Let's Rewind 10 years: pt. 7

Oh boy, we're nearing the end of these posts! You know what that means! :)
Now we go to 2008. I was 24 years old and over the drinking-like-Snooki thing. I still went out about once a month, to a bar, a club, whatever, but being hungover damn near daily was far from my norm anymore. My overused phrase that year was, "I'm gettin' too old for this shi-".
Significant events from 2008:
~I visited my friend Paige in Tennessee. Let me clarify, I finally met in person the friend that I had been talking to on the phone and online every week for the previous two years. I had never done that before. Luckily for me, she didn't turn out to be an ax murderer. And yes, we're still friends today. In fact, we take turns making trips to see one another every year. 
~I started dating Mikey, after two years of being just friends. 'Just' drinking buddies, really. I plan on doing a lovey dovey post with the deets on how Mikey and I started dating as it nears our wedding anniversary in March or for our total time together anniversary in May. 
~Mikey tricked me into meeting his entire family after only dating for 3 months! It was so awkward, but hey, we're inlaws now so everything's kosher. And honestly, they were all really nice. I was the nervous nancy. I'm very particular about when I think it's appropriate to "meet the parents", and I remember thinking it was wayyy too soon. 
~However, by October I knew that Mikey and I were a sure thing, so I took him to meet my family in Texas. We had so much fun and my family absolutely fell in love with him. I had only ever taken home the ex before, so you see how I take these things seriously.  
~And of course, this was the year that I welcomed my girly side to take over after Mikey bought me the $268 French Connection dress...just for me to wear to our 5 month boyfriend/girlfriend dinner date at the Wynn Hotel. I was like a deer in headlights when he bought me that dress. All I did was try it on and say it was pretty. That's it. Next thing I knew, the store was having it steam cleaned and it'd be ready for me to wear by dinner time. Mikey even bought me some pretty bow pumps to match (which I've since given to Jen since they were a tad bit big). Since the day I met Mikey, he's done everything in his power to treat me like a princess and roll out the red carpet for me. And no one had ever spoiled me to such levels before. Granted I don't always need that...it's just nice for a girl to feel so special. We had fun wining and dining that year in some of Vegas' most luxurious and well-received restaurants. 
One word for 2008: magical.

The day I turned 24. Natty & Stephanie threw me a surprise birthday dinner. Can you spot Mikey? To this day I giggle or smile at pictures of us, where he's innocently standing so close to me, and neither of us knew what was in our future. 

Wrightsville Beach, NC. He was serenading me in front of everyone. Awkward? Yes. Romantical nonetheless? Certainly.

Walking around downtown San Antonio. I have a picture in front of this same little water fall-y area from when I was in 1st grade. I like revisiting nostalgic locations and getting new pictures. :)

And here's a picture of us before going to our 5 month anniversary dinner. I'm wearing the French Connection dress. It's seriously one lovely dress, right down to the touch. LOTS of tulle underneath - yay. I've worn it a number of times, but not in the last 2.5 years after I started running (and shed off the unhealthy 15 pounds I put on while drinking 7 nights a week & binge eating at all hours of the night in 2006/2007). It's too big for me now and hangs in its garment bag waiting to be taken to a tailor. :/

Thanks for reading, dolls. I'll talk to y'all tomorrow! Have a happy hump day. 

Love,

Roni