Sober October Oklahoma

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Sober October Oklahoma Founded by Stefanie Ward, Sober October, is a growing sobriety and lifestyle initiative based in Oklahoma with outreach expanding nationally.

Sober October Oklahoma is the home of the Sobriety Support Program, a structured, accountability-based initiative designed to support individuals impacted by the justice system through early intervention, preparation, and ongoing community support. A graduate of the Pittsburg County District 18 Specialty Courts Drug Court and Mental Health Court program, Stefanie uses her personal journey through recovery to inspire others to make positive changes in their lives. She is also a speaker, event organizer, and advocate for sobriety, regularly collaborating with recovery groups, media outlets, and community organizations.

💙🚘💪🍽️ FUN FACT FRIDAY, PART THREE!!! FROM BEACHFRONT RESTAURANTS TO MERCEDES-BENZ… TO FINDING MY PURPOSE IN OKLAHOMA!!!O...
10/17/2026

💙🚘💪🍽️ FUN FACT FRIDAY, PART THREE!!! FROM BEACHFRONT RESTAURANTS TO MERCEDES-BENZ… TO FINDING MY PURPOSE IN OKLAHOMA!!!

Okay, Oklahoma!!! 😂🙌

If you’ve been following my Fun Fact Friday posts, you’ve probably figured out that I’ve lived a few different lives!

We’ve covered my California baking career, television appearances, and my adventures reporting and producing in professional hockey.

BUT THERE’S STILL MORE!!! 😂

Because before I founded Sober October Oklahoma, my career was anything BUT ordinary!

🌊 I worked as a server at some of Southern California’s best beachfront restaurants!

💪 I was a personal trainer at one of the area’s top gyms!

🚘 And YES, I even sold expensive-ass Mercedes-Benz cars to RAPPERS!!! 😂

Apparently, I believed the best career plan was to TRY EVERYTHING!!!

And you know what?

I’M SO GLAD I DID.

Because every single one of those experiences taught me something.

Working in restaurants taught me hospitality, patience, and how to connect with people from every walk of life.

Personal training taught me about discipline, motivation, and helping people believe in themselves.

Selling luxury cars taught me confidence, communication, and how to walk into a room and hold my own.

And all those lessons followed me into the next chapters of my life.

But somewhere along the way, things changed.

Life got difficult. I lost some of that confidence. I made mistakes. And eventually, alcohol became part of a story I never imagined I’d be telling.

Then I moved from California to Oklahoma.

And on September 29, 2023, I got sober.

I THOUGHT I WAS COMING HERE TO CHANGE MY LIFE.

I had no idea I would eventually find my purpose here.

Today, I’m the founder of Sober October Oklahoma, and I’m building Don’t Drink Oklahoma because I believe we can change the culture surrounding alcohol.

But here’s something I’ve been realizing lately.

GETTING SOBER DIDN’T ERASE THE WOMAN I USED TO BE.

It gave me the opportunity to find her again.

The ambitious woman. The creative woman. The woman who loved meeting people, chasing ideas, and trying things she’d never done before.

Only now, I get to use those experiences for something that means more to me than any job title ever could.

Helping people.

Building community.

Creating opportunities.

And showing people that choosing sobriety doesn’t mean choosing a smaller life.

YOU CAN BE SOBER AND STILL LIVE A BIG, EXCITING, SUCCESSFUL, RIDICULOUSLY FUN LIFE!!! 🙌

You can change careers. Start businesses. Chase dreams. Reinvent yourself at 25, 41, or 75!

Your past doesn’t disqualify you from an incredible future.

And every experience, even the difficult ones, can teach you something worth carrying forward.

I’M NOT STARTING FROM SCRATCH. I’M STARTING FROM EXPERIENCE!!!

And if there’s one thing I want people to take away from these Fun Fact Friday posts, it’s this:

YOU ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN THE HARDEST CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE.

Don’t let one chapter convince you the whole story is over.

Mine certainly isn’t.

In fact, I think we’re just getting to the really good part!!! 😂💙

ROOTED IN RECOVERY. OPEN TO EVERYONE.

YOU’RE NOT ALONE. 💙

🏒🎤👠 FUN FACT FRIDAY, PART TWO!!! FROM CUPCAKES TO THE STANLEY CUP… AND NOW TO SOMETHING EVEN BIGGER!!! 😂🙌Okay, Oklahoma!...
10/16/2026

🏒🎤👠 FUN FACT FRIDAY, PART TWO!!! FROM CUPCAKES TO THE STANLEY CUP… AND NOW TO SOMETHING EVEN BIGGER!!! 😂🙌

Okay, Oklahoma!!! Earlier today, I shared a little about my California baking career, Food Network, and my Queen of Cupcakes days.

BUT WAIT!!! THERE’S MORE!!! 😂

Because apparently cupcakes weren’t enough excitement for me, I also decided to jump into the world of PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY!!!

YES!!! NHL HOCKEY!!! 🏒

And I wasn’t just sitting in the stands!

🎤 Reporter
🎬 Producer
📱 Content creator and social media
🏒 Covering the Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings, NHL Awards, and the 2015 STANLEY CUP FINAL!!!

Radio, interviews, media events, behind-the-scenes coverage, and some of the most incredible experiences of my life!

And YES, there was even a HOCKEY IN HEELS era!!! 👠😂

Because naturally, I was going to show up to a hockey arena with a microphone, a media credential, a fabulous outfit, and approximately 47 ideas running through my head!

WHO LET ME HAVE THIS MUCH FUN?! 😂

But here’s why I’m sharing all of this on my Sober October Oklahoma page.

Looking through these old pictures over the last couple of days has brought back something I didn’t realize how much I missed.

ME.

The creative girl. The ambitious girl. The ridiculously optimistic girl who wasn’t afraid to walk into a room full of strangers, chase an opportunity, learn something completely new, or believe she could accomplish something that sounded absolutely crazy.

And somehow, she usually figured it out!!! 😂

Then life happened.

There were difficult years. Some heartbreaking chapters. Some decisions I’m not proud of. And eventually, a move from California to Oklahoma that would change absolutely everything.

On September 29, 2023, I got sober.

And what started as a decision to change my life became a purpose I never could have imagined.

I went from building a career around cupcakes, television, and professional hockey to building Sober October Oklahoma, advocating for recovery, and working to change the way we talk about alcohol, sobriety, and second chances.

And I am incredibly proud of that.

But here’s something I haven’t talked about very much.

For a long time, I missed the girl in these pictures.

I missed her confidence. Her creativity. Her excitement about life. Her ability to dream something up on a Tuesday and start figuring out how to make it happen by Wednesday! 😂

And over the last couple of days, something pretty amazing has happened.

I FEEL LIKE HER AGAIN!!!

Not because I’m trying to go backward.

Because I’m finally realizing that I never actually lost everything that made me who I am.

I’M NOT STARTING FROM SCRATCH. I’M STARTING FROM EXPERIENCE!!! 🙌

The baking. The television appearances. The hockey reporting. The producing. The creativity. The mistakes. The heartbreak. The recovery. The advocacy.

ALL OF IT COUNTS.

And the woman I am today has something that younger version of me didn’t have.

Wisdom. Perspective. Purpose. And more than three years of sobriety.

Oh, and BROWN HAIR!!! We’re definitely keeping the brown hair!!! 😂🤎

Here’s what I want anyone following this page to understand.

SOBRIETY ISN’T THE END OF YOUR STORY.

It doesn’t mean your exciting days are behind you. It doesn’t mean you have to become boring, lose your personality, or spend the rest of your life defined by your worst decisions.

You can be sober AND ambitious.

Sober AND successful.

Sober AND hilarious, outgoing, creative, spontaneous, and completely unapologetic about who you are!

You can rebuild a career. Start a business. Discover a new passion. Fall in love with life again.

And sometimes, you might even rediscover parts of yourself you thought were gone forever.

That’s a huge part of why I started Sober October Oklahoma and why I’m continuing to build Don’t Drink Oklahoma.

I want to help create a world where choosing not to drink doesn’t require an explanation.

Where recovery is celebrated, second chances are real, and people understand that there is SO MUCH LIFE waiting on the other side of alcohol.

ROOTED IN RECOVERY. OPEN TO EVERYONE.

Because I’m not interested in simply telling people what they’re giving up.

I WANT TO SHOW THEM WHAT’S POSSIBLE!!!

And as for that California girl in the pictures?

She’s still here.

She’s just a little wiser, a whole lot stronger, and getting ready for her next big adventure.

And knowing her, it’s probably going to involve approximately 47 ideas, an unreasonable amount of enthusiasm, and something nobody saw coming!!! 😂🙌

THE COMEBACK IS GOING TO BE EVEN BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL!!!

And if you’re somewhere in the middle of rebuilding your own life, I hope you’ll remember this:

YOU ARE NOT STARTING OVER WITH NOTHING. YOU ARE STARTING AGAIN WITH EVERYTHING YOU’VE LEARNED.

And you have absolutely no idea how incredible your next chapter could be.

YOU’RE NOT ALONE. 💙

🍒🧁 BEFORE SOBER OCTOBER OKLAHOMA… THERE WAS THE QUEEN OF CUPCAKES!!! 👑DID YOU KNOW OUR FOUNDER HAD A CAREER IN THE CULIN...
10/16/2026

🍒🧁 BEFORE SOBER OCTOBER OKLAHOMA… THERE WAS THE QUEEN OF CUPCAKES!!! 👑

DID YOU KNOW OUR FOUNDER HAD A CAREER IN THE CULINARY WORLD BEFORE MOVING TO OKLAHOMA?!

You may know Stefanie Ward as the founder of Sober October Oklahoma, a recovery advocate, and someone who’s passionate about changing the drinking culture in our state.

But there’s another side to her story!

Before moving to Oklahoma and beginning her recovery journey, Stefanie Gaxiola was pursuing some pretty exciting dreams in California!

🧁 Finalist on Food Network’s Cupcake Wars

👩‍🍳 Dessert Chef for the Great American Chef Tour

📺 Featured on NBC San Diego and CW San Diego, including NBC’s “The Queen of Cupcakes” segment

🍰 Creator of Stefanie’s Ultimate Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake, introduced at The Cheesecake Factory in 2009 and, according to Stefanie, still on the menu today!

SO WHAT DOES ANY OF THIS HAVE TO DO WITH RECOVERY?

EVERYTHING. ❤️

Because recovery isn’t just about putting down alcohol or drugs.

It’s about rediscovering who you are, reconnecting with the things you love, rebuilding confidence, finding purpose, and realizing that your past doesn’t have to define your future.

Sometimes that means discovering something completely new.

And sometimes it means remembering something wonderful about yourself that was there all along.

Stefanie moved from California to Oklahoma, got sober, and went on to create Sober October Oklahoma.

Now she’s reconnecting with another lifelong passion: cooking, baking, creating, and bringing people together through food.

And she’s developing something special right here in McAlester, inspired by her late mother, her proud Italian family heritage, and her California roots. 🇮🇹🍒

THAT’S WHAT A LIFE IN RECOVERY CAN LOOK LIKE!!!

Not just surviving.

Creating. Dreaming. Growing. Giving back.

ROOTED IN RECOVERY. OPEN TO EVERYONE.

And when asked where all that creativity, passion, and determination came from, Stefanie has a pretty simple answer:

“The talent may be mine, but the magic? I got that from my mama.” ❤️

Stay tuned, Oklahoma. Something sweet is taking shape! 🍦🍒

09/04/2026

Something new is coming to Oklahoma. 👀

Not a challenge.
Not a trend.
And definitely not just for October.

It’s for the people who don’t drink.
The people drinking less.
The sober curious.
The people in recovery.
The people who never started.
And the people who love someone who doesn’t drink.

It’s about creating more places, more choices and more ways to celebrate without alcohol having to be at the center of it all.

🩵 DON’T DRINK OKLAHOMA

Live better. Celebrate better.

Officially launching Fall 2026.

And yes… Sober October Oklahoma is coming with us. October will always have a very special place here. This year, we’ll once again remind Oklahoma:

You’re Not Alone.

But Don’t Drink Oklahoma is bigger than one month.

For now, enjoy the long Labor Day weekend with the people you love.

Oklahoma, this is just the beginning.

See you Tuesday. 👀

Looking for a few fresh eyes & honest opinions 💙I’ve spent much of this summer quietly working behind the scenes on some...
08/22/2026

Looking for a few fresh eyes & honest opinions 💙

I’ve spent much of this summer quietly working behind the scenes on something I care deeply about: Don’t Drink Oklahoma.

I’ve been developing it independently, working through ideas, shaping the vision, and thinking about what this could become. And I think I’ve reached the point where some fresh perspectives would be really valuable.

I’m looking for a few people who might be interested in hearing more about Don’t Drink Oklahoma and letting me share some of the ideas I’ve been working on.

Nothing formal and no commitment. I’m simply looking for honest feedback, different perspectives, opinions, suggestions, and maybe even some ideas I haven’t thought of yet.

You don’t have to be sober, and you don’t need any particular background or experience. In fact, hearing from people with different perspectives is exactly what I’m looking for.

If you’re interested or have a little time to listen and share your thoughts, please send me a message on Messenger or email me.

I’d really appreciate the input. 💙

Stefanie Ward
Founder, Don’t Drink Oklahoma & Sober October Oklahoma

My baby is HOME. 🥹🖤There really couldn’t be a more perfect time for this piece of my story to find its way back to me.A ...
08/07/2026

My baby is HOME. 🥹🖤

There really couldn’t be a more perfect time for this piece of my story to find its way back to me.

A huge thank you to Joe & Tim for bringing her home. You have no idea what this means to me.

And as for what’s next… 👀

I’ve been quietly working on something very close to my heart — something much bigger than anything I originally imagined.

Don’t Drink Oklahoma.

I’m almost ready to tell you all about it.

For now, I’ll just say this:

Oklahoma, we’re about to Celebrate Better. 🖤

Stay tuned. This is just the beginning.

— Stefanie Ward

Ready for Summer ’26. ☀️🌊✨ Alcohol-free sips & second chances.
05/15/2026

Ready for Summer ’26. ☀️🌊✨

Alcohol-free sips & second chances.

It happened.The very first participant in Sober October Oklahoma graduated this week.The first one through.Not because i...
05/01/2026

It happened.

The very first participant in Sober October Oklahoma graduated this week.

The first one through.

Not because it was easy.
Not because someone pushed her.
But because she made a decision — and refused to quit.

She showed up.
She stayed accountable.
She did the work.

And along the way — she blossomed.
You could see the change.
The growth.
The confidence.

She got a job she loves — one she’s inspired by.
She started carrying herself differently.
Thinking differently.
Living differently.

She didn’t just finish something — she transformed.

And she earned this.

I am proud of her. Truly.

This is what it looks like when someone decides to do things differently — and actually follows through.

This is real.
This works.

And this is only the beginning.

It’s comeback season.

May 1 🤍Yesterday we shared that you’ll be seeing a lot more —here’s what that means.Since our January launch, we’ve been...
05/01/2026

May 1 🤍

Yesterday we shared that you’ll be seeing a lot more —
here’s what that means.

Since our January launch, we’ve been building something new around the work already being done.

Second Chance Summer.

A new way to connect to Sober October Oklahoma —
outside of the traditional process and without needing to be referred.

This creates another entry point for those who are ready to take a step,
but may not know where to start.

More details will be released soon.

Until then, you can message the page directly to learn more or get connected early.

Official rollout begins June 1.

❤️🤍💙

Tomorrow is May 1st — and we’re stepping into a new season.While things may have been quieter publicly, the work behind ...
04/30/2026

Tomorrow is May 1st — and we’re stepping into a new season.

While things may have been quieter publicly, the work behind the scenes never stopped. The focus stayed exactly where it needed to be — building, refining, and continuing to serve the people who count on this program.

Sober October Oklahoma has always been about real people, real accountability, and real second chances.

This season brought clarity — and it strengthened the vision for what’s ahead.

Same mission. Still building. Stronger than ever.

As we head into summer…
you’ll be seeing a lot more from us.

❤️🤍💙

Address

McAlester, OK
74501

Telephone

+19187152335

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