Twenty SomethingFebruary 2012

Lil DoescherHair & Makeup Artist

Salon 9309405.607.4247

JaNiece CranmerKSBI All About You

Feature Writer

Steve ClausenOneHealthyBod

Monthly Workout

Sherree ChamberlainFeature Writer

Kealey McIntireKSBI All About You

Feature Writer

Angela HamiltonHair Designer

Elevation Salon405.659.5212

Denver Duncan30 Before 30

Feature Writer

Alex Mendez-KellyMakeup ArtistFeature Writer

CONTRIBUTORSInterns: Colin Anderson & Meagan Thomas

Steve ClausenOneHealthyBod

Monthly Workout

Sherree ChamberlainFeature Writer

Luke StephensFeature Writer

Sarah EthridgeMusic Writer

Meredith FoersterFeature Writer

Chad CosperVideography

Taylor Upchurch30 Before 30

Emily DavisDecor Writer

Jeff RaganHealth Writer

Jacob PeregrinFeature Writer

CONTRIBUTORS

Bethany YoungEditor-in-Chief

Co-Creative DirectorPhotographer

Kelsey SelfFashion Director

Co-Creative DirectorStylist

DCMGMT Creative, IncVideo and Photography Production ServicesPH 405.503.4120info@dcmgmt.com

facebook.com/dcmgmtcreative

Fashion

Clean Start is a six month long progressive raw denim project put on by Blue Seven in OKC.

Raw, also known as dry, denim is a pair of jeans that has not been treated or rinsed after initially being dyed. This means it is one simple color and has none of the artificial sandblasting and chemi-cal treatments that other pairs have. The jeans are crisp and should almost be difficult to pull on for the first time. Over time, they will contour to your body to be your most-perfectly-fit pair.

The appeal of raw denim is that during the process of wearing the jeans, they will begin to break in according to how they fit the wearer, and the daily movements that person makes. The trick is to not wash them for an extended period of time, usually 6 months to a year. If you wash them too early, the excess indigo will fade out of the denim, and they will not fade as extremely. The places that change and are most notable include: whiskering around the front pockets, honeycombs behind the knees, and stacks around the ankles.

At b7, we are illustrating how different lifestyles will break in a pair of jeans differently. Nineteen people from different professions around OKC are wearing a pair everyday for six months. During the process, we will be taking monthly photographs to show the progressive change. At the end of the six months, we will wash all 19 pairs & have an in-store shindig to share the jeans and photos.

We are currently in the fourth month of the proj-ect. These photos communicate how much change has occurred during the first four months. But don’t be fooled. The real change occurs when the jeans are washed for the first time after six months of wear. These images show how, over time, my jeans have already worn in. The first time I wore the jeans, I actually had to lie down and fight each button on. It was quite a battle.

This event is really about the people wearing the jeans. Their stories will be told by how their jeans have changed. Participants include:

Fashion

Ashley Smith: Tattoo Artist – No Regrets Tattoo

Andrew Ngyuen: High Schooler – Yukon High

Amy Lacher: Womens Buyer, boston terrier enthusiast – Blue 7

Ben Hill: Musician, Sales – City Church & Blue 7

Brett Mehl: Associate Pastor – Church of the Harvest

Caleb Arter: Owner – Blue 7

Charlie Hall: Musician – Charlie Hall Band

David Kittredge: Production & Design – The Idea Collective

Dusty Gilpin: Graffiti Artist, Screen Printer – Tree & Leaf Clothing

Eric Lyons: Art Teacher, Coach – Putnam City West

Heady Coleman: Counselor & Blogger – helloheady.com

Jacob Peregrin: Mens Buyer & Operations – Blue 7

Jerry Willis: Food, Bartender – Deep Fork Group

Jonn Gorham: Barista, Coffee Roaster – Elemental Coffee

Lauren:Barista, Cupcake Connoisseur – Cuppies & Joe

Lindsay Zodrow: Local Shop Owner – Collected Thread

Tiffany Tullis: Manager – Blue 7

Tyler Hopkins Law School Student, Musician - OCU

Stop by the shop to try on one of many brands of raw denim. We carry Cult of Individuality, Crate Denim, Nudie Jeans, and Naked & Famous Den-im. You can follow the progress and see individual interviews on the Blue 7 blog, www.myblueseven.com/blog

Stay Raw. Jacob Peregrin

When we think of fashion, we think of clothes, shoes, bags, or anything we put on. We see trends on the runway and we un-derstand that it influences what we wear in society. “Fun,” “Expressive,” and “Creative” are all expressions that have been used to describe fashion. It gives creative freedom to the person wearing the clothes. With that being said, is being in fashion and hav-ing style the same thing? Sometimes, we confuse the definition of fashion with the definition of style. Essentially, the two are intertwined. Many fashion designers today understand that fashion and style are two different things, but it is harder for society to understand this idea. With the help of iconic designers and a very iconic dress, one can easily see how style differentiates itself from fashion. Coco Chanel first introduced the idea that being in fashion and having style are two different things. She was the first to state, “fashions fade and only style remains.” Although her fashions were and still remain powerful in the industry, she understood that there is a unique substance below the thread of a garment. When she first intro-duced the little black dress, she introduced the idea of fashion being accessible to ev-eryone. If everyone could buy this little black dress, then they could also find their own unique way of styling and wearing the dress. The accessibility of Chanel’s LBD (little black dress) allowed people to be in fashion while discovering their own per-sonal style at the same time. The idea of fashion being separate from style proved to be influential to future de-signers. Yves Saint Laurent added his own twist to Chanel’s famous idea. His quote, stated above, essentially means the same

thing as Chanel’s quote, but he expresses that style is eternal. To Saint Laurent, style cannot be bought in stores, nor does it come and go like a trend. The ability of a woman to properly dress and be confident with herself is far more important than the clothes she wears. You probably want an example to get a bet-ter understanding of this idea. If you haven’t already (which I’m sure most of you have!), watch “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” with fashion icon Audrey Hepburn. When you look at Holly Golightly’s iconic black Givenchy dress in the opening scene, you can’t help but to stare in awe of how elegant she looks. Yes. Her dress is beyond gorgeous. But it’s how she carries herself in this dress that grabs the viewer’s attention. Even through the pearls and diamonds complimenting her black dress, we still see the stylish girl that is Holly Golightly. Despite her profes-sion, Holly Golightly confidently knows that she has a sense of style that comes through no matter what outfit or fashion trend she rocks. If this isn’t an awesome ex-ample of the difference between fashion and style, then I don’t know what is! As I mentioned earlier, fashion and style are intertwined. The ultimate difference, how-ever, is that style is an attitude. It is the atti-tude to dress nice while staying true to your own personal voice at the same time. Any-one can try a fashion trend of the moment, but someone with style has the ability to still look great even when trends come and go. The key to discovering style takes time and patience. It also takes confidence and the knowledge of what works best for your body type. Once you have found your style, you can easily be your own Holly Golightly and wear anything you want to wear!

“Fashion Fades, but Style is Eternal.”-Yves Saint Laurent

Fashion

Written by Whitney Lynn

Meet Karli Alfson. Oklahoma native and accessories designer.

Tell us about yourself!I’m a 30 year old creator and designer of wearable accessories. My keen understand-ing of fashion came at a very ripe and early age. Ever since then, whether it was pick-ing apart my YM magazines, ripping pages from VOGUE and mounting them on my wall or dreaming and wishing I could be a model, my creative and eccentric side began blossoming and before I knew it, I was turning tee shirts into tanks and skirts, ripping vintage tops or curtains apart and mashing them together to create a very unique piece for a customer or myself. Therefore, I began branding my work as “A blend of vintage+modern accessories and other wearables” all in one!

How did you get into creating jewelry and accessories?I came into this world with a stack of bracelets on my arms and I’ve been making jewelry since I was 12. My Mom took me to the Luv Bead and the rest is history!

How would you describe your pieces?My work consists of vintage+modern mashed into one. I have an insane respect for quality design and vintage. Because I didn’t live in my most favorite era’s (i.e. 1920’s, ‘50’s & 60’s) I want the nostalgic vibe of those eras to come to life in our modern world.

Where do you get your ideas and inspiration from?My ideas and inspirations derive from street wear, what people are wearing on a daily basis, unexpected accessories collaborated with a prim and proper day dress. The ying and the yang. Things that don’t make sense together until the right girl puts them to-gether! It’s all in the attitude. You’ve gotta be born a fashionista! Aside from street wear fashion, I absolutely have an affair with vin-tage and color that has personality all on its own. These keep things interesting.

Who are some fashion icons that you look to?Gwen Stefani, hands down. She will always be my #1. Beatrix Ost from Advanced Style is pretty sensational.

Where can people find your pieces?You can find COQUETTEgirl at:DNA GALLERIESBLUE 7WWW.COQUETTEgirl.ETSY.COM

Fashion

Photography by Bethany Young

Problem: I can write the word “dry” on my skin with my fingernail. (eeewww)

Remedy: Apply body and hand lotion sev-eral times throughout the day. Stay clear of body creams that rely heavily on thickness from Petrolatum-type ingredients. Products like Aquafor and Vasoline make a coating on the skin, but they don’t actually pene-trate and help the problem. Find something with lots of shea butter or Argon Oil (Mo-roccan Oil). Try products like L’Occitane, Fresh and Bliss.

Problem: Lips look like a satellite picture from space of the Rockies, they are so dry and chapped!

Remedy: Again here, as with body lotions, apply several times a day. Since you don’t have to worry about clogging your pores, find products with jojoba oil, which is actu-ally a wax. Quench by YBF and Fresh lip treatments are, by far, some of the best on the market today. But, here again, the point is quantity. Apply, apply, apply!

Brrrrr! Finally some weather I can wrap myself around! Personally, I love the cold. The one thing I’m not too fond of is this DRY climate. The cold windy air and the dry heat from our homes and cars wreak havoc on all of our skin. My legs start to look ashy, which I cleverly hide with long skirts. (Thank you maxi-skirt gods!) My hands are cracked and my face starts to feel really tight, but not in an “I got a

wind tunnel facelift in the 80’s” kind of way. More like a “if I smile too wide, my face might just never make it back to normal” kind of way.

Lucky for all of us, there is a remedy for all of that.

Winter Beauty RemediesWritten by Alex Mendez-KellyOwner of The MakeUp Bar

Beauty

Problem: Thirsty thirsty thirsty facial skin.

Remedy: The thicker the cream the better. Choose a cream over a fluid for the winter, or layer a cream OVER the fluid. If you are worried about preventing early aging signs, layer it baby! It’s not just for J. Crew and their fabulous sweater combos. Make sure you get just the right amount of creaminess in your moisturizer, or it could clog your pores. Follow your gut about how much is too much. Also, you might try a nice, easy, creamy cleanser instead of soap or a foam-ing cleanser. We love the Dr. Belter’s Velvety cleanser ($28) around here. It even takes off mascara and eyeliner.

Problem: Drink coffee much?

Remedy: Actually, there shouldn’t be a remedy for that, just an observation. If you drink hot drinks like coffee, teas etc. in the winter, it will dry out your lips because of the heat of your beverage. It’s especially important to exfoliate in winter! Sara Happ is the original lip scrub, and, as with most things, the “original” is always the best. Moisten lips first, then apply a little of the sugar scrub (with added essential oils) on lips and around the lip line. Gently massage in circular movements, and voila! Soft delicious lips!

Some helpful advice none of us will follow but should be mentioned anyway: To avoid over drying your skin, please take showers instead of baths. Take cooler and shorter showers. Drink more water, and re-member better ingredients mean better products. (ie. results) And it’s

always a good time for more MOISTURE!

Twenty SomethingGirl

Makeup: The MakeUp BarStyling: Kelsey SelfPhotography: Bethany Young

Feature

Meet Clancey Cleveland.Our February

Twenty Something Girl.Tell us about yourself.I will always thank my mom for naming me with the initials CCC - Clancey Christian Cleveland. Clancey actually means “Red-Headed Warrior,” something we didn’t learn till I was in the third grade. I was born with my red hair and never want a hair colorist to touch it!

In 2007, I graduated from Christian Heri-tage Academy. I graduated from the won-derful Oklahoma City University in 2011, earning my B.A. in mass communications, with an emphasis in print and broadcast journalism. Two of the best things that happened to me while attending OCU: I pledged Gamma Phi Beta and my professor helped me get a job with the OKC Thunder.

What made you decide to go into broadcasting?In high school, I wrote for the paper for three years and served as editor-in-chief for two of those years. That’s where I learned to love writing. Then my mass communica-tions professors at OCU were great at get-ting me involved and plugged in to the right classes and activities. My roommate and I co-anchored OCU22’s “News on the Twos” and a new sports show, “Inside the Blue.” Also, I worked for Student Publications as the multimedia editor - which meant I did all the video work for the college newspa-per. Everything combined made me fall in love with the interviewing and telling a story part of broadcast journalism I now enjoy on a daily basis.

Tell us about your current broadcasting career.My job with Thunder broadcasting led to

my current part-time gig as the Fox Sports Southwest stage manager at all OKC Thun-der home games.

My full time job is exciting too! I am the sports director at MMTV on mooremonth-ly.com. We are owned by a company out of Moore, Okla., Trifecta Communications. MMTV is hyper-local and the best source for Moore and South OKC’s news, sports and entertainment. Daily you can find updates and new, original stories. Twice a week we shoot our MMTV newscast. We produce a wide variety of shows, including “Beyond the Game,” the sports show that I host every week. Plus, we produce a month-ly magazine (hence the “Moore Monthly” name), so I get to utilize my love for writing too! Even if you’re not from the area, you will love watching the MMTV shows (my favorite is Food Fight).

What is the work environment like in broadcasting?At Trifecta Communications the work en-vironment is amazing! Very unlike a typical newsroom. Everyone likes each other here, and we even have a weekly Bible study at our local Cupcake Lounge (which I highly recommend everyone go to).

What is it about sports broad-casting that you love more than other types of broadcasting?While in college, I had to report on the murder of a fellow student. After about 72 sleepless hours of following the story, I decided that the gloom and doom of news wasn’t for me. As we all know, sports can have an ugly side too. Fortunately, that is rare and not the everyday. I grew up around athletes and played multiple sports my-self. Sports exist because they make people happy - why not report on the happy?

What do you attribute all of your sports knowledge to?My family has a rich heritage in sports. My grandfather, Don Demeter, played major league baseball and even won the 1959 World Series with the LA Dodgers. My brothers are both college baseball players. Growing up I went to thousands of baseball games to watch my brothers, and I played basketball, volleyball, golf and even was a cheerleader. Now, my favorite sport is bas-ketball, mostly because I get a front and center seat to nearly every Thunder game!

What advice would you give someone who is trying to pur-sue a career in broadcasting?I would advise you to intern as much as possible. Experience is everything in this business. Listen well and take advice to heart. Don’t be upset by critiques from professors, fellow worker, or bosses. Learn from your mistakes and build on your progress.

Favorite Sports TeamsOKC Thunder, but my family will always be

life-long Dodger fans because of my grandpa’s history with the team.

Favorite Celebrity Style CrushAudrey Hepburn - Classy, Chic & Confident

Favorite DesignersFrench Connection, Sam Edleman,

Louis Vuitton

Favorite MovieBreakfast at Tiffany’s

Emergency Fashion KitBandAids, Teasing Comb, CoverGirl Out-

last Lip Color & Gloss, Bronzer

I have never formally been for or against Valentine’s Day. I love a day dedicated to showing your sweetheart how much you love him/her, but I know the expectation lurking behind. It’s like those times you get dressed up with your friends, all ready to go out and have the “best night ever”, only to get there and have a mediocre time; but then you go home with them, get all lounged out, and end up laughing the night away, and talk about it for years to come.

When I think of Valentine’s Day, I think of being in elementary school and receiving a mandatory Valentine from everyone in your class (and with said Valentine came the Valentine candy, making this holiday a close third behind Halloween and Easter). Or in junior high, when you paid to see your “Data Match” based on the question-naire the whole school took. (Consequent-ly you were either mortified with your matches or determined you and the bas-ketball captain were going to get married.)

I have had my share of good Valentines and bad Valentines, but what I want to do this year is give you a couple of resources to get out of the heart-shaped candy box slump. Do something exciting this year; do something different; do something unex-pected! Check out some local resources, or see if any of these ideas strike a chord:

Oldies but Goodies: If you and your Valentine have been to-gether a while, dig up your nostalgic fa-vorites and make them all happen in one night! If your song was “Every Breath You Take” by the Police, and you held hands at

Valentine’s Day Tipsthe skating rink when you heard it... you win.

If you are a good cook (and on a budget):Figure out your man’s favorite meal and make it ‘out of this world.’ Snag a season of his favorite TV show to watch while you cook!

Do something crazy: Sign up for a tandem sky dive!

Move the Date: Who cares if the actual date falls on Tues-day, wait until your special date is planned or until a special event happens! (Good news if you move it to an open weekend. Three words... Mini Road Trip)

Basket of Favorites: Can’t think of a substantial present or you both have decided to do something small, run around the city one afternoon and grab all of his/her favorite things and ar-range them in a surprise basket. Think of Christmas and how awesome the stockings are. All your favorite knick-knacks, maga-zines, candy, etc. in one place.

Themed Valentine’s Day: Who says it’s all about the pink and red. Pirate themed?

Whatever form you decide to show it in, just make sure you let your mate know how much you appreciate him or her. Create your own special day; cherish your memories!

Written by Meagan Owen

Feature

Photo by Bethany Young

“Oh my luve is like a red, red rose” are the serenading words of Robert Burns, and would entrance any woman who would be described as the fragrant, soft, delicate flower, especially on the day of the year dedicated to the expres-sions of love in many forms: Valentine’s Day. As one of the major icons of Valentine’s Day, red roses and their elegant simplicity is one of the most intimate ways one can express the love they harbor for that special someone. However, through the assistance of Tony Foss Flowers, one can venture from the classic tradition of the red rose and express love through the less popular flowers that are just as mesmerizing and ambrosial.

As hairdressing was his first occupation, Tony Foss has an underlying passion that he was able to eventually outlet: The catering and caring of flowers. As it was through his original passion, he gets to draw inspiration and infuse his hair style techniques in his floral arrangements.

“The inspiration and technique of coloration in flower design came from hair color; what you mix together makes a color. Color is the foun-dation [of flowers and design] and you don’t need to be afraid of it,” Foss says.

Fearless in his expression of bold and vibrant colors in his arrangements, Foss embraces a younger perspective and he becomes that “younger spirit.”

“I like bold colors, and young people like them too; I attack it [the flower arrangement in color] as a young person would. It’s fresh,” Foss states.

Filled with a passion and admiration of flowers in all forms, it is no surprise that Foss has been bewitched by flowers all his life. “As I think back to when I was a young man, even when I was a young boy, I remember my mother and father had never told me to mow

Feature Modernizing Love Through a Classic Tradition

the grass or weed the flower beds; I always did it and, over time, it has really manifested into my life,” Foss reminisces. As the iconic day of love is quickly approach-ing and everyone is in pursuit of the most heart-capturing gift, Foss advises a basic yet whimsical and ingenious color code of flower arrangements that symbolize each stage of a relationship, from the beginning of a new romance, to the relationship that has lasted a lifetime.

As he has strategically categorized each color, Foss warns that if the typical red rose for Valentine’s Day is gifted in a new relationship, “It would be acceptable to send red roses, just don’t say ‘Loooove,’” Foss said.

One should declare their affections for another over time, and not overwhelm their doorstep with a dozen red roses, screaming infatuation.

To leave a long lasting impression on the per-son of interest, Foss also suggests considering “…pastel colors (pinks, oranges, greens, etc.), because the sweetness of soft flowers are like a thought.” The more simplicity, the more price-less the reaction is of the gentle gesture. For the veterans of the longer relationships, Foss gives a piece of advice that would capture any heart.

“If you are engaged and you know that you know, get her her favorite flowers. Just make it big [the flower arrangement] and show that to her. Valentine’s is one of those times when you send flowers to the office, you have to have the biggest dozen of roses you could possibly get; you want it big,” Foss says. Out of all times of the year, try to express your love and affections in the most imaginative and spontaneous way possible, leaving your loved one always excit-edly guessing. It has been for generations, or one could even say centuries, that it has been the man’s desig-nated role to offer his Love flowers. But as the times and culture are evolving at a rapid pace, a new social cue has formed, and it is now con-

sidered appropriate for the role to be initiated by women also, as Foss affirms.

“Men like flowers as much as women do; they just don’t have a say in it,” Foss suggests.

Even though men typically don’t voice their admiration of flowers, Foss has observed what men typically look for in a flower. “Ladies tend to like the round, ‘close to the vase’ flowers, or long flowers, but a man usually likes the linear flower and, particularly, they tend to like the orange flower, or the Tropical of Paradise flower,” Foss tells. With that being said, man or woman, everyone can share an appreciation for a piece of nature that is beau-tifully diverse. As poet E.E. Cummings once said, “The earth laughs in flowers.”

Want your chocolates and want to eat them too? Now you can! Sharing the love amongst the Twenty-Something audience, Foss is run-ning a special! When you order from Tony Foss Flowers, make sure to mention that you are a Twenty Something Magazine reader and you will receive a free box of chocolates with your Valentine’s Day order!

Written by Meagan Thomas

Valentine’s ListPossibly the most dreaded day all year for singles: Valentine’s Day. Let’s face it, if you

have somebody you’re ‘crunching’ on, the proclaimed day of love is much more excit-ing. But, what are you supposed to do on the pink and red holiday if you are stuck alone? Go out and drink the night away with other pathetic unhappy people? We have got a better idea…make a list. That’s right, a list. Decide what you’re looking

for in a partner and go get it. Grab a piece of paper and a pencil. Put serious thought into these five lists we are about to describe. When you’ve got a concrete idea of what you’re really looking for, type the list and look at it before and after every date…until you are satisfied. Yes, we are almost proposing you make a recipe…the final dish…a

platter of love, made just the way you like it!

The Six ‘Musts’These are six things that are absolute deal breakers. If political affiliation will make or break a situation, then this should be on your deal breaker list. When you go on a first

date, you must somehow work these questions into the conversation. If the answers do not mirror your thoughts, do not go on a second date! These are DEAL BREAK-

ERS!

The Ten ‘Very Importants’These are simply as the title says. Traits that are very important to you, but not neces-

sarily deal breakers. These first two lists will be difficult to distinguish between, but once you get it down, things become a lot easier.

The Six ‘Must Nots’These things are your pitfalls. Things that have hurt you in the past and you learned from. However, once you’ve learned, then learn not to make the same mistake twice!

Unlimited ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if…’Little things are icing on the cake. Things like hair color, hobbies and other stuff that

would just be a great addition to the relationship.

Envisioning Five ScenariosImagine five scenarios or situations that you would like to experience with your part-

ner. Examples could be cooking a dish together, learning dance or a new language, or just attending sporting events on a regular basis. Get creative and put this one to

work!

For the past however-many-years, you’ve been a student, learning all the lessons that love has to offer. Think of these lists as your study notes. Look them over often, and if the current prospect doesn’t fit your outline, drop them like your freshman math

class. It might not be foolproof… or keep you from acting a fool in love, but at least it gets you thinking in the right direction. Good luck and happy dating in 2012.

May this be your year!

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Written by JaNiece Cranmer & Kealey McIntire of KSBI’s All About You

The Girlfriend’s Guide to Valentine’s Day

Happy February everybody! February is a pretty big month for relationships because of Valentine’s Day.

Honestly, guys have it pretty easy when it comes to Valentine’s Day. A nice bouquet of flowers and BOOM, we’re good.

Girls though? You have it harder. So I’m here to help. Here are a few Valentine’s Day gift ideas for girls to give to guys.

Keurig Coffee MakerThese things are the best, and if you’re looking to spend a little extra money,

definitely a solid V-Day gift.

ClothesClothes are always a good way to go. GQ just had an article on a new belt

from J Crew that I immediately went out and bought.

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Video GamesIn high school I was super jealous of my friend whose girlfriend was cool enough

to get him a videogame for Valentine’s Day. This will go over perfect with your

guy if he is into video games. What game to get him depends on what sys-tem he has, but get him the right game

and you will officially be the coolest girl-friend in the world.

If he has a Wii:The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword

It is a safe bet that if your boyfriend has a Wii, he will enjoy Zelda. I beat this game just last week and it is awesome.

If he has a PS3 or X-box 360:Arkham City or Skyrim

Either of these games are safe bets to get your guy. Arkham City is the newest

Batman game and I loved it. And while I haven’t played Skyrim yet, I hear it is

unbelievably good. The only problem is that Skyrim is a huge game and might cause your boyfriend to disappear into his man cave for the rest of the winter.

If he has a 3DS, then congratulations, your boyfriend is REALLY into video games. The 3DS is relatively new, so there aren’t as many games for you to choose from. However, Resident Evil Revelations comes out February 7th,

and I am looking forward to this game. If your boyfriend has a 3DS, there is a good chance he is looking forward to

this game too.

These are just a few ideas that I would be thrilled about getting when February 14th comes around. Hopefully this has been helpful.

See you next month!LUKE STEPHENS

Food Valentine’s Special

Valentine’s Special

Fashion

FebruaryFashions

Makeup: The MakeUp BarStyling: Kelsey Self

Photography: Bethany YoungModels: Jule White and Ashley Hancock

Clothing provided by Royce ClothingShoes: Jeffrey Campbell

With technology on a rampant rise, and any form of it just aching to get in your finger tips, you see more and more “professionals” trying to make a dolla dolla bill yo! You see web de-signers, or should I say clip art artist. You see producers, and I use the word producer very, very lightly. However the biggest group of “professionals” profiting off of this technology surge is the photographer. It used to be that the only fake photographer was a per-vert with a camera just trying to meet girls. Now anyone with time and a camera is setting up shoots and raking it in.

Here is how a “fake” photographer gets their start:

1. Think about enrolling in a photography class.

2. Think “nah that’s too much work, I’ll watch a tutorial on YouTube.”

3. Watch half of a tutorial on YouTube. 4. Get bright idea.

5. Call actual photographer and ask about photos for your kid.

6. Ask what camera or equipment they use.

7. Go and purchase that said equipment.

8. Cancel appointment with the actual photographer.

9. Wahla, you’re a working photographer.

The best way to spot a fake photog-rapher is to know the difference be-tween a photographer and a “picture taker”. A photographer will have you take one step over so a shadow won’t create a uni-brow on your forehead. A “picture taker” will leave the shad-owesque Hitler stash on your face. A “picture taker” will be in the reflection of your sunglasses. A photographer will not allow you to wear sunglasses, unless you’re a pilot. A “picture taker” is clueless of the random objects in the background of your photo - tele-phone poles, tree limbs that look like horns sprouting from your head, and the ever so popular bird poop on the rail your holding, while trying to look sexy. A photographer pays close at-tention to detail so you don’t look like a sexy telephone repairman beast who can’t keep their hand out of bird feces. A photographer is always tasteful and professional. A “picture taker” will take your picture with your close off, and usually encourages it.

So, do your research. Talk to previous clients and whatever you do, never ever wear a bedazzled American flag jean jacket!

Trendy Trends Feature

Written by Denver Duncan

What We’re Listening To...Song of the Month: “True Loves” by Hooray for Earth

A lot of new artists try to do something new and differ-ent for those who appreciate music. It’s quite a gamble because some of them fail miserably and we never hear from them again, while there are oth-ers who blow our minds. Hooray For Earth, for example, has done quite well for themselves with their single “True Loves.” Although they are not a brand new band, this single

Artist of the Month: The KillsI think we can all agree that any music sounds better in a concert hall than through your car stereo. Recently I went to a show and heard The Kills blasting from the speakers at Grenada Theater in Dallas in between sets and instantly became a fan. Sounding like the dark side of Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, The Kills vocalist Alison Moss-hart is complimented by the drumming of Jamie Hince. This duo is all about the percussion and the edgier side of rock, but Mosshart’s voice adds just enough femininity to make a perfect balance. They formed in 2001 when Mosshart moved to London from Florida to work with Jamie Hince to start their series of albums, Keep on Your Mean Side in 2003, No Wow in 2005, and their most successful album, Midnight Boom in 2008. The latter is the album that made me a fan. It contains everything a rock and roll fan would want out of an album, but with catchier beats clearly defined by their heavy percussion-guitar blend. Their songs to love include “U.R.A. Fever,”

“Cheap and Cheerful,” and “DNA.” If you’re a fan of The White Stripes, or just can’t get enough of Ms. Karen O, you will be all over this band.

Music

is the first that has been brought to the attention of music-listeners. This quartet released their latest album, also called True Loves, on June 7, 2011 and have been compared to other artists like Yeasayer and MGMT. Although, I think they’re much more tolerable than MGMT. If you like layered, electronic, and just fun music that’s also very smart, listen to this song. You’ll love it.

What We’re Listening To...Album of the Month: Strange Mercy by St. Vincent

Experimental and mysterious are words I would use to describe Annie Clark, a 28-year-old singer-song-writer from Dallas, Texas who goes by St. Vincent. Her third and most recent album Strange Mercy is equal parts electronic and vocal, which conveys the bravery and sheer talent that most musicians seek to produce with their work. With her most popular singles being “Cruel” and “Surgeon,” you can hear how her music means just as much to her as her voice. Upbeat guitar-riffing creates the melody for “Cruel” and is accompanied by Clark’s almost angelic voice to make what could be a somewhat shadowy song a more thoughtful and friendly one. She is an artist to be admired because of her variety of instruments that she cleverly layers to keep us interested while telling her story. In “Surgeon,” she uses her keyboard for a more whimsical approach to offset what is a more melancholic sound than “Cruel.” This girl pro-duces such great work, because of such a substantial past. Before owning her title as St. Vincent, a name inspired by the hospital in downtown New York, Annie Clark was a part of the Indie-pop group Poly-phonic Spree and even worked with Sufjan Stevens in his live band performances. She obviously did her fair share of shadowing before she created and shared work of her own. It has paid off because albums like Strange Mercy do not show up every day, but are meant to reward those who wait for a masterpiece.

Written by Sarah Ethridge

Music

Photos by Claire Vogel

A decade ago in the middle of the city of jazz, an alternative rock band was formed. Today, MUTEMATH continues to spread its infectious music with bombastic sounds coupled with lyri-cal meaning.

The trio of musical talents includes Paul Meany, Roy Mitchell-Cárdenas and Darren King. Al-though they have been together several years, the band manages to keep things fresh and innova-tive. “We really hit a crossroads on this last tour,” Darren explained. “In preparation for it all, we were feverishly preparing and had some tough decisions to make. The decisions were to either go all out with an ambitious, expensive, crazy show, or do a normal show with some strobe lights and just make some money to save up.”

Never a group to do the minimum, MUTE-MATH is going all out on their latest tour. “The second option [a normal show] sounded really depressing,” Darren said laughing. “At the end of the day when this tour is said and done, we may lose a little bit [of money], but it’s the greatest thing we’ve ever done and it’s the most fun I’ve ever had on tour. I think it’s something that we felt like, ‘We just got to do it!’”

In 2011, MUTEMATH released “Odd Soul,” their first self-produced album. “It was by far the healthiest process we’ve ever gone through,” Darren revealed. “We didn’t have any musical influences that we deliberately talked about, but there were three things we did talk about. We wanted to be certain that we produced ourselves. Secondly, we wanted to make an album that was energetic. Thirdly, we wanted to mirror the energy of our live shows. Whenever we got stuck, we always went back to asking, ‘What would we do live?’ and we kind of let that be our boss.”

The high-spirited melodies of this album are not coincidental, but rather intentional. “The songs still acknowledge sorrow and frustration, but they lean more on the side of an optimistic attitude…I think it comes from becoming older and becoming a man,” Darren recognized. “We all pushed ourselves to the brink of our ability on this record…we recorded it as if this would be the last record we’d ever make…We’re not good

at being dark, so we wanted to see how far we could go in creating something glaringly bright,” Paul has said of “Odd Soul.”

Another difference with this album stems from Darren’s contribution in creating the lyrics. “It took me becoming confident with it,” Darren admitted. “On other records I would contribute a line here or there and I would sometimes be successful, but this was the first time I’ve ever presented something to Paul [singer/keyboard-ist] and it’s hard to write something for someone else to sing…it just took time.” Darren’s patience, however, has proved to payoff. “I enjoy the writ-ing process now. I’m starting to feel that I’m go-ing to get back into it. I hope that I will be able to write more songs…I’ll keep trying!”

MUTEMATH is said to have also channeled their eccentric Christian upbringing to serve as a guide for creating this record. “I think it’s just how we are and how we were raised,” Dar-ren shared. “It’s weird, but as weird as it is, it was [shared by us] to be part of that particular brand of American Christianity. The decision was just to be honest about ourselves and I think we developed a greater appreciation for it.” Darren continued, “I feel like we learned something this time around that we didn’t know before and I can’t wait to try that out next time.” – Words of comfort to all MUTEMATH fans that there is more to come!

This band is not only known for their eclectic ballads, but also for the distinctive nature of their music videos. “It’s always collaborative,” Darren said of the behind-the-scenes process. “There’s sort of a collective sigh we have before making the videos, like ‘Okay, here we go,’ but once we’re in it, it gets really fun again and I’m proud of all of them.” The next video on the list is for “Allies,” off their latest album, but Darren has other songs in mind for future videos.

Unique is the perfect word to describe this band’s background, and uniquely talented is a phrase that has become synonymous with MUTE-MATH’s music. For more information, visit www.mutemath.com.

MUTEMATH

Written by Meredith Foerster

Music

Photos by Dakota Lewallen

Meet Oklahoma Musician,Samantha Crain.

Tell us about yourself!I’m from Shawnee. Had a pretty normal, not particularly musical, Midwest existence and childhood until I started touring when I was 19.

How did you get into music?I started playing music and attempting to write songs just alone in my bedroom when I was about 16 or 17 - I got really serious about trying to learn the guitar when I was about 18. When I realized I could use music as a way to support traveling, I immediately started booking tours even though I wasn’t really ready musically to be playing full shows in front of people. I just really want-ed to tour and see the world. Loving music and writing came later on.

Do you write all of your songs?I have had a few co-writing experiences but nothing that has really felt magical yet. So, yes, I do write all my songs. I am meet-ing new musicians all the time though, so I don’t doubt that some day I’ll be able to co-write songs with someone. I draw inspira-tion from everywhere. I am a hoarder in the fact that I keep an arsenal of journals with all my ideas. Folders full of newspaper clip-pings, photos that might spur a narrative - I keep all of that, you never know what might inspire you and when it might happen.

Do you like being on the road?I love traveling. Its the one part of what I do that I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of. I love not having to decide where to live. I can live everywhere!

You have been on tour in Europe - what was that experience like?Touring through Europe is a lot different from touring in America. I take the train

everywhere instead of driving. Its really peaceful, and leaves a lot of time for reflect-ing that you normally wouldn’t be able to do while driving on the interstate. Also, everything is really close together so you can have full days to really explore the city you’re in, instead of just driving 7 and 8 hour days in order to get between cities over here in USA.

What musician do you admire?I really admire one of my best friends, Pen-ny Hill. I think she has a really unique way of writing and arranging songs. Also, Jason Molina is one of my favorite songwriters. He is just so honest and unapologetic about what he writes. Roy Orbison is my favorite singer of all time. He has such a powerful voice that is somehow otherworldly and completely accessible and vulnerable all at the same time.

How would you describe your sound?This is the worst question to ask a musician. I say that to any journalist that asks me this question. They should know that any artist hates to “explain” what they are doing. They want people to talk about their art and de-cide for themselves. We change as people so much, so its not fair to pigeonhole artists in to thinking their art doesn’t change as they change as people.

What advice would you give other artists who are trying to pursue music?I would tell almost anybody to not think about a “career”. You don’t have to do the same thing for your entire life. Just work really hard at what you currently enjoy. The minute you start really thinking of your work as a career, it will become uninterest-ing and uninspired. Just work really hard at what you do. That’s all you can do.

Urban WineWorksThe family owned and operated Stobaugh Wine Group has opened its newest winery – Urban WineWorks, located in the His-toric Plaza District in Oklahoma City.

Opened in the fall of 2011, the winery of-fers more than fine wine and great food; it offers an experience. “We wanted to bring a more modern sense to a winery, and appeal to everyone, especially in Oklahoma City…we are really reaching to a younger demo-graphic,” says one UWW employee of the difference between UWW and its Stobaugh counterpart, Whispering Meadows Vine-yards and Winery located in McAlester.

This full-production winery is noted for more than what is poured in the glass; Urban WineWorks also takes pride in what goes on the plate. With her unparalleled cu-linary knowledge, Chef Melissa Lain rules the kitchen and brings a little bit of her New Orleans roots to her creative dishes, includ-ing meatloaf and gumbo.

One of the main goals for this premier win-ery is to encourage people to “drink out-side the box,” with a variety of unusual and enticing blends. “We currently have eight wines, and just bottled our ninth, so we are expanding our wine list.”

Each wine label shows fun and unique pair-ings to suit your soirée. “A lot of people are hesitant with pairing wines, so, with each one of our wine bottles, we have paired it with a meal.” These pairings range from a nice, formal meal, to the leftovers in your fridge; one example includes cold pizza. In the future, Chef Lain will host wine pairing classes for the wine enthusiast in training.

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, Urban WineWorks hopes you will raise your glass in celebration with them.

“We have created a spectacular meal,” Chef Lain explains. “It’s a five course meal that starts off with our soup. We normally do our gumbo, which is a number-one seller here, but we will also have our French on-ion soup. Then, we’ll move on to our Cobb salad, which is really nice because I like to do smoked-hickory bacon with a little bit of Cajun in it.” Chef Lain continues expres-sively, “The entrée itself is an Italian dish, chicken marsalas, but we’re going to feature one of our wines for the sauce, and pair it with green beans. For the dessert, I’m going to serve a chocolate decadence, which is a chocolate cake with three types of choco-late, and chocolate-covered strawberries. To top off the meal, I’ll serve pralines that will just melt in your mouth.” This five-course meal is sure to have your palette begging for more. Meals are $30 per person ($60 per couple), and include the five-course meal paired with a wine flight, live music and, of course, flowers.

Urban WineWorks does not stop at tradi-tional holidays. Every month, the winery hosts “Full Moon Parties” to celebrate sen-sational wine and food. UWW plays off the different Native American moon names to set the themes. In January, the wolf moon helped establish “Howling in the Moon-light.” This month, in honor of Mardi Gras and Chef Lain’s Cajun background, “Mas-querade in the Moonlight” will be held February 7 at the winery.

Touted as having “Damn Fine Table Wine,” Urban WineWorks proves to be an eclectic and funky winery that is an Oklahoma City must-do! Visit www.urbanww.com for more information.

Written by Meredith Foerster

Food

Photography by Bethany Young

Matthew KenneyA tribute to the raw food lifestyle, world-renowned chef Matthew Kenney marries culinary art and nutrition behind the doors of his latest venture in Oklahoma City – Matthew Kenney OKC.

The now highly acclaimed chef put a fork in his own career path, one that led him straight to the kitchen. “I went to college to study pre-law and then I moved to New York City,” Matthew says. “Once I got into New York City, I became fascinated with the restaurant business. I thought the food industry was a really dynamic social envi-ronment, so I set out to learn about that.”

Matthew did more than learn, he dove head first into production. “I came to the con-clusion that working as a chef would be a great way to integrate myself into the food world,” he explained. As a result, Matthew enrolled in the French Culinary Institute and later opened several successful restau-rants in New York and along the East Coast.

This plant-based chef, however, was not always rooted in, well, roots. “A friend had introduced me to the raw vegan cuisine about eight or nine years ago and that sort of shifted my focus in what I wanted to do as a chef,” Chef Kenney reveals. “I started to think that if somebody could do this in a more cool, contemporary way, then that would be amazing! I had always been in-terested in health food. I always paid more attention to healthy food than exercise. Raw food was just an example of a way I thought it could still be very interesting and flavor-ful, while still being very good for us.”

After choosing raw food as a lifestyle, Mat-thew had another task to tackle – how to transfer it to cuisine. “I had to re-learn everything,” he admits. “All the techniques and tools and ingredients I had learned to work with were pretty much no use at that

point. I had to re-teach myself new meth-ods and new ways to prepare the food.”

Once he mastered raw food preparation, he had to find a location. “The original think-ing was that by being in the heartland…we would be reaching the coasts, both New York and L.A., and sort of drawing people into the center, and being convenient to both sides of the country,” he states.

In the south, however, where the food is better known as “deep fried” than “raw,” Matthew knew he would face a somewhat skeptical crowd. “Just let me feed you!” he says laughing. “My goal is to have people try it and experience it. The taste speaks for itself.” Matthew Kenney OKC was voted one of America’s Best New Restaurants by Forbes Magazine, proof that skeptics are not only trying raw food, but coming back for seconds.

A man on a mission to spread the culinary arts, Matthew founded the world’s only licensed raw food culinary academy, appro-priately called Matthew Kenney Academy, also located in Oklahoma City. “My goal of the academy is to teach the chefs of the fu-ture how to prepare this food the right way. The goal is to arm the chefs with the tools and techniques they need to make this food interesting and beautiful.” The academy offers two certified courses, Fundamentals of Raw Food Cuisine and Advanced Raw Techniques. These courses teach the basics of raw food as well as the artistic elements in the food’s presentation.

Matthew Kenney OKC does not compro-mise flavor. Chef Kenney’s innovative tech-niques transfer to savory meals and treats from kitchen to plate. For more informa-tion, visit www.MatthewKenneyCuisine.com, or better yet, venture to Classen Curve and experience healthful food at its finest.

Written by Meredith Foerster

Food

Photography by Bethany Young

Eight Great Ways to Eat More VeggiesOne of the main nutritional issues most of us are guilty of is not eating enough veggies. Not eating enough veggies is problematic, because we’re depriving our bodies of important an-tioxidants, vitamins, and phytonutrients that help our bodies perform optimally. Instead of focusing on why we don’t eat enough vegeta-bles, we’re going to focus on how we can eat more veggies enjoyably and easily. Try some, or all, of the suggestions below for simple, creative, and delicious ways to get more veg-gies in your diet.

The Frozen 5 MethodOpen a 5-lb bag of frozen veggies every week and, by the end of the week, make sure it’s gone. Easy to do, track, and hold yourself accountable. And no, putting it in the trash doesn’t count.

The Great Veggie DivideThis one is more specifically for you rare veg-gie lovers, those that enjoy eating vegetables, but, for some reason or another, still fall short of the recommended daily servings. Divide your plate down the middle. Fill an entire half with veggies and the other with lean protein, fruits, nuts, etc. Do this every time you eat dinner. You’ll get several servings of fibrous and filling vegetables, while lightening the overall caloric load of your meal.

Mix Veggies in Omelets & CasserolesIf you want to eat more vegetables, but aren’t really sold on their taste, a great way to “disguise” them is in omelets, eggs, and cas-seroles. Add mushrooms, spinach, peppers, tomatoes, carrots, green beans, and whatever else might go well with your meal. Try top-ping with salsa. It is low calorie, adds flavor while covering the taste, and provides even more veggies.

Mask Them in Muffins & PancakesThis is a great way to bump up your breakfast veggie presence while barely realizing it. Mix

any veggie in a blender and add to your pan-cake or muffin batter. Try and use veggies that you don’t normally eat. This will help expand your horizon, and bring you vitamins and minerals that you aren’t currently receiving.

Mix in MeatHere’s a quick way to add a ton of veggies to a meal, practically unnoticed. Simply put them into a food processor, puree’, and mix the result into ground beef. Use this for meatloaf, burgers, taco meat, or any other recipe calling for ground beef or turkey.

Veggie FriesHere’s a great side dish to your veggie meat meal above. Take zucchini, squash, or sweet potatoes and cut in the fry shape of your choice. You can keep them dry or baste a slight amount of olive oil on each fry. Season however you prefer. Put in the oven. Find oven times and temperature that work best for you to give you the consistency you desire.

Juice it UpWhat’s better to wash down your veggie burg-er and veggie fries, than with a veggie drink? Fruit-based smoothies can make even your least favorable foods, delicious. Try mixing berries, apples, bananas, and any other fruit or fruit juices with your veggies. The natural sugar in the fruit will be the dominant taste that you’ll enjoy. So much so, you may not even realize that veggies are in there.

Drink Them UpLast, but not least, try using a greens supple-ment. This is arguably the simplest way to get your nutritional ‘bang for the buck.’ One small scoop can provide numerous, impor-tant vitamins and minerals, while giving you a break from eating. These can be blended with water (the less water the better. Drink it quick, unless you enjoy savoring the taste of grass), a fruit smoothie, or mixed with most other suggestions above.

Written by Jeff Ragan

Food

Hair & Makeup: Lil DoescherStyling: Kelsey SelfPhotography: Bethany YoungModel: Ashley LiddellClothing: Bad Granny’s

Fashion

They’re creepy and they’re kooky,

Mysterious and spooky, They’re all together ooky,

The Addams Family.

Miss Oklahoma, Betty ThompsonMost of you know that Oklahoma’s own, Betty Thompson, embarked on her journey

through the Miss America Pageant last month and came out as the runner up. We could not be more proud of Betty, and so we wanted to catch up with her to see just what

her experience as Miss Oklahoma has been like.Tell us about yourself!I grew up on a small Jersey dairy farm north of Davenport. I have 3 older brothers and 1 older sis-ter. I was very involved in 4-H, FFA, FCA, Student Council, McTeggart Irish Dancers, and just about anything else I could find to occupy my time. I eventually went to Oklahoma State University and declared a major in Elementary Education.

When did you start doing pageants, and what drew you to doing them?I started pageants my sophomore year of college at OSU. My brother, Nathan, saw an ad in the O’Colly and encouraged me to enter the Miss OSU pageant. He told me that it was a great scholarship oppor-tunity and a good way to help pay my way through school. I competed and won, went on to Miss Oklahoma and absolutely fell in love with pageant week and the organization. The rest is history!

What is your platform?My platform, Milk It Really Does a Body Good, was inspired by growing up on a small Jersey dairy farm near Davenport, Oklahoma. My platform encourages students to develop healthy eating choices and habits at a young age by having three servings of dairy every day. Another aspect of my platform has been taking part in the “New Look of Milk” campaign that focuses on schools switching to plastic bottles instead of paper cartons. I am also involved with Fuel Up To Play 60, which encour-ages students to fuel up their bodies with healthy nutritious meals and be active for 60 minutes every day.

What has your time preparing for Miss America been like?I took my preparations for Miss America very seri-ously. I knew that I wanted to walk away from the Miss America Pageant with no regrets. In order to accomplish that, I had to be in the best shape of my life, have the best talent I’ve ever had, and feel more prepared for interview than I’ve ever felt. I’ll just give you a rundown of my typical daily schedule before Miss America: I woke up around 6:45am,

did 30min of cardio at 7, ate my Brian Attebery approved breakfast, then I went to my Bodytrends appointment.

Tell us about your experience in Vegas leading up to the final night of Miss America.The majority of my time in Vegas was spent in rehearsals, in filming, or sleeping! I took every chance I could to use down time for a nap. I knew that I needed to be as well rested as possible for the preliminaries. One thing I loved about rehearsals was that it was the perfect time for bonding and forming friendships. I became especially close with Miss Pennsylvania, Miss North Carolina, and Miss North Dakota during those times. We’ve kept in touch every day since we left Miss America.

You seemed so calm and collected during the national airing of the final night - what was it like being on that stage in front of thousands of people and viewers?The energy of the girls backstage definitely helped chase any nerves away. We were so excited that we were going to be on Miss America, a show that many of us had watched since we were little, that we didn’t make room for nervousness. I honestly didn’t think about that it was live when I was on stage. You get so wrapped up in the moment, and the crowd that it’s easy to forget that a camera is in your face. I kept reminding myself to soak it in, and I did!

You were undeniably one of the best in the talent portion of the competi-tion. Tell us about your dance back-ground, and why you chose to do an Irish inspired dance.I’ve been Irish dancing since the age of 11. I first saw Riverdance when I was 9 years old in Chicago and I fell in love with it. 2 years later, a champion Irish dancer moved to Davenport, Oklahoma and began teaching classes in the basement of the Presbyterian church. After 6 months, she suggested

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I join the McTeggart Irish dancers because the teacher there was a certified instructor from Cork, Ireland and I would be able to compete. And that was the beginning of my love for Irish dance, mu-sic, culture and competition. I competed nation-ally and internationally all the way up to the time that I competed for Miss Oklahoma in 2010. It was never a question for me of what my talent would be because Irish dancing and music ignites something completely different in me than any other dancing. I danced ballet, tap, jazz and pom throughout my school years, but never loved performing them like I love performing Irish dance. I don’t think I can ever forget the crowd reaction to my dance at Miss America, it was amazing!

What was your reaction to the ulti-mate outcome of Miss America?I was very pleased with the outcome at Miss America. I was thrilled to make it that far in such a prestigious competition. I have had numerous people ask me if I was upset, and some even tell me how disappointed they were for me. But I don’t share that disappointment. To me, everything is about how you perceive it, because I don’t feel that I “lost” at Miss America. I won $27,000 in scholar-ship, and I was honored to win America’s Choice, and I was thrilled to have won a preliminary talent award at Miss America. I did exactly what I wanted to do, I left it all on the Miss America stage and walked away with the confidence that I did every-thing I could do. I had the best performances of my life in interview, evening gown, swimsuit, talent and on stage question. There isn’t a thing that I would change. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that Laura Kaeppeler (Miss America) had become one of my friends in Orlando. She’s an amazing Miss America, and has a wonderful story to share.

What do you plan to do during the remainder of your reign as Miss Oklahoma?I am continuing with my school appearances, presenting my program “The Road to Success.” I’ll have numerous other appearances and speaking engagements, and of course platform work through Dairy Max and Southwest Dairy farmers. I hope to do more events with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals as well as visiting our troops at the Mili-tary Welcome Center. The most important thing to me now is that I enjoy the remainder of my reign and soak it all in because before I know it, I’ll be crowning a new Miss Oklahoma!

Photo by Eric Jamison/The Associated Press

30 Before 30Who needs resolutions when you have a bucket list?

We completed four tasks, ate as much fried food as we wanted, and never went to the gym. We are now feeling and looking like a million bucks.

These are the adventures of Taylor Upchurch, a beloved high school science teacher, husband, and music enthusiast and Denver Duncan, a local musician,

husband, and father of two. Friends since childhood.

#10 Stay the Night in Wal-MartDenver: This was a huge learning experience for me. I am better prepared to answer questions on the history of Sam’s Choice Dr. Thunder drink.

Taylor: Well then, why is it called Dr. Thunder?

Denver: Because it’s a medicine from Thor, God of Thunder. Didn’t you watch the movie?

Taylor: No, but I’m pretty sure it’s on sale. Only at Wal-Mart.

Denver: Nice. You better be advertising now that you filled out an application to work there.

Taylor: That application took about an hour to fill out, and I guessed on every question.

Denver: I’m still laughing that you thought you were applying to the eye glasses department.

Taylor: That would be way cooler than “Creative Vision Department Manager”.

Denver: I’m glad they had Zelda on the Wii. That entertained us for a while.

Taylor: A little catch in the sports aisle, light read-ing of magazines, trying on sunglasses. But the best was the claw arcade game. I was so close to getting that stuffed green alien.

Denver: And $10 later you still don’t own one.

Taylor: Are you surprised that no one approached us on why we had been there from 11PM-6:30AM?

Denver: Maybe we looked liked the night stocking crew.

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Taylor: I’m glad we lasted that long, but disappoint-ed that we didn’t make a fort in the toilet paper aisle.

Denver: Maybe next time..

#11 Dress in Leather for a Rock ConcertTaylor: Question. Is this the first time you’ve worn leather pants?

Denver: To a rock show?

Taylor: No, just in general.

Denver: I may or may not have worn leather pants at my 6th grade dance recital.

Taylor: I knew it. You looked way too comfortable.

Denver: Where did you come up with your snake-skin pants?

Taylor: The female rack at Goodwill. $2. Deal of the day.

Denver: How awkward did you feel walking in to the Blue Note?

Taylor: Considering you were there already, and I waked in by myself. Pretty awkward.

Denver: Then you forgot your I.D., had to walk out, then back in.

Taylor: Yeah, I now have a whole new respect for girls who do the walk-of-shame.

Denver: Ha ha! Even thought we thought we would fit in, we stood out...

Taylor: Like a 6th finger on a hand model.

Denver: Ha ha! Thanks to Bright Light Social Hour for letting us hang!

Taylor: Your show was as hot as pants.

#12 Help a Damsel in DistressDenver: I am all about helping people out. But when you have to drive around OKC looking for a lady in need, it seems like they don’t exist.

Taylor: Yeah, I bet I could drive down the street right now and pass at least two damsels. They must have been at the casino that evening.

Denver: Then we got lucky.

Taylor: Well we created our own luck.

Denver: It’s still luck I guess. The lucky part was my sister was home.

Taylor: You mean a random lady.

Denver: Oh ya, this helpless random lady we found. wink wink

Taylor: Lucky for her we were there. Perfect timing.

Denver: Not to mention we looked tough in our leather outfits.

Taylor: Ha ha! At any moment people watching probably thought we were going to break out in dance!

Denver: We were emitting testosterone! Changing tires, saving lady’s, and wearing leather!

#13 Job Shadow a PolicemanTaylor: This could have been at the top of my list.

Denver: It definitely would have been mine if you would have let them tase you.

Taylor: You have to be crazy if you think I would have let that happen!

Denver: Ha ha! I might have let them if the price was right.

Taylor: The price of pooping your pants!

Denver: I guess your right! It would have been on camera for the whole world to see. Glad we opted out.

Taylor: The excitement started as soon as we exited the parking lot.Denver: We got lectured about what not to touch in the car, but we did get a fake gun to carry!

Taylor: The first car we saw didn’t put on it’s blinker and had a taillight out. The chase was on.

Denver: Then it immediately ended 30 feet down the road! Our first high speed chase was as long as my wedding night.

Taylor: The cop made sure the car wasn’t “hot”. Then she was off with a stern warning.

Denver: Booooo! I thought we should have cuffed the perp!

Taylor: And put her in the slammer.

Denver: The highlight of the night was when we spotted a suspicious character by the Buy For Less! White Hoody, 5’10”, male. ON OUR SIX!

Taylor: I’m glad you saw him. But as we drove closer he began to run. I thought I was going to have to tackle the dude.

Denver: I have to be honest here. I got a little wor-ried when Lt. Chris Culbreath went to investigate and left us alone by the car.

Taylor: You still had the fake gun, right? Denver: Well... I actually left it in the seat when we got out to film.

Taylor: We got to ride with real cop during the dark of the night, nothing good ever happens, graveyard shift and you forget our weapon/toy? At least we are still safe.

Denver: And hero’s! Oh and thank you Taylor Up-church for keeping the streets clean.

Taylor: If it were not for Denver Duncan, there would be more drugs and prostitutes on the streets of OKC. Thanks for your vigilance.

What a way to start the new year. We broke the law by loitering in

Wal-Mart, broke the law of leather fashion, broke a lady’s streak of bad luck, and did a complete turn around to help the law put criminals away in Bethany. Next month we will join the Avengers. Not on our list, but a goal nonetheless.

We would like to say thanks to Bright Light Social Hour, The Blue Note, @nata-

liebeth, Wal-Mart Supercenter of Belle Isle, Lt. Chris Culbreath, Bethany PD, @bethany_young, @Kelseyself, @chad_co-

sper, @melissa_cosper, and you.

Keep following our adventures on Twenty Something Magazine’s Facebook,

Twitter, and website.

To watch videos from our tasks and see more photos, click here!

En Tus ManosA few months ago we introduced you to Brent Green - a local film maker and

part owner of the production company, Toy Gun Films. This month we caught up with him to talk about his film, En Tus Manos,

which you can now watch on our website.How did the concept for En Tus Manos come about?In 2009, we started our production company Toy Gun Films. We had been searching around for what would be the subject of our first film. When we talked with our good friend Rob Hoskins, he told us the story of a boy in Colombia. Carlos was a young man trying to gain his independence and get away from his drunken father. He joined a gang and, as part of his initiation into the gang, Carlos is ordered to murder a local pastor. This task pushes Carlos into the depths of despair as he searches for the strength necessary to finally take his destiny into his own hands. We knew as soon as we heard this story it would make a great film and we slatted it as our first project.

En Tus Manos is a short film. To you, what is significant about short films, apart from the obvious time difference?Time is really the only difference between features and shorts. You are still creating a film, just like you would a full-length movie, only you’re trying to condense everything. You want to entertain an audience with a story they will emotionally respond to. You have to write, cast, direct, shoot, score and edit the film, just like you would for a feature. An advantage of the shorter run times gives you more platforms to show the film. En Tus Manos has been shown in theaters, schools, col-leges, prisons, film festivals, churches, townhall meetings, community events, and online. Every-where from Juarez Mexico, one of the most danger-ous cities in the world, to a screening at HBO’s film festival in New York. Also, our partner One Hope has been able to distribute the film to 3.5 million people on a grass roots level in Latin America. It has really been amazing to not only be able to cre-ate a film, but share it with the world.

What was the filming process like, being in Colombia?Filming in Bogota, Colombia was really amazing. Besides the Director, Director of Photography, and actress Paulina Gaitan, we had an all-Colombian cast and crew. We had such an amazing time and a great working experience. We took two trips to Colombia. The first trip was a week long, where

we scouted the locations and cast the actors. The second trip was for principle photography, which was when we shot the film. We were there for two weeks and the shoot was six days long.

This film has won several awards and been selected in many festivals. How does it feel to be an award-win-ning producer?It’s always really surprising and such an honor to win any festival award. The premiere of En Tus Manos was at the 2010 Beverly Hills film festival. It was the first festival we had ever been in. Over 900 film were submitted and we were so excited just to be one of the ten films selected. We were even more surprised when we won not only Best Short film, but, in addition, our lead actor won best actor. It was such a great start to our festival run. It’s great to be a part of festivals and win awards ‘cause it means people are responding to your story.

How can people view En Tus Manos?We want to share the film with everyone. We did a year run on the festival circuit; then had it on Hulu for another year. Now we want to open it up for everyone to be able to watch it without any commercials. (You can now view En Tus Manos at www.TwentySomethingMagazine.com)

What is next for Toy Gun Films?Our second film Paper Flower is on the festival circuit right now. It’s a story of childhood friends growing up in Tokyo where a casual form of prostitution known as “compensated dating” has become a disturbing trend. When they each ex-perience heartbreaking losses, they are forced to decide how much of themselves they are willing to give in order to find true love. That film is available on DVD and we hope to soon release it on Vimeo as well. We are also in the process of editing a film we shot just this past October in South Africa. The story follows a 13-year-old boy who is abducted and turned into a child solider. We hope to release that in the next few months and have it premiere in Oklahoma City at Harkins Theater.

To find out more about Toy Gun Films and their projects, visit their website: www.ToyGunFilms.com

Film

Click here to watch the film!

All women

are beau-tiful, some-

times we just need

little remind-

All donations go to benefit the YWCA of Oklahoma City, OKC’s only certified battered women and children’s center.

The Mariposa Project on Facebook!For more info email: themariposaprojectokc@gmail.com

The Parish in the Plaza Thursday, Feb. 16 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. After party at Saints 11 p.m. - 2 a.m. Art raffle- $2 tickets

Maria Atkinson Ashley Smith

Amanda BradwayLauren Kubier

& more

Braylon WarrAnna Kinder

Sherree Chamberlain Amber Wood

& more

Jennifer E. HudgensMelissa MayNajah Hylton Paula Sophia

& more

Join us in celebrating women’s beauty through art, music and poetry from Oklahoma’s finest.

the mariposa project Feature

Oklahomans, Jennifer Hudgens and Maria Atkinson, have joined forces to create The Mariposa Project.

Tell us about The Mariposa Project.The event is going to be at The Parish in the Plaza District, Thursday February 16th from 7:30 to 10:30 pm. It’s soul purpose is to encourage women of all ages, sizes, creeds and races to embrace their individuality regardless of what Cosmo says they should look like. There will be art, poetry and music. All art displayed will be by local Oklahoma female artists, all the photographs will have been taken by Maria Atkinson and the will live music and poetry will also be by local Oklahoma female artists such as Sherree Chamberlain, Anna Kinder, Braylon Warr, Jennifer Hudgens, and Melissa May to name a few.

Why did you want to create this event?Jennifer Hudgens first asked me [Maria Atkinson] if I would be interested in doing por-traits of all types of women a few months ago to promote healthy body images and to help women deal with insecurities they had dealt with most of their life. Over the past few years Jennifer has lost nearly 350lbs, and obviously gone through major soul, mind and body transformations. We wanted to raise awareness about the number of women who suffer daily from unhealthy body images, which leads to eating disorders, severe depres-sion, suicidal tendencies and abusive relationships.

What does “mariposa” mean?Mariposa is Spanish for “butterfly”. We chose it because we wanted a beautiful word that represented transformation and freedom. Calling it “The Butterfly Project” was cheesy and too much like “Butterfly Effect” so “The Mariposa Project” was born!

Where will the event proceeds go?All proceeds made from at the door donations, art sales will go to benefit the YWCA Bat-tered Women’s Shelter of Oklahoma City.

The Mariposa Project will be held at The Parish on 16th Street in the Plaza District on Thursday, February 16th at 7:30pm.

There will be food, beverages, art, live music and poetry readings throughout the night. [There is a suggested donation of $5 at the door.]

CatalystCatalyst is the young professionals group for Allied Arts, whose goal is to connect young

professionals with the arts, as well as with others who are passionate about the growth of our cultural community. The group is focused on stimulating Central Oklahoma’s art

scene by raising money and awareness for the arts. Catalyst also helps support Allied Arts’ annual fundraising goals, which benefit 20 of Central Oklahoma‘s outstanding arts

organizations, and help ensure that we have a thriving and exciting arts community in Oklahoma City. We caught up with them to find out more!

How did the idea for Catalyst come about?Catalyst was originally formed by Renzi Stone and a group of young professional lead-ers in Oklahoma City to get more young people involved with Allied Arts, and encourage them to get out and enjoy the arts events we have here in Central Oklahoma.

How long has it been going?When Catalyst was started about 10 years ago, it was called “Circle Club 500”, and later was named “Young Patrons.” In late 2010, the group took the name “Catalyst”, and cre-ated an active Board of Directors who works to engage members in the arts community. Current Catalyst board chairman, Wes Knight, and his team are dedicated to providing unique arts and networking experiences for members, and introducing them to all that Central Oklahoma’s arts community has to offer.

What are all of the ways Catalyst raises money for the arts?One of the largest and most fun ways that Catalyst raises money for the arts is through its annual fundraiser, ARTini. Each spring, Catalyst hosts more than 600 guests at ARTini, creating Oklahoma’s largest martini tasting. The event features signature martinis from some of the Oklahoma City area’s top restaurants, live entertainment, and an art auction made up of work from local artists. This year’s event is themed “Street ARTini” and will be held on Friday, April 20th at the Oklahoma City Farmer’s Market. Street ARTini co-chairs Lindsay and Joseph McIntyre and their 35-member committee plan to raise more than $35,000 for Allied Arts at this year’s event.

Catalyst also raises money for Allied Arts through its memberships. Every membership donation benefits Allied Arts and its 20 member organizations.

How can people get involved with Catalyst?People can get involved by joining Catalyst anytime at www.AlliedArtsOKC.com/Catalyst, or attending the group’s spring event at the end of March. Catalysts receive complimentary tickets to Street ARTini, invitations to exclusive arts and networking events throughout the year, volunteer opportunities, and an OKCityCard. The OKCityCard offers discounts at more than 200 locations in Central Oklahoma, including restaurants, boutiques, muse-ums, galleries and 2-for-1 admissions to many of the area’s performing arts events.

For more information, call Allied Arts at 405-278-8944 or visit www.AlliedArtsOKC.com/Catalyst. Connect with Catalyst by following us on Facebook or Twitter @CatalystOKC.

Feature

Allied Arts is an umbrella for 20 arts groups, uniting them as a cause that uplifts us all. IT’S YOUR ARTS COMMUNITY. BE ITS ALLY.

Donate now @ alliedartsokc.com • 405.278.8944

A M B A S S A D O R S ’ C H O I R • A R T S C O U N C I L O F O K L A H O M A C I T Y

• C A N T E R B U R Y C H O R A L S O C I E T Y • O K C P H I L H A R M O N I C •

C A R P E N T E R S Q U A R E • C I M A R R O N O P E R A • C I T Y A R T S

H A R R I S O N A C A D E M Y • LY R I C T H E AT R E • M A B E E - G E R R E R M U S E U M

M E T R O P O L I T A N S C H O O L O F D A N C E • O K C I T Y C H O R U S • O V A C

O K L A H O M A C H I L D R E N ’ S T H E A T R E • O K L A H O M A C I T Y B A L L E T

P R A I R I E D A N C E T H E A T R E • O K C M U S E U M O F A R T • I A O

S H A K E S P E A R E I N T H E P A R K • S C I E N C E M U S E U M O K L A H O M A

Sitting in the Atlanta airport, trying to gracefully adjust my position so my butt doesn’t fall asleep. I like eavesdropping on businessmen’s conversations. They ap-pear so confident, so self-important. I was wedged between two phone conversa-tions of two different men giving someone on the other end a firm talking to. Words like “business-trip”, “negotiations”, and “I don’t have the time” were fluttering out of their mouth with such ease; it was evident this wasn’t their first go around. But then from one man – there was silence, followed by a, “hey buddy . . . did you have a good day at school?” His voice was softer, quiet, earnest even. “I miss you”, “I love you”, and “I’ll be home soon.”

I wonder what my Dad is like at work. He is a successful lawyer and business owner. I have always been provided for, and have never once gone without. I’m pretty sure an established lawyer doesn’t get very far by performing signature dance moves, singing cheesy songs in exaggerated voices, and playing peek-a-boo. No. My father, to me, is kind, and loving, and strong. So, so strong. It floors me to think that some other lawyer on the other side of the defense thinks my Dad’s an asshole.

In the most basic sense of it all, men are like chickens. They’re big roosters who ritualistically puff up their chests, ruffle their feathers, and claw around the chicken pen, trying to make a name for themselves. But in the end, that mean old rooster is Mrs. Cluckworth’s handsome husband, and, judging by the amount of chicks she’s hatched this year, they’ve obviously shared more than a few tender moments in their time.

In a way, that’s a good way to keep perspective in life. Even the most stubborn man and hateful woman are somebody’s doting husband, and somebody’s precious baby girl. Business is business; sometimes you just happen to be in the line of fire.

It is so easy to make a person so very one-dimensional. Why is that? I love making labels. I love writing off a girl as a whore or a guy as a jerk. It’s like we have a need in life to make characters in a storybook. Evil boss, mean old lady, sleazy business-man, stuck-up cheerleader. By making a person so simple, you don’t feel guilty treat-ing them poorly. If they have wronged you, or perhaps struck a chord deep within your secret self that you hate, you can lash out at them without feeling bad. It’s ok because “he’s just a ___“ and “she’s just a ___.“

I’m stopping this piece here (trust me . . . it continues on for a few more pages). To be honest, I wrote this awhile back and just happened to revisit this essay literally five minutes after talking bad about someone. This sure isn’t meant to be a lecture on virtue. It’s more of a sincere reaction to the wackness that is human nature, and a realization that I’m one of those crazy humans. Much love twentysomethingers.

Sherree Chamberlain

One-Dimensional Feature

Hair: Angela HamiltonMakeup: The MakeUp BarStyling & Photography: Bethany YoungModels: Brad Ulrich, Sherree Chamberlain, Curtis Roush, Jack O’Brien, A.J. Vincent, Joseph MirasoleClothing: Blue SevenSpecial Thank You to Red Carpet Charters and The Blue Note

Fashion & Film

AlmostFamousFeaturing Sherree Chamberlain & The Bright Light Social Hour

Create a Room You Love for LessMany people would say that decorating a home takes time, en-

ergy and lots of money. I totally agree with the first two. The last - Not so much. I am a firm believer that, with a little cre-

ativity and ingenuity, you can create a room you love - for less! Here are some tips to help you do just that.

Thrift/Ebay/CraigsList/Etsy can be your best friend.Who says you have to buy new? Definitely not me! I actually prefer to have some older things in my home; it gives it a sense of history. But, when looking through old/other people’s stuff, you really have to have the ability to see the ‘after.’ (See evidence below)

Paint, in any form, will be your best friend.When you are trying to make a big impact with a small budget, there is nothing better than paint. Wall, spray, craft paint... it’s all a game changer. I cannot TELL you how much paint can transform a room. Or a picture frame. Or a piece of furniture. The list goes on.

Design

Take Inventory of what you have, then, re-imagine it.Look around your house and really study the pieces you already own. What else could they be? I took a generic TV console and created a skirted table for my entryway. All it took was a little imagination, a few hours and not that many dollars. So many pieces can be transformed into something else, all it takes is looking at it with new eyes.

DIY aka Do. It. Yourself.People, let me tell you something. It is not that hard to be a DIY-er. All you have to do is take the first step. I saw this pet portrait in a maga-zine and thought, “Man, I want something like that, but I definitely don’t want to pay for someone else to do it.” So, I did it myself! I looked around online for some help and totally winged the rest of it. Not every DIY project will be a success, but the sense of satisfaction that comes from a good DIY is hard to beat.

For more decorating tips, visit me at www.mainstreetchic.blogspot.comWritten by Emily Davis

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