Friday Featurette -- College Bestie/Super Mom

This shall kick-off a new series, featuring (on Fridays) a strong-female blogger(ette) and her world.
To start us off, read about a college bestie who is honored with the upcoming holiday, Mother's Day: 

I spent my freshman year of college at the fine institute of the University of Texas, in Austin, TX.  In short, it was the best mistake of my life.  I ended up transferring back home to FSU for the remainder of my time in college and graduating with a degree in Elementary Education.
Deciding to attend UT was me breaking out of the box, feeling my boundaries, and trying to prove my parents wrong.  I won't go as far as to say my parents were right and that's why I ended up at FSU, but I will agree that the opportunities in Florida outweighed Texas.

However, that year at UT rocked hardcore.  "Sublime awesomeness" merely compares.  I had the time of my life, and am surprised I remember it!
While the first weeks were a tough adjustment, I think the first weeks of college have the possibility to be tough for many -- and once my then-long-distance-boyfriend (now ex) and I both cheated on each other and I conceded that UT was home for the time being, I made friends.

I made some of the greatest gosh-darn friendships with the most genuine people ever, and I still keep in touch with them.

Somehow those long, inebriated nights which turned into early morning talk-fests still resonate in my memory.  The stupid choices we made remain some of my favorite decisions in life, and I have the tattoo to prove it.  I learned more about people in 6 months than I did the 18 years prior.

I wish I could say I became best friends with my roommate, but to live up to that cliche she would need to have stayed the night in the dorm for more than 3 total days.  Victoria Secret's 'Love Spell' remains my only memory of Stacy.  I laugh when I smell it, because I was able to tell when she was around by smelling that scent from down the hallway.
No, instead my favored friend was Joey, as I liked to call her.  We just 'got' each other.  She lived on the other side of the wall from me (I guess that makes us neighbors?), and it was easy to get each others' attention by pounding on the concrete slab that separated us.

Joey allowed me to tag along as she went home some weekends, as I couldn't easily pick up and fly home to FL.  I loved her family, just as much as her.  Jo introduced me to Blue October and solidified my admiration for DMB.  She made Texas seem not so bigger, as they claimed it to be.

She's a  funny, resilient, smart woman inside and out - including her awesome, red hair!  Her roller-coaster ride of a life might not be easy, but she always comes out shining brighter than before.

She's a mommy-blogger, too - and a darn good one.  Hop on over to Raising-Madison to read up on her adorable baby girl, who is recovering from hip-dyplasia.  Or check out one of her inspiring posts on her struggle with cancer.  And if things weren't crazy enough, hear how she got laid-off because of her devotion to her daughter's medical needs.

So before I unveil my huge photo surprise, a few words from the woman herself.

Q: What is your favorite memory from college?
A: Oh man, its impossible to pick a FAVORITE memory from college, there were so many good ones. Vicki and I had a knack for getting ourselves in really weird situations. Like finding an old headboard, setting it up in the hallway in the door and running & jumping over it like a hurdle in our pajamas. Or the time we toilet papered the study lounge on our floor and everyone got in trouble. Or that other time we stole a purple chair from Taco Cabana and I sat on it in the elevator at Jester. Those are all in my Top Ten for sure.
OMG. Joey I TOTALLY forgot about the study lounge, and the chair!  Hilarious!

Q:  How do you feel you've changed since UT?
A:  I am no longer that self-conscious girl looking for acceptance and love. I was always trying to make someone love me and wanting to fit in. I did things that where completely out of character to just fit in. I don't regret anything I did in college. I lived, I learned, I made some mistakes and had a LOT of fun in the process. But I grew up so much after UT. And just when I had gotten an apartment all by myself, decided I really loved who I was and focused on my job (which I was damn good at) I ended up meeting the love of my life. Funny how that works out.  

Q:  Did you ever imagine life to be as it is for you now?

A:  Yes and no. I mean, I always imagined that I'd get married and have a family someday. I'll admit that were a few years in my early 20s when I really wondered if that was ever going to happen for me.... and then it did. I married my best friend. We laugh a lot and are madly in love. He just gets me. And then we have this great house and some wonderful crazy strange dogs that we adore. And then there's Madison. The best thing I ever did. We made this beautiful baby and I just look at her and can't believe that she exists. She's my greatest accomplishment. She's so headstrong already and has this awesome little personality.

So yes, I imagined this life all the time and I can't believe I'm actually living it. 

Q:  What is your favorite wine?
A:  I'm pretty easy when it comes to wine. Oh Hell, who am I kidding? I'm pretty easy when it comes to most things. I think this is the point where I would insert a penis joke if I was like that, but I'm classy and totally not like that so I won't.

Wine. Ahhh yes, wine. I love Yellowtail, it is tasty and cheap. I've recently opened up my love of alcohol to include Franzia because I'm laid off and broke and that box LASTS. See? I'm totally saving my family money through my drinking, I rock.

Q:  Favorite quote?
A:  "Never take life seriously, nobody gets out alive anyway."  

And oh yeah, that John Mayer concert we went to, ten years ago, was pretty awesome.
(um, take note of where his hands are!) 

I love you Joey!  Happy First Mother's Day!!!