Countdown to 30: Day 9

Looking so young!

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I was cool and took selfies back then... with my web cam!  Ha!

The year was 2004/2005.  I was finally 21!  I could drink and drink and drink!  And... I didn't.  Haha.  See, I have this fear of getting too drunk and throwing up.. so I don't like feeling even remotely close to that, so I am a complete lightweight.  I remember going to The Strip in Stillwater and not being too impressed.

Cheese!

But this is my drink of choice!

I was in my Junior (and entering Senior) year of college.  I was attending the College of Education and pursuing my teaching career.  I had been selected out of a group of people because I was so amazing and it showed to start the student teaching process early.  I taught 5th Grade in Stillwater from August 2005 - December 2005. During that time my sister had started teaching in Texas and I also spent some time in her classroom testing out my teacher voice skills.

Teaching 5th Grade in Stillwater.

Helping at my sister's school.  Little did I know I'd be teaching at this very school in the future!

The year 2005 also marked my engagement and marriage to my first husband.  It was not always a happy time, but it happened, and it should be documented so that you don't think I had a kid with a random man because it was part of my life.

My Granny... she was the most giving and strong woman. 

My sister and me

November 2005

My dad and his tear-jerking speech.

Aww, I love my Mommy and Daddy!

The year 2005 was a busy year.  I was finally finding myself, I was on the path to a great career, I was growing up!  (Can I go back to this year and slap myself around for trying to grow up too fast?)

If you missed Countdown Day 10 you can read it here. 

Countdown to 30: Day 10

Over the next 10 days I will take a journey through my 20s.  On November 9, 2013 I will turn 30.  The big 3-0.  I really never pictured myself at 30, but looking through these old photos, I'm pretty sure I look better now than I did!  Because my birthday falls at the end of the year, most photos will be of the next full, actual year of that current age.

Day 10 of the countdown:

The year was 2003-2004.  I was 20 years old.  I was a Sophomore at Oklahoma State University.  After a traumatizing Freshman year, I moved out of the dorms and into an apartment with three complete strangers.  These three strangers would soon become my best friends, partners in crime, and life-long buddies!  The times of Alex, Annie, Brannon, and Meredith will forever be engraved.  We learned our independence as well as our limits.

Life at Oklahoma State was peaceful and uneventful.  I was slowly learning that I had control of my own schedule and could schedule classes around my sleep and nap patterns! Score!  I was not a college party-er, but still loved hanging out with my friends.  I was working at a daycare center after classes.

I was single at this time and living the skinny life.  Funny how men seem to help us pack on pounds, eh?  Haha! 

I wish I would have written a blog back in that time... I'm sure there was amazingness going on... but that sad part... I can't remember my life much before my kid! 

Anyhow, here are some pictures to show just how fabulous I was!

I remember losing all the Freshman 15 I gained and looking at this picture thinking I had "big head" syndrome.  Ya know, when you're almost too thin and your head looks gigantic?  Yeah, just go with it.

Wow... that hair.

On my porch outside my first on-campus apartment.  Finally out of that dorm!

Totally loved the belt look!  Oh, and that TV?  Yep, it was a staple in our house!

Man... check out that PHONE!