarterly with contributing writers who have great senses of humor (any volunteers to write short pieces?)

Turn Flaky Friends into a business (register it with the government and all that) and be able to write off my costs for supplies. Maybe have my toys sold in local indie toy shops?

Complete my second triathlon/get buff again.

Publish my book. I've had the manuscript of polished essays sitting around for almost a year now and the phone number of an awesome editor and am just too scared to sent it out into the world.

Teach Pixie to read. I bought a great book called, "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons" that my sister-in-law swears by but I haven't even cracked the spine yet.

Participate in a local craft fair with my stuffed animals.

Have Hollywood Flakes syndicated by a major newspaper as a weekly column.

Bite the bullet and buy Flash (animation software), PhotoShop and some sweet video editing software and learn to use them all.

Learn how to fiddle with my violin.

Teach Cher tons of sign language. Pixie could do over 100 signs when she was one (here's a video of her doing some in her high chair pre anonymous name) and Cher has just started making her first signs at 10 months. I want to take the time to develop that communication with Cher as well. It's so fun seeing what babies have to say!

Get rest. Yeah, that one's not going to happen.

As I look at the above list, I realize most of these are more than I could hope to accomplish in 20 years but each one of them picks at my brain every day. I don't know how to prioritize them because really, I know I should concentrate right now on just keeping my kids fed and alive but I still can't shake the feeling that I could do them all if I just put some elbow grease into it.

I often feel like I want too many things for myself and I should just be happy sitting back and letting all my ambition slide for the sake of being a good mom but the modern woman in me tells me I can have it all. I know that's a lie, but it still sounds so good! How does everyone prioritize the "non-important" stuff? Is anyone making any progress on their New Year's goals? What kinds of things have you sacrificed to accommodate the more important goals in life? What things will you never sacrifice? And most importantly, has this post been sufficiently distracting to make everyone forget about that last post I put up that grossed everyone out?

Comments

Anonymous said…
Regarding this, "Turn Flaky Friends into a business (register it with the government and all that) and be able to write off my costs for supplies. "

You can write off costs anyway. You don't need to register as a business for that.

Your Bro.
Sarah said…
I'm going to call you tomorrow, brother and pump your brain. I've been saving all my receipts just in case!
Perla said…
This was the best post! Yes, first of all it was the best because I could check out your blog with out having to immediately close it again because of the hairball. Second, because I had never seen Fertile and Fabulous, so I got to check those at and loved them. Third, my 4 year old is so bored with her pre-school that i have her doing the same stuff as my 6-year-old and I am ordering that book to teach her to read TONIGHT. Also, I need to tell you to publish your book because you can do it and you have it ready and you already know just by using google analytics that tons of people love your writing.
I also have struggled with the feelings that I need to do it all. Yet as I pray, I feel, these words often come to me that I must surrender to motherhood. I am trying because, FOR ME (I'm not saying for you or anybody else), that is the answer I've been given. But kids also need moms that are smart, well-rounded and successful in their own right, don't they? So, I'm still trying to figure it all out. Somehow I need to be right at home and also I need to be in Haiti building a school and running community projects and...never mind...sigh...oh yeah. My mom's biggest revelation of her life, "do all that you can do happily."
Anonymous said…
Yeah, that hairball was so gross it made me want to retch every time I checked your site. It was AWFUL. Don't DO that to us! EVER!
Suzie Petunia said…
I want to write for Fertile and Fabulous. Please?

I've heard that the 100 lessons thingy for teaching your kid to read is a good one. My cousin used it with her daughter and she is a freakin' genius! I should get it for my 4-year-old.

Thanks for adding something on MY to-do list!
Nancy Sabina said…
Yeah - I'm looking up that reading book right now.
I'd totally subscribe to Fertile and Fabulous. I'd love to write for it - but I'm not as clever as you. But I AM Fertile and Fabulous!
Karen said…
"Teach Your Child To Read" is an awesome book, really. And how wonderful would it be to not only be published as an author, but as a weekly syndicated writer? You go, girl!
Anonymous said…
Hollywood.... You totally inspire me :) ...and for the record, the hairball was discusting!
kibler
Lindsay said…
That is a hefty list, but I'm way impressed by it. And I'd totally by your book if you ever did get it published.
Dorri said…
in addition to the reading book you got, try The BOB Books, I bought them off amazon. They helped my son get started with reading. Oh and let me know when I can sigh up for a Fertile and Fab., I totally would pay for that one.
Susan M said…
My son learned sign from a speech therapist, I wish I had video of him doing it. He'd sign in his sleep, even. Most of the signs he knew were vehicle related. (Bus, truck, train, car, etc.)

I love all your ambitions. Go for it.
The Wiz said…
OK, well, now I can go to your blog and not puke. So..mission accomplished there.

First of all, I have that book and I used it with my oldest, until about lesson 30, when I got bored wih it. Which I'm sure you won't. :) It is a great one, and does not take a long time each day, and the kids think you're just playing with them, so it totally counts as quality time.

Call the editor. Again, will not take much time. The worst that can happen is s/he says no.

I would wait on the Flaky Friends thing until sales really take off. But who knows, maybe they are already? And I totally think you can already write off your costs now.

I'd love to send in an article or tow to Fertile & Fabulous, although I have no clue how to start a magazine. Kudos to you for even thinking it.

Little things at a time, most of the things on your list can be done, if broken down.
Nancy Ross said…
Congrats on your ambition! I often feel like LDS women are not encouraged to have ambition beyond the bounds of their homes. Clearly you have great talents and are using them. But perhaps you should extend the due date on this list and give yourself 5-10 years.

I'd love to write a sarcastic article on the beauty of the pregnant belly.

-the commenter formerly known as Nancy, who now posts on an anonymous blog
I thought the hairball was funny.

My resolutions had to do more with just enjoying life and not worrying about all the goals and all I wanted to do. If it's supposed to happen, I'll get around to it. But I am a recovering over-achiever. Now, I only strive to maintain a sense of inner peace and serenity. Everything else will work itself out.

Again, I thought the hairball was funny.

:)
Sarah said…
You're my kind of girl, Thursday! What's with all these weak stomachs out there?
Allie said…
I love your goals! I only had 2. Lose thirty pounds and potty train my 2 year old. I can scratch off one, my 2 year old is completely potty trained! We even went to disneyland/sea world for a week without one accident! I haven't even made a dent in the 30 lbs yet. But hey, I have a whole year to do it right? I just have to complete it before the next year. ;)
Anonymous said…
Any regular reader of this blog can attest to the fact that you are perfectly capable of pulling it all off! I love that your resolutions are BIG things you want to accomplish. My resolutions are usually just a list of tasks I want to do better on: Take a shower every day, get up the courage to clean behind the toilet, fight my internet addiction, etc...
Irishmama said…
I'm exhausted reading your list. My resolutions are much less complicated. Good luck to you.
Carolyn said…
Pick a goal and just do it. Sometimes taking the first step can be the hardest part. Once you get started, maybe you'll be able to complete all your goals!
Melinda said…
I had to give up my exercising resolution because my girl has stranger anxiety and screams at the gym. I decided to just give it up and not get all philosophical and mad about it. Now I just try not to eat very much, and on Thursdays at nine thirty, I try not to think about how fun Body Jam class would be.
Kate said…
Wowee Hollywood, you are amazing. I wish I had as much ambition as you do, but not everyone is blessed with as much wit, cleverness (is this a word), and creativity as you. Way to go, and publish your book, I'll be the first to buy it.
Anonymous said…
I would say read Elder Oaks's talk, calm down, don't look for happiness in fluffy accomplishments. But it sounds like you already know that stuff wont make you happy and will take all your time. You've inspired me to get off that "proving something" treadmill (literal and figurative).
Anonymous said…
What is your book about?
Janell said…
You can write off your receipts so long as you also declare your income. Save your receipts, save your invoices, and purchase Turbotax for Small Businesses next tax season. (I think you just need a 1040, 1040 Schedule C, and 1040 SE in addition to whatever other forms you are already required to use. HOWEVER I'm not qualified to give anyone any tax advice whatsoever. Those forms would just be the first place I'd look.)
Janell said…
Oh. PS. I can't remember. I _think_ if you don't have business income of at least $2,000ish you can't write off your receipts because you didn't make enough money for the government to tax you on. Once again, that's just a gut feeling, and I'm really not qualified to give any tax advice and I'm not legally responsible for anything that I might communicate (electronic or otherwise) regarding anyone's taxes.
Sarah said…
The book is nothing exciting - it's just a compilation of some of my favorite essays. It's kind of random which is why I've hesitated to show it to an editor. I can't quite figure out how to organize it.

But the good news is, I took heart after reading these comments and left a voice mail on her cell phone today for her to call. I've been jumping every time the phone rings but she hasn't responded yet.
Leslie said…
Wow...those are some amazing resolutions! You seem like a real "go getter" (lame term but hopefully apt description). I think you really can do it all...just not all in one day and it might just take a little more than a year to get it all done. I think that keeping priorities straight is one of the most difficult "trials" we all face. My advise...just make sure you say your prayers and read your scriptures every day...it helps me to keep things in perspective...then just keep laughing and you'll be on the right road. Oh...and just grow old. I hear that really helps too. :)
Rachel said…
Wow! My New Year's resolution was to make some curtains for my front room. And I thought that was really being ambitious.
Perla said…
Hollywood, have you read "A Girl Named Zippy?" by Haven Kimmel. You would like it so much. And she started out with a bunch of essays she had written about her family. She never thought it would get published and now there are millions of us laughing and so grateful for it. I look forward to purchasing your book when it is published!!!
Sarah said…
I LOVE Haven Kimmel. She's been my inspriation through all of this. Her writing is so vivid and I love how she turned what many would consider a very dull life into so many little adventures. I've done a lot of looking into who her editor and publisher are and am trying to see if I could perhaps have her same people take a look at my stuff since I do feel it's a bit similar. She is really awesome. Someday.
Perla said…
Oh good. i should have known you would know her. You should be friends in real life, I would think. :) I love it when she can't "abide" a certain thing. I laugh and laugh and laugh.
angela michelle said…
I couldn't bear to make any resolutions this year because there are just so many things! Lose 10 pounds. Make a million dollars. Become the perfect mom. Achieve sainthood. So I made a list of 3 things I would NOT do this year. They're too embarrassing to divulge.

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