Ready for a scary thought? It's currently 2016 and, if you do the math, the early 2000s were about 15 years ago. If that sounds insane to you, you're not alone. When I think about the year 2003, for example, I will forever be under the impression that this was only "a few" years ago, not 13! All of my memories from this part of my childhood bring a huge smile to my face because everything was so incredibly simple.

There were no iPhones on which we switched back and forth between 12 apps constantly. If you wanted to see a movie, you either went to a movie theater or popped in a VHS (which you had to painstakingly rewind after) because Netflix had not yet consumed our lives. Here are some things that consumed my life in the early 2000s that you probably forgot about (but secretly wish were still relevant).

1. Hit Clips

Invented in 1999 and popular for several years after their release, these little iPod predecessors were a big part of my childhood. I remember sitting on the school bus and jamming out to 60-second clips of songs by the Backstreet Boys, Michelle Carter, Pink, Play, Smash Mouth and of course Britney Spears (to name a few). You didn't get to hear the whole song, but man, you could belt out that chorus after hearing it so many times. Looking back now, I was convinced that the song "Who Let the Dogs Out" was literally about dogs. If you want to experience the "songs of hit clips," I stumbled upon this playlist that will hit you with a huge dose of nostalgia.

2. "Shrek"

Maybe it was just me, but it seems like "Shrek" was the movie of my childhood. This movie came out 15 years ago (2001), but you better believe I can still quote Shrek and Donkey (and sing the "Welcome to Duloc" song). The soundtrack was just as good as the movie, with highlights such as "All Star" by Smash Mouth. The sequels were obviously not quite as good, but the original "Shrek" will forever be one of the best movies of my childhood.

3. "Hug" Drinks

Technically called Little Hug Fruit Barrels, these "hugs" were the drink of choice at every elementary school party. Everyone was very passionate about which color of sugar water was the best and everyone had their own technique for getting past that pesky foil covering. Kids today are probably subjected to much healthier and more natural drink options in school (like plain, non-sugar water), but we got to enjoy these brightly colored juice drinks on the regular.

4. M.A.S.H.

This was THE way to stay entertained with a group of friends throughout my elementary school years, and it couldn't be any more simple. To play this game, all you needed was a piece of paper and a pencil and the fortune-telling fun was ready to begin. Were you destined to live in a mansion, apartment, shack, or house? What would your future salary be?

The most important category was always future husband/wife and there would usually be a dreamy option, an average option and someone utterly awful that your best friend would pick for you as a mean joke. The magic was all in the number of swirl layers drawn, and your future would become more and more clear with every option that was crossed off. I think I believed in the power of this game more than I would like to admit.

5. Bubble Tape Bubble Gum

Six feet of gum seemed like an infinite amount but you know that you were always a little stingy when people asked for some Bubble Tape, because you had the power to choose how big you made the pieces. Can someone please make an adult version of this?

6. "A Thousand Miles"

Let's be honest - this was the anthem of the early 2000s. If you heard the first few notes of the piano intro, you were ready to join in and sing the piano part before the words even picked up. Does anyone know any other songs by Vanessa Carlton since the year 2001 when she released this one? Probably not, but at least this gem of a song that she created is still stuck in my head 15 years later.

7. "The Wild Thornberrys"

Every show on Nickelodeon during this time was pure gold. The first episode of "The Wild Thornberrys" aired in 1998 and the series ran until 2004. Eliza, Darwin, Donnie, Debbie and Nigel were the characters we all knew so well. One very distinct memory that I have from my childhood was going to see the "Rugrats"/"Wild Thornberrys" crossover movie called "Rugrats Go Wild," because it involved scratch and sniff cards that were meant to enhance the viewing experience. Please tell me I'm not the only one who remembers smelling Donnie's feet during that movie.

8. The Olsen Twins (and their movies)

These two were quintessentially the late 1990s/early 2000s. They released multiple movies every year, including absolute classics like "Passport To Paris" and "Our Lips Are Sealed." These girls felt like my best friends and they were definitely my fashion idols.

9. Nickelodeon Magazine

This magazine gave me life in the early 2000s. It was filled with so much silliness and nonsense, but at least it encouraged me to read a little. I don't think I've found another magazine that I enjoyed as much as this one. Thank you, mom, for always renewing my subscription!