HaHas for HooHas has been cracking me up since 2011. Though I haven’t met creator Anna Lind Thomas in person, I have had the pleasure of chatting with her via email, and she is as genuinely awesome as you might expect. She’s busy with a new baby and writing hilarious stories and e-cards for HaHas, but she still made time to answer my stupid intriguing interview questions!
One of my favorite HaHas stories is about moving – yeah, I can relate – but there are really too many to list all my favorites. The Fart that (Almost) Altered My Destiny is an absolute must-read, but be forewarned that there will be snort-laughter. HaHas stories are hilarious and so relatable that you may find yourself seeing humor in new places in your own life.
On to the interview!
Maria: Do you remember the very first HaHas e-card?
Anna: I do! It’s a maxi-pad I named “Max” saying “I’ll do my best!” I thought it was the funniest thing anyone had ever created in all of time. I was so proud of it even when people said things like, “Is that a tongue talking?” Max was the official HooHas mascot for awhile, but sadly didn’t make the cut for our new website design a few years ago.
Do you have a favorite e-card?
Definitely the Max card. It’s the first, so I feel sentimental about it. It’s definitely not the most popular.
What is your creative process like? Do you get inspiration and sit down to work, or do you have a set schedule?
My creative process is a work in process. Now with the baby it’s more like “type quickly one handed in 2 minute increments.” Usually funny ideas come to me and I’ll write them down or put them into my phone. When it’s time to write, I sit down, pull out my ideas and don’t leave until I at least have a rough draft. There have been many times I’ve pulled something out of my butt last minute and to my chagrin, they’re often my most popular posts. There’s something to be said about over thinking it. Like most things, writing is a discipline. Even if all my ideas are bad ones, I still have to work – to write. My favorite technique is intentionally making myself bored. I go into a quiet room, set a timer and do nothing for 10 minutes. I almost always get ideas when I let my brain become bored. Otherwise, if I feel creatively empty I’ll easily find myself on Facebook reading Gawker articles about a brother and sister on meth caught making out in the back of a cop car. Before I know it, I’ve lost all hope for humanity – and my writing. If you’re stuck – get bored. It’s the best advice I’ve ever been given, and it’s the best advice I got!
When you were a little girl, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was little, I would write poems and really dramatic stories about love and loss and would sit in awe by how “deep” I was at such a tender age. I remember one day walking into the kitchen and announcing to my mom I was going to be a writer. Thank God, because if I wanted to be in the WNBA or something, I would have been sorely disappointed.
You recently had your first child, Lucy (which you know – hopefully, but other people might not!) I really enjoyed the posts you wrote during pregnancy – can we expect any more awesome pregnancy humor?
You can! I’m writing my first book called The Pregnancy Chroni-cankles. Think What to Expect When You’re Expecting except totally irreverent with very little practical information. Of course, it will be loaded with humor, but my hope is that pregnant women and moms will treasure it as something that makes them laugh, uplifts, encourages and gives them a true sense that all of their hemorrhoids aren’t for not – they’re just little obstacle courses to test our endurance and will to live. Be on the lookout – if it isn’t a New York Times Best Seller, I’ll be peddling them out of the trunk of my car. You’ll probably find me in a Starbuck’s alley near you!
How many pairs of yoga pants do you own? Has that number increased since giving birth?
Ha! Believe it or not, only one. I prefer VS Pink’s boyfriend sweatpants. Huge and roomy. If I could bring back Hammer’s parachute pants, I would. Those were the days.
What was the weirdest pregnancy dream you had?
I don’t remember specific dreams, but I do remember they were really long like a movie, but with terrible plot lines and questionable casting. So long, in fact, I would get bored in my dream and direct myself to change up the plot. It was that bad.
Have you had any parenting bloopers?
Not yet, I don’t think. We just reached 6 weeks and since it’s winter, the weather hasn’t been good for any outings. So far it’s all been nursing bras, pajamas, dirty diapers, kisses, naps and then going to bed just to do it all over again. Once I wear “real people clothes” and venture outside, I’m sure I’ll leak through my shirt at the grocery store and then slip on baby poop knocking over the oranges as it cascades down all around me. Fingers crosses that actually happens – I’m desperate for new writing material.
Do you have any baby gear regret or things you realized you really won’t use?
Well, so far it’s a really expensive baby swing I just bought. She could care less about it and if anything, it makes her less sleepy. I thought it was going to be my ticket to freedom!
Has anything about motherhood surprised you?
Motherhood and caring for a newborn was as hard as I thought it would be. I’m in my thirties, I have many friends and family that have gone before me. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. What I didn’t anticipate was the love. Obviously I knew it was going to be a crazy love, but you don’t fully understand until the Oxytocin is pumping hard in your veins. I’m more patient than I ever thought possible. I’m more disciplined with my mood and reactions if something is getting on my nerves. Just her presence has made me naturally a better person because it’s no longer about me or satiating my ego. And I didn’t even have to try hard!
If you designed a HaHas for HooHas cloth diaper, what would it look like/say on the butt? (I can’t go through this interview without at least mentioning the near destiny altering fart.)
Well, obviously I would try to reference my epic tale, The Fart that (Almost) Altered My Destiny. Maybe that’s what I would put on the butt, “I’m letting out a fart that will alter your destiny” or something like that. Sounds a little too wordy for a baby butt, but we can make it work. Feel free to use it. I expect royalties.
Head over to HaHas for HooHas and then stalk…err…follow HaHas on Facebook, @HaHasforHooHas on Twitter, on Pinterest and all that good stuff.
My baby making days are over but I seriously can’t wait to buy the book!! Are you a HaHas fan? If they’re new to you, you’re welcome!
Maria wants to live in a world where cloth diapers are the norm and moms can make parenting choices without judgement. When she’s not chasing her 18, 14 and 11-year old kids around, you might find her checking out the latest gadgets, organizing something (again) or exercising in the fresh air. 
Great interview! I can’t wait to see that diaper happen. Seriously, can we put it on a shirt? My husband would absolutely wear it. I’m definitely checking out HaHas!
Hilarious!