30 by 30 – Guest Post by Holly McFarland

I’m proud to share this Life List guest post by my old high school friend, Holly McFarland.

This list is representative of a mom trying to live out her life to the fullest rather than vicariously through her kids. The goal is to balance – be responsible but crazy and spontaneous at the same time. Pretty much nothing on this list has to do with my kids…there are plenty of lists for that…this one’s for me. Like the saying goes – “if momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” I like to think of it as avoiding a midlife crisis. I hope my 40 by 40 is even more ridiculous 🙂

30 by 30 List – Thirty things to do before I turn 30 (deadline: 03/09/11)

  • Eat at 5 Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.  My husband and I love this Food Network show, hosted by Guy Fieri, showcasing awesome food at hole-in-the-wall type joints around the country.

DONE Magnolia Café (Austin, TX), Chef Point (Watauga, TX), Twisted Root (Dallas, TX), Brandy’s Restaurant and Bakery (Flagstaff, AZ), Rocco’s Ristorante (San Francisco, CA), Casino El Camino (Austin, TX), Green Mesquite (Austin, TX).

  • Eat at a Top Chef related restaurant.

On agenda for this weekend – Tom Callichio’s Craftsteak in Las Vegas, also have purchased Groupon for Iluna Basque (Chef Mattin, season 6) in San Francisco, but haven’t used it yet.

  • Ask for a raise.

Kind of done. Negotiated a higher salary for recent job. Moved from old job before I had a chance to ask…

  • Go to Las Vegas.

Wahoo! This weekend will be my first Vegas experience!

  • Implement a budget.

(after Vegas?) I’ve never been able to do this. It requires too much attention to detail. I’ve spent my whole life just staying in the black with no other financial goals. But I envy those who can do envelopes and all that jazz…so I’m planning for 2011 to be my year!

  • Weigh high school weight.

Kind of done.  Accomplished 6/2010, but currently in a relapse 😉 whoops!

  • Run a half marathon.

DONE San Antonio Rock ‘n’ Roll half completed 11/2009 with best friend, Erin. Las Vegas half with hubby this weekend!

  • Go on a mission trip as a family.

Did this all the time in high school and college, but want to get started as a family now that the kids can go.

  • Start planning meals and grocery lists.

This would take a miracle.

  • Read 5 books about faith/spirituality.

(purchased, but yet to read – Goodbye Insecurity by Beth Moore, Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns, Untamed by Lisa Harper, Find Your Strongest Life by Marcus Buckingham, Doing Life Differently by Luci Swindoll)

  • Take real family pictures. You know, on location photographer style, not Sears.

DONE – 10/2009. If you’re in North Texas let me recommend Phyllis at Lilly Blue Photography – AMAZING!

  • Get our own place.

We moved to the Bay Area in the summer (2010) and are living with my husband’s mom while we figure out where we really want to live. In reality, we’re trying to manage the shock of how much houses cost here (median 3 bedroom home here is $788,000, what?!!) So to even get into a rental in the next year is our goal…and we still own in TX till that glorious day of winning the lottery allows us to buy here.

  • Send out Christmas cards. (on time)

DONE – 12/2009. This really should be a yearly goal, but don’t hold your breath.

  • Plant a garden.

I would LOVE to cook straight from my own garden. This will be MUCH easier to do now that I live in a very temperate Northern California as opposed to dry, clay-filled West Texas, however, it does require one having their own yard in which to garden 😉

  • Make Michael get braces.

DONE – 10/2009. Michael is ridiculously handsome and even more ridiculously smart and well-spoken. However, his teeth have always held him back socially – in terms of smiling. So we slapped those braces on and we’ll be seeing a very smiley man in 2011.

  • De-clutter…have a huge garage sale/donation.

DONE – 3/13/10. Pre-move to California. Will have to do this again when we move into our own place because I’m sure it will be TINY.

  • Get drunk.

DONE – 6th street (Austin), summer 2010. This is a terrible goal on so many levels, but I’m 28 and had never been drunk before, so I tried it in the safest way possible – surrounded by good/mature friends and no driving involved. Then I puked, and all was well.

  • Get a “serenity” tattoo.

DONE – Austin, summer 2010.

  • Go horseback riding.

Used to ride all the time as a kid at a friend’s farm, miss it.

  • Start using a face-care system.

Good grief, I’ve tried 5 million different cleansing/toning/exfoliating/hydrating/clarifying/unclogging products to no avail. Mostly because I tend to quit after two weeks.  But I’ve now invested in Keihl’s Blue Line, so this better work! How is it fair to have acne and the onset of wrinkles at the same time?! Rude.

  • Have a party.

I’m thinking an anniversary party or house warming (crossed fingers)  – go all out, catering, center-pieces, etc. This goal is because my wedding was super homemade – by me – and I’ve always wished I would’ve gone all out (with-in reason, of course).

  • Learn to stop gossiping.

This is not as prevalent now that I have moved and have all acquaintances and no friends, but still, the temptation will arise once I have someone to gossip to, so I better practice.

  • Finish the Family room.

(seal grout, paint ceiling, etc) DONE – Spring 2010…at my old house, don’t even get to enjoy it now. Boo.

  • Sew something…an apron maybe?

I’ve purchased many supplies for sewing different things, but have yet to take the cover off my sewing machine. I need a tutor.

  • Hang pictures of family and friends.

Sounds easy, but how do you decide? And as soon as you get them up everyone sends you new ones and your kids are a year older. Defeat.

  • Apply for a federal job. (DEA, FBI, ICE, etc)

DONE – January 2010. That was a no-go.  My husband now has a federal law enforcement job, and I do contract work for the Sheriff’s Office, does that count?

  • Try out for a professional cheerleading team.

Oakland Raiderettes – DONE – April 2010. Didn’t make it, which is probably a good thing, those pirate costumes are awful 😉 It was an awesome girls’ weekend with Kristi, LeKeshia and Emerald (my Abilene friends that came with me for support).

  • Walk a runway.

When I moved to California I embraced the anonymity of living in the Bay Area by seeking out amateur modeling jobs. DONE – So far I’ve done 4 runway shows– one in a bikini (ahhh!) and 5 photo shoots. At most of these events I have a good 6-7 years, and many more pounds, on all the other wannabe models, but I’m convinced the fashion industry needs a reality check…and I WORK IT, so no complaints from the casting directors 😉

  • Launch our blog

My husband and I are getting ready to launch a blog. It’s been a long time coming. Warning, I’ve been told I lack a censor (content, not expletives).

  • See myself in print!

The ultimate would be a feature in the “Are you Next?” section of Oxygen magazine. However, I’ll settle for a local dry-cleaner coupon…I just want to feel famous!

Holly McFarland recently moved from TEXAS to the San Francisco Bay Area for her husband’s work and to be closer to his family. They have two boys, Riley (4) and Roman (2 on Christmas Eve!). Holly works from home for a County mentoring program, designing curriculum and pr/marketing campaigns. She has her B.S. and M.A. in Communication from Abilene Christian University and is certified in Conflict Mediation.

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