Twenty SomethingJuly 2012

Sherree ChamberlainFeature Writer

Angela HamiltonHair Designer

Elevation Salon405.659.5212

Samantha LambFeature Writer

Luke StephensFeature Writer

Steve ClausenOneHealthyBod

Monthly Workout

Kealey McIntire &JaNiece CranmerFeature Writers

Alex Mendez-KellyMakeup ArtistFeature Writer

Lil DoescherHair and Makeup Artist

Salon 9309

Kelsey SelfFashion Director

Co-Creative DirectorStylist

Bethany YoungEditor-in-Chief

Co-Creative DirectorPhotographer

Sherree ChamberlainFeature Writer

Sarah EthridgeMusic Writer

Meagan OwenFeature Writer

Chad CosperVideography

DCMGMT Creative, Inc.

Whitney LynnFeature Writer

Emily DavisDecor Writer

Jeff RaganHealth Writer

Melissa CosperGuest Photographer

DCMGMT Creative, Inc.

Denver DuncanFeature Writer

Fashion

Olsen Twins Win Highest Fashion Award

You may know Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen as fun loving child stars of the early ‘90s. What you may not know about them is that they are now twenty-six years old and major fashion designers who are taking the industry by storm. On June 4, 2012, fashion’s most elite gathered at the Lincoln Center in New York City for the Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards. The CFDA Awards are considered the “Oscars” of the fashion world. To receive such an award is a designer’s top honor. Many notable fashion icons were in attendance, including Anna Wintor, Michael Kors, Diane Von Furst-enburg and Karl Lagerfeld to name a few. At the end of the night, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen won the highest honor in women’s wear design for their incredible line The Row.

Named after London’s famous Savile Row, Mary Kate and Ashley created The Row in 2007. When the sisters established The Row, they were primarily sell-ing expensive, well-fit t-shirts, but now people consider it a luxury apparel and accessory brand, known for clean lines, fine fabrics, and the perfect fit. The Row has everything from ready-to-wear, handbags and luxury eyewear. The collection is mostly manufactured in the United States, with some hand-bags made in Italy. Although The Row is the Olsen Twins most well known line, they also have three others: Elizabeth and James, StyleMint and Olsen-boye. All of the brands are unique and special in their own way. Elizabeth and James, named after the twin’s younger brother and sister, is more of a contemporary line inspired by vintage pieces and their own personal items. StyleMint is a unique website in that it takes a quick survey of your fashion likes then recommends clothing they think you would like. Olsenboye is a junior line sold at JCPenney’s that is very trendy in today’s latest fashions for young girls.

Needless to say, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen have made a name for them-selves in more ways than one. Whether it’s from their countless straight to video movies, books and CD’s in their younger years or their four fashion lines, the girls are a force to be reckoned with. Their hard work and deter-mination with their fashion line have paid off for them not only by receiving one of the highest fashion awards but by also being respected among fash-ion’s elite.

Written by Audrey Lisle

Fashion

Fashion

In fashion, we know our Calvin Klein from our Ralph Lauren. We swoon over the lavish Oscar de la Renta gowns and those gorgeous Zac Posen dresses. An Armani suit would look great next to a Roberto Cavalli party dress. The fashion-obsessed can name their designers, but there is one thing in common with the designers just named. All of these designers are men. If you think about it, most of the popular labels we know like Dolce & Gabbana and Tommy Hilfiger are male labels. So where do female designers fit into the fashion picture? Shouldn’t we hear about them as much as the male designers? The answer: Yes. The reason: The most arguably famous and successful fashion house is named after a woman. Her name: Coco Chanel. Chanel was one of the first pioneers of women suc-ceeding in the fashion industry. Like many following her, Chanel made it possible for women to have a voice in fashion.

When you hear the name Donna Karan, it may not seem to have the same glamorous ring as a label like Gucci. Donna Karan is, in fact, as glamorous and as important as Gucci. Donna Karan happens to be one of the most successful female fashion design-ers in fashion history. She started her own line of clothing in the mid ‘80s and is cred-ited for bringing the little black dress back in style. Donna Karan based her clothing line on “seven easy pieces” that women can easily wear. Since starting her line, Karan has created lower-priced lines that include DKNY and DKNYC. Karan is important to fashion (and in particular, American fash-ion) due to the fact that she managed to build a fashion empire that has been just as successful as her male competitors.

If you are a Project Runway fanatic, you have probably seen Diane von Furstenberg

It’s a Woman’s World, Tooas a guest on the show. If you walk into a store and notice a fabulous wrap dress, you can thank Diane von Furstenberg. Furst-enberg is credited and widely known for making the wrap dress a wardrobe must-have. These dresses are popular among women of all ages and shapes because they have a very flattering silhouette. Made with flowing fabrics, the wrap dress has man-aged to stay in style throughout the years. The most important thing, however, is the fact that Diane von Furstenberg managed to make a successful garment in a very male prominent industry. Today, Diane von Fur-stenberg’s company expands well beyond her famous wrap dress. Along with being a fashion designer, Furstenberg is the presi-dent of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

Women are not only producing their own clothing lines. They are also taking the responsibilities of running and being cre-ative directors of some of the most famous male-founded fashion houses. If you look at famous labels like Versace and Gucci, they are run by female designers with the same fashion credentials as men. While running these fashion houses, female designers have gained national attention and have in-creased profits for their companies. Buyers and editors constantly want products to sell and feature in their stores and magazines.

The female designers mentioned are only a few of the many that make up the fashion industry. There are many women in the industry who are just as talented as their male counterparts. Female designers have worked hard throughout the years to pro-duce garments that women want to wear. It is only fair that they receive some of the acclamation, too.

Written by Whitney Lynn

Fashion

Happy ToesYou know the saying, “Happy Wife, Happy Life”? Well, this summer it’s all about “Happy Toes, Happy Life”! If you are like me, nothing really beats a great pedi, maybe even while enjoying a light fruity drink with special go-go juice mixed in. Personally, I really like the Unlimited Nails on Penn. They make you feel right at home and give you what feels like an unlimited massage with every pedicure. If you are having some budgetary issues like I have more often than not, I’m going to give you some tips on how to keep that pedi fresh feel at home. Whether you are starting from scratch or maintainin’, here are some helpful tools.

First off, get yourself a good foot paddle. Why, you ask? These beneficial tools can really help you with dry cracked skin on your heels or any rough spot. You can go cheap like OPI’s red foot paddle, only $2.50, but it will wear out fast and then be rendered useless. Or you can go the more expensive route with Dia-mancil or Deborah Lippmann’s foot paddle, both made with diamond dust. They range in price from $36 to $48. Definitely worth the money. They last and work wonders.

OK, so here’s the deal. If you want your polish to last, yes, you have to do all the prep work involved. Nail foundation, as the peeps from Butter London like to call it, is your base. This way your color polish sticks way better and forms a great bond to the base. You can also use a nail hardener. Personally I love Rock Hard from Deborah Lippmann.

Two coats polish are crucial for full coverage and for the full effect of the color. If you are doing a sparkle color, like Henly Regatta from Butter London, best to use a color polish then the sparkle on top. This way you don’t have to use too much of the sparkle/glitter which could chip.

Now that you have prepped by using the base and two coats, top it off with what else? Top coat. I prefer the fast drying action of OPI’s Rapid Dry. I will do my nails, go to bed soon after, and never have a problem with them not drying, smudging or getting those little sheet marks.

Voila’ folks! I hope these hints will help you make good choices when it comes to your toes. If not, go get a pedi!

Written by Alex Mendez-KelleyOwner of The MakeUp Bar

Beauty

Throw Pillows to Spice Up Your Room

Throw pillows are one of the quickest, easiest and cheapest ways to completely change the look and feel of a room. While you can

definitely make them yourself, there are plenty of options out there that are very affordable. Throw pillows are such a fun way to bring

personality into any room, and if you are looking to try a pattern, this is a great place to start. Don’t get toooooo crazy though. I would stick to one graphic, one floral, one solid. But, of course, decorating rules

were sometimes made to be broken! Here are some notable patterned throw pillow options… in every color!

Decor

Happy Pillow-ing!

xoxo,Emily

Fashion

Clothing: Meg Guess CoutureHair: Angela Hamilton

Makeup: The MakeUp BarPhotography: Bethany Young

Styling: Kelsey SelfSet Design: Sara Kate Studios

Models: Lauren L and Kendall H of Anthony David Agency

Love is in the air and weddings are

guaranteed to be filling up your summer calendar.

Whether you are a bridesmaid or future bride, here are some

beautiful new styles of gowns and dresses sure to

impress on that oh so special day.

The best thing to hold onto in life

is each other.-Audrey Hepburn

This month, Oklahoma’s Lyric Theatre will be debuting Sweet Charity at the Civic Center.

We were able to sit down with the leads to find out more about the show.

Milena Govich : Charity Hope Valentine

Tell us about yourself and how you become involved in theatre!I was born and raised in Norman, Oklahoma, in a house full of music. With two voice professors for parents, Dr. Marilyn Govich and the late Dr. Bruce Govich, there were voice les-sons and rehearsals in my living room nearly every day after school. I started

studying piano at age four, ballet at age six, and picked up the violin at age nine. So, needless to say, I have been around music and the theater all my life.

After graduating from the University of Central Oklahoma with degrees in Vocal Performance and Pre-Medicine (that’s another story), I hopped on a one-way plane to NYC with two suit-cases and a lot of ambition. My par-ents really prepared me for what a life in the theater actually entailed, and I was ready to make those sacrifices. And I’m so glad that I did! My life and career have been an extraordinary adventure and I’m so lucky to still be doing what I do.

What is it about the theatre that inspires you?I have been fortunate enough to work in many mediums as an actor and musician, and there truly is something magical about the stage. For starters,

Theatre

there are no “take two’s”, so you never know what you are going to get. If something new happens one night (good or bad), you have to go with it. And the audience really does play a huge part in the overall experience. There is nothing more gratifying than the feeling that you have connected with people in a shared dramatic mo-ment. This actor/audience relation-ship simply does not exist through a television or film screen. This level of emotional communication keeps me coming back to the theater again and again.

Of all the experiences you have had in the theatre world, what has been the one that outshines the rest?Well, as they say, there’s nothing like your first time. I was incredibly for-tunate to make my Broadway debut shortly after I moved to NYC in the Tony winning production of “Cabaret” at Studio 54. I started in the ensemble singing, dancing, and playing my vio-lin (yes--you never know what ran-dom skill will get you in the door!), and quickly moved up the ranks to be the understudy for the lead role of

‘Sally Bowles’. I got to perform that iconic role many times and eventually took over full time. I will never forget my first performance of that role. Not only were my cast and crew unbeliev-ably supportive and complimentary, it was the culmination of all of the ter-rifically hard work I had done up until that time. I have had wonderful suc-cesses since then and hopefully will have many more, but that moment will always be special to me.

Tell us about your involve-ment with Lyric. Lyric Theater gave me my first pro-fessional theater job. (Thank you!) I was cast for the summer season right after my freshman year of college at UCO, and had a blast working on all of the shows. It showed me that maybe I did have the chops to pursue the theater professionally. Working in that wonderfully supportive creative community gave me a tremendous amount of confidence as I moved forward in my career. I returned one other time since then to play ‘Lucy’ in “Jekyll and Hyde” and am thrilled that they’re having me back, once again, for “Sweet Charity”.

Jamison Stern : Charlie/Vittorio/Oscar

What should patrons expect out of “Sweet Charity”?“Sweet Charity” is full of extraordi-nary dancing and wonderful songs people know and love. The book is very crisp and funny and I can’t even count all of the laugh-out-loud mo-ments. The character of ‘Charity’ is a bright light in a dark world who is always hopefully looking for love, no matter how many times her heart is broken. This is one of those special shows that strikes a beautiful balance between comedy and drama, as well as song and dance.

What are you most excited about when it comes to star-ring in “Sweet Charity”? The role of ‘Charity’ has been on the top of my list for a long time and I’m so excited to be dancing and singing again! I have spent the last several years working exclusively in TV and Film, so I can’t wait to get back on the stage. It truly is where my heart lives.

Tell us about yourself!Born and raised New Yorker. Been working as an actor since I was four-teen. I still live in NYC.

How did you become in-volved in theatre? Started acting around twelve years old. Went to a theatre camp called Stagedoor Manor when I was four-teen. That’s where I got most of my training. And I actually did “Sweet Charity” there when I was seventeen. I played ‘Vittorio Vidal’.

What is it about the theatre that inspires you?I love the spontaneity. The interaction with an audience and with the other actors on stage. Every performance is different. No matter how long you are doing a show.

Tell us about your involve-ment with Lyric. I’ve done two shows at Lyric before. I played ‘Rooster’ in “Annie”, opposite Beth Leavel who is coming back this season also. And I played ‘Lumiere’ in “Beauty and the Beast”.

What should patrons expect out of “Sweet Charity”?It really is a brilliant musical. And the book is outstanding. It’s a great story and not entirely happy, which I think is fascinating.

What are you most excited about when it comes to star-ring in “Sweet Charity”? I get to play all three of the men in ‘Charity’s’ life. It has rarely ever been done that way.

Coming This Summer from Lyric Theatre :

Fashion

Makeup: Amber FikeStyling: Kelsey Self

Photography: Bethany YoungModel: Heather Carter of Tabb Models

July!

What We’re Listening To...Artist of the Month: Seryn

I was recently introduced to Seryn just a couple of weeks ago and saw them per-form in Dallas. This Denton-based folk band is a prime example of how musicians can win a crowd over with an exceptional performance. Sometimes I don’t go to concerts so I won’t be disappointed because of pre-conceived expectations I have of their recorded work, but attending as a blank canvas is the way to go. They made a fan of me with their impeccable harmonies and effortless instrumentals that made for such a great concert experience. Like Fleet Foxes, it seems that each member has a part of the harmony, making you wonder how it’s possible for each member to be so in tune with one another. Consisting of four guys and a girl, Seryn has evolved as a group since their debut album, This Is Where We Are, released January of 2011. They’ve had extensive tours that have allowed them to flourish as performers and create what could almost be qualified as a spiritual experience. Shows like South by Southwest have advertised them to the world, notified us how great they are, and how clearly Seryn deserves some spotlight.

Music

What We’re Listening To...Album: Fiona Apple, The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do

I hope all of y’all grew up listening to Fiona Apple in her glory days of the ‘90s. Her hits like “Criminal” and “Shadowboxer” made her debut album Tidal a huge success and jumpstarted her career in 1996. Sixteen years and four albums later, Apple has graced us with her presence once again with her 23-word titled album The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driv-er of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do. Since its release on June 19, 2012, Apple’s newest creation has received rave reviews from critics across the board. The Idler Wheel… is a severely honest album that isn’t exactly acclaimed for being pretty or beautiful. Fans and critics are loving this album because it’s her work in the most true poetic and raw form. Songs like “Every Single Night” and “Hot Knife” are the highlight tracks from this album that speak to such vulnerability. Unlike albums we’ve listened to in the past like Sarah

Song of the Month: Dr. Dog, “How Long Must I

Jaffe’s The Body Wins, the instrumental composition of Apple’s album is not what steals the show. It’s the lyrics and soulful expression that make her work so memorable. For fans of KT Tunstall, Ingrid Michaelson, or Regina Spektor, this album’s a gem.

Well, summer is finally here and nothing brings in the new season like the sound of timpani drums. When I hear Dr. Dog’s “How Long Must I Wait?” I am reminded of just how far away I am from the beach, yet alone the Caribbean. Easy going and cool, this band from West Grove, Pennsylvania, gets their influence from 1960s pop and take to the likings of current bands such as, My Morning Jacket and Pave-ment. Dr. Dog originated in 2001 and have since produced seven albums, Be the Void being their most recent as well as the home for our song of the month. The lyrics as delivered by Scott Mc-Micken offset the cheery tune we hear in a bittersweet way as he speaks of the love he has for another but has yet to feel reciprocation. I guess we’ve all been there, making this simple song all the more relatable. Roll your windows down, turn it up, and enjoy summer.

Written by Sarah Ethridge

Music

Photo by Bethany Young

We sat down with Oklahoma City rapper Josh Sallee to talk about his music, what inspires his fashion, and what’s next for this rising local talent.

How did you start out?I started posting videos online in college at UCO. It turned into booking an opening gig for a major name, and, through persistence and progression, it developed into a full time thing.

What type of music influenced you growing up?All kinds. I can’t remember a certain name or band that influenced me. Just music that was good to my ears rubbed off and shaped the way I create.

How did you get into music?After booking a few shows, I started becoming passionate about everything. I did my research of the surroundings and started networking. Eventually, I met my friend and manager Gray of Pairadime Music and that’s when we really started seeing results.

What inspires you to write a song?The instrumental, the mood I’m in at the time, what is going on around me, that immediate feeling when I first hear it.

How powerful do you think social media is for music?It’s changed everything. People are more ac-cessible now. The music industry is tanking at the major level. But at the same time, little guys like me really benefit.

What do you think sets you apart from other artists?My support. The people who really believe that this is bigger than some local stint. My matu-rity.

You have worked in LA and At-lanta, recording music. What are those experiences like for you? Those trips are eye openers, just to see how blessed I am and to see how much work I have to do. They also are great confidence boosters;

knowing that these major industry vets really like what I’m doing enough to invite me out to their million dollar establishments to record makes me realize I can do this.

What advice would you give other up and coming artists?Work hard. Don’t worry about anyone’s opin-ion. People are more prone to dislike things nowadays. Find your support and go, be ag-gressive but also respectful.

What impact would you like your music to leave on people?I want people to think it’s possible to be a re-spectable artist at a high level.

You have a very unique style, tell us about it.I wear what stands out to me. Whether it’s expensive or a thrift find. I look for rare items that people wouldn’t normally see. I like retro sports crewnecks and am a firm believer that the corduroy hat is the future. Haha!

Does fashion ever inspire you?Absolutely, fashion is all about being descrip-tive. That translates to my life and what I do.

What’s next for you in the upcoming year?Many, many huge concerts in July, a new album in the fall, tours, NYC and more LA. Contin-ued growth and expansion. Trying to spread on the coasts and get a major name behind things.

Maggie McClureMeet Oklahoma native, and singing sensation,

Maggie McClure.

Tell us about your background. I am 25 years old. I grew up in Norman, Oklahoma. I went to Norman North High School, then Oklahoma City University, where I graduated in December 2009 with a degree in Music Business. I have an amaz-ingly supportive family. I recently married my soul mate, best friend, and musical sidekick Shane Henry. I believe the purpose for my life and music is to positively impact people’s lives.

How did you first become attracted to music? My parents bought me my first keyboard when I turned one year old. I was immedi-ately intrigued. Shortly after that, my mom put me in dance and music classes. Then I started piano lessons when I was five. I was one of those rare kids who actually liked to practice. I always loved listening to music, creating my own songs, and performing for my friends and family, starting at a very young age. I’ve had a love for music ever since I was born (and maybe even before then - my mom used to intentionally listen to lots of music while she was pregnant with me).

What artists and genres have influenced you as a musician? Artists: Bonnie Raitt, Carole King, The Beatles, Sarah McLachlan, Norah Jones, and Alison Krauss. Genres: Pop, Rock, Country, Folk, and Jazz.

Where do you find your inspira-tion for your music?I write all of my own material. Sometimes I collaborate with other writers as well. I find inspiration in all kinds of things from daily living to relationships and everything in between. A lot of the time I’ll write songs from a personal experience that I actually went through myself. I feel like when the songs are 100% true and personal, they are more meaningful and audiences can sense that authenticity.

Your songs have been featured on several different TV shows and now in a motion picture - what was going through your mind when you heard yourself on national television and the big screen? Words can’t accurately describe how it feels whenever I hear my original songs on national television and on the big screen. It is absolutely surreal and honestly is very emotional for me to witness something that I created, recorded, released, and put out into the world featured on a national and international level. It is amazing to feel that sense of accomplishment.

Last year you went on tour with Sara Bareilles. What was that experience like for you? I did have the pleasure of opening for Sara Bareilles and that was an amazing experi-ence. The energy of the audience was amaz-ing. She is an awesome individual and put on a great show. Sara is very down to earth and you can tell she is grateful for the place she is in. I highly respect her as a person, songwriter, and performer. It was an amaz-ing opportunity to be able to perform for

Music

Photography: Melissa CosperHair: Shelly PriceMakeup: The MakeUp BarClothing: Isabella BoutiqueStyling: Lacey Rosenwald

fans and make new fans of my own. I hope to get on tour opening for someone else of Sara’s caliber very soon.

If you had to describe your sound, how would you say it? If I had to describe my sound, I’d say it’s piano-driven pop/rock. I would also go on to say that it has a singer/songwriter vibe to it as well.

What is your favorite part about what you do?I play so many roles: singer, songwriter, pianist, performer, business and personal manager, booking agent...it is hard to man-age all those different roles. But my favorite role out of all those would be performer. There’s just something about being on a stage performing for an audience who genuinely cares about what you have to say and sing about. There is no other feeling like it. Performing is not just about playing an instrument or singing. It’s about engag-ing an audience, how you present yourself on stage, what you say in between songs, how you make the audience feel, and so much more. It’s taken me a while to get comfortable with myself as a performer, but I feel I have finally found what works best for me and helps me communicate best to an audience.

You are an Oklahoma girl, now living in LA - how has the move impacted you as a musician? The move from Oklahoma to LA has im-pacted me positively because the amounts of opportunities that are available and ac-cessible in Los Angeles are infinite. If you are in a room of fifty people anywhere at any given time in Los Angeles, I’d say at least ten of those people are in the enter-tainment industry and most of those people you could potentially work with in one way or another. I’ve had to reach even further out of my comfort zone by being extra out-

going and trying to network with people at all times. The musician community in Los Angeles is also great. People tend to help each other out because there are so many people pursuing the same goals. Also, there are so many facets of the entertainment business to get involved with. Not only is there the music industry, but there’s the film and television industries (on and off screen) and more.

What advice would you give to other musicians trying to be successful? For anyone who wants to be successful at a career in music, I’d say you just have to be proactive everyday and create opportunities for yourself. You can’t expect things to fall in your lap, because they don’t. Work hard and it will yield results. Most of the time the results won’t be exactly what you had thought they would or should be, but they will lead to the next thing, which will lead to the next, and the next, etc. A word of advice would be to always be friendly to ev-eryone. You never know exactly with whom you are talking to or who knows whom. In my opinion, the people that succeed in to-day’s music industry are the ones that work the hardest and have the best attitudes. Play as many shows as you can. Network, net-work, network. Don’t let rejection get the best of you and don’t be afraid to reach far outside of your comfort zone.

For tour dates and more about Maggie,

visit her website www.MaggieMcClure.com

Music

Ron PopeA passion stirred at a young age, Ron Pope poured out words onto the page as soon as he was capable of holding a pen. As his life has unfolded, Pope has experienced many angles from which a musician can be confronted. From his days of struggling to draw a crowd that were counted as his daily providers, to becoming a marvel in the indie music world, Pope is an example of a self-made artist and inspiration to those who struggle in the now, as he once did.

His fellow artists helped bring to light his gift and potential. Pope says, “I ended up joining a Song Writing Circle [at NYU], where we met each week and critiqued and worked on each other’s songs; what we liked and didn’t; what was good and not so good. For some kids, it was more social, and they would write one song a month or one song every six weeks. I would be writing five songs a week, asking, ‘What do you think? What should I do with it?’ There were a lot of great songwriters there. A lot of those who were advanced as songwrit-ers really encouraged me to keep going, and I thought, ‘Wow, if these people think I’m good, then maybe there’s really something to this.’ ”

In this lighthearted prediction, Pope had no idea as to how he would engrave his name and style in the music industry. The strumming of his guitar serenaded him as an overnight sensa-tion. Literally.

“[My MySpace] just went crazy in October 2007, all of a sudden. I had been working back and forth, trying to create a fan base and a few devoted people, and [somehow] it just went ‘Boom!’ From there on, I had major labels of-fering me deals. MTV had me on TRL, and I just started selling tons of music. That is the story of how I became who I am today,” Pope recalls. As soon as Pope was discovered, he had an epiphany that it doesn’t matter whose label you are under, but that your name has a title within

itself. “I became a part of the emerging middle-class in the music industry. I made records on my own, I put them out, and I sold a lot of music by myself. So, I was in a position where I didn’t need a record label to make music be-cause I could produce my own records. And I didn’t need a record label to promote my music on a basic, low-level scale because I could promote it via social media on my own,” Pope says. “I now have the ability to do what I want, and share with my fan base.”

Pope has bared much fruit out of his labor. His inspiration and perspective of life has been made applicable to all walks of life. “I feel that the human experience has fundamental truths about it. Everybody knows of loss, love, hope, faith, fear and sadness; all emotions are univer-sal. Even when you are a little kid, before you have fallen in love, you have a sense of it. It’s an inherent part of humanity,” Pope states. Pope invites his audience on a journey of music that is heavily influenced by many genres, and encourages his fans to be open to new rendi-tions of music. “It has been a long journey to get to ‘Atlanta’. For the first time, I am able to express all the things I feel, what I want to come across, in this incredibly honest way. I took all these things I love to say: ‘This is who I am, take it or leave it’, and people are taking it, which is incredible. People have shown that they are willing to try new things,” Pope re-flects. With no restraints, Pope has unleashed songs and created a masterpiece consisting of many textural sounds that complete ‘Atlanta.’ “I put all the things I love together, and painted this picture that is distinctly my own. I try to put this all together to create a distinct palette,” Pope says.

This artist cloaks himself with an influence from many diverse genres, conveying human emotion in a transparent, intimate way.

Written by Meagan Thomas

We were able to sit down with local musician Blake Fischer, to find out more about his music

and latest album.So, who is Blake Fischer?I was born and raised in Oklahoma City, and got into playing in bands while in high school. I briefly pursued my solo music for a while after high school, and worked with some producers in New York, but noth-ing ever came of it. For the most part since then, I was the guitarist for Minutes Too Far and toured all over the country for years with them. At a point when we had left the label we were on, and I had some legal freedom to do so, I started working on what became my new full-length record. It was originally just going to be a side project, but soon after I began making my record,

we decided to not continue on as a band. I didn’t Yoko the band or anything, though. Promise.

How did you first become attracted to music?Well, very early on I sang Sandi Patty songs on the fireplace mantle. Literally, when I was two years old. After that I didn’t have much of an interest in performance, even though I took piano and saxophone in the early years of school. I picked up guitar when I was thirteen, but didn’t ever per-form until years later at a high school talent show. I put a little band together and we

Music

played Blink-182’s “All The Small Things”. I’m confident we managed to play a three-chord song way too sloppily and somehow even faster than the original song, but from that point on I knew I wanted to make and perform music.

Who have been some of your in-fluences as a musician?I grew up listening to a lot of classic rock, because that’s what my dad listened to, but then I was just hitting adolescence when bands like Oasis, Counting Crows, The Wallflowers, Weezer and all those other really cool mid ‘90s bands were out, so that was big for me. I really just enjoy great songs, no matter the genre. Melodies are really important to me. When I actually started writing songs, though, Pete Yorn, Ryan Adams, Jimmy Eat World, and Ben Folds were in pretty heavy rotation and if I left them off this kind of list it would be criminal.

Where do you find your inspira-tion for the songs you write?I wrote most of this album while Minutes Too Far was stuck on a label I wasn’t happy with, and I chose to try and write a song a week for the year to sort of work out my frustrations. None of them are even about that predicament, but I just needed a way to be creative at a time when we, as a band, were just stuck in a bad situation. As far as the inspiration when I sit down to write songs, I always start with a musical idea I like...often stolen from an artist I admire. Then I build melodies and finally lyrics around that initial idea.

How would you describe your music?It’s very poppy. I feel like it sounds more like a band than your typical acoustic guitar-toting singer/songwriter, because I really always enjoyed being in bands, and so I’m trying to emulate that as a solo artist. They’re melodic pop/rock songs, essentially. I’m not trying to be one of those artists who says, “It doesn’t really sound like anybody”,

because I’m sure it does sound like some-body, I’m just not sure who. I’m open to suggestions, though.

Tell us about your latest re-lease!The recording process was a long one. Mitch Bell and Jeff Hall produced and played guitars and drums on the record, respectively, but between all our schedules it just took a few years to get it all recorded. We didn’t want to rush anything because I didn’t have any sort of deadline, so we just wanted to get it all right. In general, it feels like a band’s record, because it is essentially four guys playing on a record. The fourth guy, by the way, is local singer/songwriter Brine Webb, who played bass superbly. The songs are a pretty eclectic collection of my songwriting too, because they’re liter-ally written over the course of about seven years. There is a song on it that I literally wrote ten years ago next to the most recent-ly written song from right before we record-ed, but I haven’t changed too drastically as a songwriter, so it all fits together.

What is your favorite aspect of what you do?I love production, and actually studied it first at Belmont in Nashville and more recently at ACM@UCO. I love being in the studio because it’s like making some sort of very technical painting and when you’re finished with it, it’s permanent. But then the live performing is also something I equally love because you can change things, and every show is different. Plus there is noth-ing better than feeding off the energy of an audience. There’s always a risk in studio that you’re doing something totally out of left field and have blinders on thinking it’s great, but when you release it no one likes it. At a show you find out really quickly what works and what doesn’t.

You can see Blake at the Farmer’s Market this month on July 19th! For more infor-

mation, visit www.BlakeFischer.com

Breaking Up Is Hard To DoThings don’t always work out the way we want them to. When something goes awry, we have two choices; to dwell on a past that we can’t change or to move forward. This is the choice I find myself facing.

Many of you know I most recently hosted “All About You” on KSBI (much thanks to those of you who were loyal viewers!). For various reasons, the show has come to a halt and I find myself looking for my next move. In the weeks following my leaving the station, it was hard to take my own advice to put the past behind me and move forward. I likened the show ending to a boyfriend breaking up with you— no matter how many times you replay the scenario in your head you never quite get the closure you want! No matter what change you may be going through, or will eventually face in the future, here is what I’ve learned that can hopefully help you.

Take some time to reflect… but not too much!

It’s okay to look back on things. I’ve probably rehashed the last weeks of “All About You” with friends at least a dozen times (okay, more than that!). But when those friends stop acting like they care, it’s time to stop. The ‘mourning’ period will vary from case to case. For me, I knew it was time to focus on the next move once my husband started saying, “Kealey, seriously?!”

Figure out YOU

We’ve probably all been there. A relationship ends and you say, “It’s time for some ‘me time’.” A lot of times, we forget who we are because we’re too busy focusing on the needs of others. In my case, I lived and breathed the show for so long that I forgot what my goals were. Now that that ‘boyfriend’ has left me, I’m using the down time to figure out what it is I want out of my next relation-ship/career.

Take risks and make the move

Now is the time to take that class you’ve always wanted to take or try a new career path that you’ve been wanting to try. We never know why we find our-selves in certain situations, but I do know that these are the times we grow the most as individuals. Keep the faith and a new, better boyfriend, who maybe even drives a Lamborghini, will come along.

Written by Kealey McIntire

Feature

Feature

Makeup: The MakeUp BarClothing: Gil’sStyling: Kelsey SelfPhotography: Bethany Young

Twenty Something

Girl

Many of you already know all about our July Twenty Something

Girl, Katie Kurtz. She is the arena emcee for all

Oklahoma City Thunder basketball games, as well as the

executive producer and anchor on OklaVision. This busy lady was an obvious choice for us as a Twenty

Something Girl. Her kind smile is just the

beginning - this lovely lady truely is an incredible person.

Tell us about yourself! I’m from Mustang, Oklahoma. I’m pretty competitive and have a knack for sarcasm. I live in Oklahoma City with my prince charming of a boyfriend (of EIGHT years!) and my two overly rambunctious dogs. My mom, dad, step-mom, and twin sisters live here in Oklahoma, while my brother is away being smart at Med School. I’ve con-sistently been around two things my whole life – sports and music. I played soccer up until my freshman year at Oklahoma City University and my brother had the trifecta of baseball, basketball and soccer going for a while. We could both probably rival Pele on the pitch…well, maybe my bro could! My dad has been in a band basically his entire life, which is where the music comes from. I love to sing, but chose long nails over playing the guitar or piano. What? I have to have some sort of a girly side, right? I absolutely love listening to live music and one of my favorite songs is “Mustang Sally”.

Tell us more about your inter-est in singing!Singing.... I’m obsessed with singing and kinda wish my life was a musical. I get to sing with my dad’s band, Straight Shooter,

every once and awhile, but I mostly just break out into song on random occasions. It’s not something I’ve pursued, but some-thing I absolutely love doing. And since you’ve never heard me...I sound just like Adele or Christina Aguilera. Exactly the same.

How did you become interested in broadcasting? My dad is also a college professor of Sociol-ogy and Criminal Justice. So growing up, I always wanted to be a teacher or a detective. I then realized that being a detective meant I had to deal with dead bodies and being a teacher meant I had to deal with kids…so I chose broadcasting. JUST KIDDING! I love kids. I actually majored in education my freshman year at Oklahoma City Uni-versity, but took a couple of broadcasting classes because I really wasn’t certain what I wanted to do. I absolutely loved the techni-cal side of it. And I was good at it! I loved directing the live shows at OCU, and shoot-ing and editing stories. That led me to a job at Fox 25 in Oklahoma City. I started as a part-time editor and ultimately was offered the morning show director position when it was starting up. But just before I took the position, I was offered a job at OklaVision.

Tell us about your job at Okla-Vision. I started at OKV as a director of the live show, which you can see Monday through Friday, Noon-1pm CT on Cox Channel 3 and on http://OklaVision.tv/. (shameless plug! *wink/thumbs up*). A few months in, they decided to put a camera in the control room so I could talk with the host. Now…I NEVER wanted to be on camera. That was the farthest from what I thought I wanted to do. I was good at the technical side of things and very happy just doing that. I was taken out of the control room and turned into a Video Journalist – which means I was still doing the technical stuff, shooting, edit-

ing, but was also on camera reporting on stories and interviewing people. Long story short I LOVE being on camera now. Haha! I had never given it any thought or even a slight chance and, now that I have, I know that’s what I’m supposed to be doing. I am currently also the Executive Producer and News Director of OklaVision’s live show.

How did you become the Thun-der emcee and what has your experience there been like?I got a call from a co-worker at OKV’s par-ent agency Ackerman McQueen asking if I’d be interested in auditioning. Apparently he was told they were searching for a female emcee and he thought I’d be a perfect fit. I was so ridiculously nervous when I went for the audition. I had to read a few scripts over the mic in the empty arena so they could see how my voice sounded, etc. I really was super excited just for the opportunity. Remember, I love sports and I already had season tickets. My boyfriend and I bought them when we learned the Thunder was relocating here. To even think I had a shot at working for an NBA team was just un-fathomable at the time. I was just excited to be in the stands! Turns out, they liked me enough to have me work a few games at the end of the Thunder’s first season. They’ve asked me back ever since. I’m such a fan of the team to begin with, so it really is surreal when I step back and look at my job there. The playoff experience has been such an intense and emotional ride, but, of course, so much fun at the same time. I will always be a fan of the Thunder and don’t plan on giving up my season tickets any time soon. Yes, I still have them!

You are very involved in the community - tell us about the many hats you wear.I emcee community and non-profit events whenever I get the opportunity. Most re-cently, I had the privilege of being the

deadCENTER Film Festival’s video host for the second year. That’s one of my favorite festivals! I’m so impressed with the state of Oklahoma and how much it continues to grow. In my free time, I enjoy getting my butt kicked by my personal trainers at Tru You Fitness & Nutrition in Bethany.

Do you have any advice for as-piring broadcasters or live event emcees? Networking is a major part of the broad-casting and on-camera personality world. You have to put yourself out there and get to know people who might be able to help you in pursuing your career. However, the main thing I tell people is don’t be a jerk. It’s true, some people get it and some people don’t – that goes for any profession. But being on camera is not rocket science. Be nice to people! Be easy to work with. Take pride in your work and always strive to do a better job next time. Learn from every mistake and listen to every critique – even if you don’t take it to heart. Most of all – BE YOURSELF! I know it’s corny, but no one else is like you. No one else will tell the sto-ry from your unique perspective…because it’s yours. No one else will have the same mannerisms as you, talk like you do, look like you do…it’s all part of you. Surround yourself with great people too. I wouldn’t be able to get through the Thunder season, working at least two jobs, if it wasn’t for my support system.

What about any fashion advice? Be confident. I remember one day in middle school I didn’t like my hair – I had gotten a bad haircut or perm (yes, perm). My mom said, “Just act like there’s noth-ing wrong with it and no one else will even notice.” I went to school that day with my head held high even though secretly I wanted to cry. My mom was right. I real-ized then that if you walk into a room with confidence, no one’s going to notice what you think are your flaws. That was a turning point for me. Ever since then, I’ve been able to be completely confident in being myself, no matter what I’m wearing. Fashion is an extension of who you are, how you’re feel-ing at that moment, and how you want to present yourself to the world. Once again, it’s all about you. So be yourself!

What about any fashion advice? Be confident. I remember one day in

middle school I didn’t like my hair – I had gotten a bad haircut or perm (yes, perm).

My mom said, “Just act like there’s nothing wrong with it and no one else will even

notice.” I went to school that day with my head held high even though secretly I wanted to cry. My mom was right. I

realized then that if you walk into a room with confidence, no one’s going to notice what you think are your flaws. That was a turning point for me. Ever since then, I’ve

been able to be completely confident in being myself, no matter what I’m wearing.

Fashion is an extension of who you are, how you’re feeling at that moment, and how you want to present yourself to the world. Once

again, it’s all about you. So be yourself!

Film

Popeye

Hair: Angela HamiltonMakeup: The MakeUp Bar

Clothing: Bad Granny’sStyling: Kelsey Self

Photography: Bethany YoungModels: Paige and Dakota of Tabb Models

“I’m Popeye the Sailor Man. I’m strong to the finich, Cause I eats me spinach.

I’m Popeye the Sailor Man.”

Miss OklahomaFor as long as I can remember watching Miss America, I can never think of a time where I have known it was going to be ‘cut and dry’ who the winner would be. There were always so many smart, talented, beautiful contestants. The same rings true for Miss Oklahoma. If you are new to Oklahoma, we are good at football, wrestling and pageants. We currently have six Miss America’s from Oklahoma, making us a pretty competitive state. (See what I did there… pretty.) Every year, girls flood local pageants, eager to showcase their talents and promote their personal platform, and if you are one of the few to make it to the Miss Oklahoma state, it’s quite the compliment. Every year, the women pour themselves into volunteer work, public speaking, interview practice, training sessions, not to mention carry out their lives as full-time students and most, part-time employees. So, if you thought all pageants were about the “cheese”, consider yourself corrected. The money won at these competitions is scholarship money to further their education and most do just that. Take a look at Miss Oklahoma 1997 Kelli Masters, a once local contestant, turned Miss Oklahoma, turned lawyer and now sports agent. Talk about girl power. My experience with the Miss Oklahoma orga-nization was everything wonderful. So many amazing women touched my life with their incredible willpower to overcome obstacles, defeat their past or just to advocate for those who don’t have a voice. They taught me what real dedication to a cause is and showed me a passion beyond just being a volunteer. They were respectful, courteous, beautiful and tal-ented, among other things and, truth be told, I was just delighted to be in their company. Now, Miss America was never my dream but I knew it was for so many others. I loved performing, I loved the pressure, but I didn’t really want the job. I knew it meant so much more to others than it ever would to me. It was their passion, their goal and their plan. Now, obviously out

of 50 (or so) contestants, only one can win each year. So, every year the other contestants congratulate the others and move on with their lives… and to what extraordinary lives they live! Many former contestants have now turned reporters, anchors, models, mothers, authors, worship leaders and they all still embody those same qualities that I know we all learned from the Miss America organization. Now, enough about the background and how amazing all the women are, let’s focus on one woman… your new 2012 Miss Oklahoma Alicia Clifton! If you are thinking her name sounds familiar, you are probably right, as Ali-cia is Oklahoma-famous for her first Guinness World Book Record of thirty-six consecutive pirouettes in 2006. This is her second big win in the Miss Oklahoma pageants, as she served as Miss Oklahoma’s Outstanding Teen in 2008. She attends the University of Oklahoma where she is majoring in broadcast journalism, is on the pom squad, and is a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. Her platform, TAP: Into Volunteerism, is an acronym for teaching adolescents and adults to find the time and passion for volunteering, as well as it is her of-ficial talent. She will serve the state as Goodwill Ambassador, as well as speak to schools across Oklahoma, all the while preparing for Miss America. Will she be our lucky number seven? We sure hope so! A big hand to all contestants competing and especially to this year’s Top Five. Damaris Pierce, first runner-up; Veronica Wisniewski, second runner-up; Megan Johnson, third runner-up; and Sarah Klein, fourth runner-up. As I was live-tweeting from the Miss Okla-homa pageant, I couldn’t help but think of all the wonderful things we “Twenty Something” girls are capable of. Capable of moving people, capable of overcoming tenacious competition, and capable of grabbing hold of our own lives to take over our future! After all, Beyonce’ said it best…. Who runs the world? Girls.

Written by Meagan Owen

Feature

Photography: Leigh Thompson

Coriander & CaringI adore running my hands over the tiny seeds of Coriander in my garden. The lush green that can be harvested, dried in the sun, and then ground up in my kitchen with my mortar & pestle. Cur-rently, sitting gingerly & kindly in my gingham apron, which is wrapped around my waist, as I jaunt out these words, is a bundle of Coriander & Cilantro. I am drying out a special batch for an older woman I met while running errands in Oklahoma City. She had overheard my antics about the farm while I was sitting at a lacquered wood table drinking coffee with a friend. “Why do you love farming?” she inquired to me after asking what kind of animals I have and how many eggs I get a day. I could never in all my days decide on one thing I like the most about farming, so I an-swered with as whole-hearted and truthful words as I could. “I love farming for the same reasons I love my farm. I love it for what it was, what it is, and what it could be.”

Of course this got her thinking and asking me more in depth questions about logistics, and then countering with a question of “Where is your favorite spot to picnic on the farm?” This gave me the great opportunity to tell her about the current Farm Bill situation in Congress. No, I am not a huge fan of politics nor do I understand the half of it, but I decided a few years back that if I was going to be a farmer, I want to know every issue a farmer faces here in the U.S. I want to know what programs help beginning farmers like me, and, in turn, shape our agricultural cistern and determine what it could hold. “There are classes young farmers can take to learn about farm-ing?” she asked while swishing around her cup. “Yes,” I practically sang. “These are certain classes that are funded by the Farm Bill, and with any luck, we will continue to receive funding for these types of classes.”

“Well then…I like to eat fresh and friendly food. What can I do to help?”

This was one of the first times that a non-farmer had blatantly asked me what they could do to help out our cause, and it made that oh-so-certain lantern of my mind begin to burn brightly. Taking interest in an everyday thing such as food should not be something nonchalant in these days of change and big-time farmers that flood our society with foods that should never go in ones diet. I want your hands to be covered in earth. Every individual should take interest in the young farmers of your state (mind you… you do not have to be young to be a young farmer. I know an 87 year young woman who is a young farmer) and encourage whole-hearted practices, because this is YOUR food I speak of. This is your future that we are tilling and tending. These acres will be feeding and fueling your children’s future.

Just as many a folk would volunteer to help me raise a barn on the acreage, I ask of you all to take an interest in the issues that face young farmers and old farmers. Believe it or not, a few words written kindly on a piece of paper can make a difference, if seen and taken kindly in by determin-ing eyes. Please do, if you can take that moment of repose after a good meal, think about what in agriculture is important to you and what makes the young and sustainable practices of a farm im-portant. Jaunt these thoughts down and mail them to your representative, especially Representa-tive Frank Lucas, who, as I write this, is in a time of debate and decisions, sitting as the chairman for the Agricultural Committee in our U.S. Congress. Frank, this is also an invitation for you. Come by any time and let me feed you and yours a good meal. Let me tell you about my future plans to make cheese for the people of Oklahoma, and how I plan to get there through loans put in place by the 2012 Farm Bill, and how much I love my farm for what it was, what it is, and what it could be.

Article & Photo by Samantha Joelle Honey Lamb

Feature

A Guide to GreatGuilt-Free Grilling

Summer is officially here and that means it’s time for fun in the sun with friends and family. Whether you are at the lake, pool, or anywhere else, a summer occasion isn’t complete without great grilling. As the tem-peratures increase, we don’t want our waist-lines to do the same. So fire up the flames, have fun, and try the tips below to find your better meal, full of health and flavor with-out any guilt.

MeatThe focal point for your meal will be the meat. Choose lean, high quality sources such as chicken, lean beef, turkey, or any type of fish. Limit low quality foods like hot dogs. Try your chosen meat in different forms such as patties, sausages, or filets.

RubsOnce you’ve got your base picked out, it’s time to determine how to season it. Rubs are a healthy and easy way to ensure and enhance flavor without adding a lot of calo-ries. The mixtures of herbs and spices in dry rubs are a wonderful, low calorie addition to any lean protein source. Work the mix-ture into the meat with your hands or place in a plastic bag and shake to cover. You can create your own or buy different types from the store if pressed for time. Be aware of added sugar in store bought rubs.

Marinade Marinades are another fun and healthy way to make your meal come alive. Mari-nades are comprised of an acid-based liquid (wine, vinegar, or citrus juice), healthy fat (olive oil, coconut oil), and some seasonings to provide a delicious way to prepare your meat. As with rubs, try to create combina-tions without any added sugar. Place your

meat and marinade in a sealed bag in the fridge so the flavor can soak in. Making a few small cuts in your meat can provide an additional way for the marinade to lock in the flavor.

VeggieEvery great main course needs some won-derful sides to go with it. Grilling vegetables is a wonderful way to improve their natu-ral taste, compared to boiling or steam-ing. Vegetables can be grilled two ways: in foil packets or directly on the grill. The foil method can be used for any types or size but is most beneficial for smaller veg-gies that would fall through the grill. Sliced peppers, onions, and green beans are all good examples. Place vegetables on a large piece of foil and season with salt and black pepper. Lift or fold the edges up to form a perimeter. You can leave it open or seal it by folding in the ends to seal the packet like an envelope. Similar to meat, veggies need a good flip for even cooking.Larger vegetables that won’t fall through can be cooked directly on the grill. These include asparagus, zucchini, yellow squash, or eggplant slices. Olive oil lightly brushed on and seasoned with salt, pepper, or any other seasoning is a good option. Grill until fork-tender.

FruitThe grill is not just for meats and veg-etables anymore. Fruit can be grilled too. A hot grill caramelizes fruit and brings out the natural sweetness while softening the flesh, making for a great dessert or satisfy-ing sidekick. Only a few minutes per side is needed to warm up and enhance flavor.

Written by Jeff Ragan

Health

HealthHealth

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