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6. Brittany Easley 14. The Ultimate Surprise Wedding 30. Happy Father’s Day 38. Gabrielle Reedy 46. Tayler Davis & Stella and Dot 54. Maggie’s Fall by Ricki Wilson 58. Tyle Bivens 64. Beauty by Morgan Black
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100. 66. New Arrivals 72. Art by Jessica Harder 84. Fashion by Madison Bryan 86. Mikah Anderson 94. Cake Smashing for 21 years of life 100. She said “yes!” 102. Britney Browning 108. California Bound 110. Become a BBP Model 112. Senior Rep Program 114. Subscribe
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Brittany is a new face to BBP Magazine but we’ve known her for quite some time. It was a joy working with her and we’re really fortunate enough to have her be a part of the bbp models. Brittany is 18 years old and would like to be successful in whatever she decides to do. She plans to attend Oklahoma University in the fall. Brittany enjoys modeling because she can be herself in pictures and really show off who she is. Her favorite quote to live by is “always believe in yourself because if you don’t, who will?” said by Marilyn Monroe. It’s clear that it’s her kind heart and dedication that makes her a great person and model.
The wedding isn’t next week, the wedding is....Right Now!”  On May 12, 2012 we got the opportunity to photograph one of the most beautiful weddings we’ve ever been to. Better yet, a surprise wedding. I know what you’re thinking. “How in the world do you do a surprise wedding”? Well, Lindsey and JJ certainly pulled it off perfectly. Lindsey and JJ told everyone that they were going to have a destination wedding in Hawaii, so they would just have a big reception so that everyone could celebrate with them in some way. Before they knew it, it was May 12th, the day of the “reception”. Everything looks beautiful and Lindsay and her fiancé are having a good time with their guests, until the time comes for Lindsey and JJ to sneak into their separate rooms where they will be getting ready. Lindsey, her mother Kathy, her two sisters, and best friend help her get into her wedding dress while JJ gets ready in another room. Once both of them were ready, they snuck into another room while her sisters went to bring some of Lindsey’s closest family and friends into her room. These girls had no idea what was coming! There was a computer set up, and once all the girls were in the room, a video starts to play. The video basically thanked all of the girls for coming and at the end Lindsey explained that they weren’t getting married in Hawaii, they were
getting married that day, and all of the girls in the room were to be her bridesmaids. The video concluded with Lindsey telling the girls to look behind them and as they did the bedroom door opened revealing Lindsey in her beautiful white wedding dress. Meanwhile, in JJ’s room, he was revealing the secret to his “groomsmen”. After all of the wedding party found out, the mother of the bride proceeded to sit everyone down for “dinner”. Kathy starts a speech thanking everyone for coming and as the speech continues, she goes on to tell everyone that Lindsey and JJ were not having a destination wedding, the wedding is happening now. The guests immediately find out that they were not sitting in a formal reception. They were sitting in the middle of what will become Lindsey and JJ’s wedding ceremony. “Welcome to the wedding of my daughter Lindsey, and John Jacob Morris”, Kathy said. It was such a wonderful experience capturing all of this happening. To share a surprise like that with someone is indescribable. The rest of the night was just as exciting. The ceremony was beautiful and included both the bride and groom’s parents renewing their vows, along with the brand new Mr. and Mrs. JJ Morris promising to spend the rest of their lives together. <Lindsey’s bridesmaids find out she’s getting married.
Lindsey played a video for her bridesmaids and at the end told them to turn around and Lindsey walked through the door in her wedding dress. The reaction was priceless.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a gift being able to recite our vows after our parents renewed theirs.â&#x20AC;?
“Since my bridesmaids didn’t know we “Since my bridesmaids didn’t getting married that day, knowwere we were getting married that they day, they all asked on separate occasions hadhad all asked me me on separate occasions what I what I wanted them to wear. I told them any wanted them to wear. I told them any bright brightsummer solid summer colors would It solid colors would work. work. It just so just so happened thatallthey wore different happened that they worealldifferent colors colors and looked AMAZING! I don’t and looked AMAZING! I don’t think I could think could out havebetter picked out better have Ipicked bridesmaid bridesmaid dresses ” dresses myself.myself. ”
Pink Sugar Shoe Boutique in Edmond
Give me one sentence that describes your whole experience.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;God is Faithful!!!â&#x20AC;?
“J.J.’s sister and brother-in-law, Casey & Sommer Jones. They made it for us as a wedding present. This is the best wedding present EVER!!”
The Bride reveals her secrets and explains the “author of her fairytale”. Discuss the process of planning a surprise wedding. How did you keep the secret from everyone, even the groom’s parents? “Haha! Honestly, I don’t know how we were able to keep it a secret for so long! A lot of made up stories. We told everyone that just J.J and I wanted a private beach wedding (just the two of us were invited). As you can imagine, a lot of people were not happy about that. We definintely couldn’t have pulled it off without the support of my parents, sisters, and best friend Christine. There were so many times we just wanted to tell everyone but they kept reassuring us that it would all be worth it in the end.”
What was your favorite memory?
J.J.’s Favorite Memory: “Seeing Lindsey coming around the corner in her wedding dress was beautiful. Then everyone started clapping and cheering as if she was the Queen of England. It was priceless!” Lindsey’s Favorite Memory: “Standing along the side of the house with my Daddy and Bridesmaids waiting for the surprise to be revealed. The moment I heard the music I started crying and just about lost it. As my dad and I walked down the aisle, I made eye contact with J.J. and we both just gave each other this look like, “Wow, we actually pulled it off!”
Explain why you decided to do a surprise wedding, what inspired you?
“We originally had planned to get married in Oklahoma in April 2013. We then moved the date up to August 2012 with a plan to have a destination wedding in Mexico. After researching prices, it was just going to be too expensive for each of our guests, plus, a beach wedding just isn’t “us”. A few weeks later, at the January Bridal Fair, I was walking around with my mom and bridesmaids and it just dawned on me, “Let’s do a surprise wedding!” So I pulled my mom off to the side and whispered my idea to her...she loved it! Once all my bridesmaids had left, I called J.J. to see what he thought. He loved the idea but we knew we wouldn’t be able to keep it a secret for long so we set the date for May 12, 2012. From the very beginning, we both knew we wanted to do something different, something that no one has done before, something that would truly be an ‘experience’ to each of our guests. A surMadeline’s Flowers prise wedding was a perfect idea!”
in Edmond
Discuss the biggest challenges. Swan” moment too. There was so much standing
“Not having all my bridesmaids involved in the water in the backyard that my uncle was using a Shop Vac to soak up puddles of water, my aunt real plan. My parents, sisters and maid of honor knew, but beyond that it was a total secret. So I was mopping the dance floor and J.J. had to mow the lawn as short as possible to keep people’s didn’t get to discuss all the fun little details with the pant legs dry from the water still sitting on the rest of them like most brides do. Also, making our grass. All of this, just hours before guests were grandparents believe they weren’t going to get to be there for our wedding day. That was tough! But to arrive. In the end, the sun came out and dried the look on their faces when I turned the corner in up all the rain resulting in a perfect evening, but still, not a chance I would ever take again.” my wedding dress made the months of secrets all worthwhile!”
If someone was planning a surprise wedding, what would you tell them to do and what not to do?
How would you conclude your whole wedding experience?”
“God is FAITHFUL!!! About 2 years ago, I was in the middle of a horrible breakup with an old Do: “Do it QUICKLY! I honestly don’t think we boyfriend when one of my friends mom, Pam could have lasted 1 more day keeping all the secrets. Kanaly, called me out of the blue to We only had to keep our big secret for 4 tell me she had a word from the months and it was one of the toughest What was the Lord for me. The Lord’s mesthings I’ve ever had to do.” most rewarding part of sage to me was this: “Be the experience? patient. Trust me. Love me Don’t Do: “Don’t cancel Getting to share the experience with first. You will not be single your tent 4 days before an all of our loved ones. We are so blessed forever! My timing is outdoor wedding because to have such wonderful friends and always perfect. I have the the weatherman said it wasn’t family in our lives. I couldn’t imagine most amazing spouse for supposed to rain. Haha! We had not sharing such a special day you. You will meet him one until Tuesday at 3pm to cancel our without them. day, and when you do, things tent for a Saturday wedding. Tuesday will happen, and they will happen afternoon the weather predictions for the quickly.” Man did they ever! J.J. and I next 7 days was 85 degrees, not a cloud in site. We met August 28th, had our first date September woke up Wednesday morning and there was a 90% 2nd, were engaged December 17th and marchance of rain for the WHOLE WEEKEND!! It ried May 12th. Every moment and every detail actually rained until 10am the day of.” from the very beginning was more than I could have ever asked for or imagined. The Lord has blessed me with the most amazing man in the “Have you ever seen the movie, “Father of the world. To all of you single people out there readBride”? You know when they are using a hair dryer ing this wondering if it will ever happen to you, to thaw out the tulips and put the swans in a warm take it from me, it will! Trust in the Lord with all bath tub because it has just snowed in the middle of your heart, allow Jesus to write your fairytale!” their spring wedding? Well we had our “Tulip and
Lindsey & J.J May 12th, The
Ultima
Surpri
Weddi
J. Morris , 2012
ate
ise
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“There is no better wedding photographer out there! Brandon is honestly one of the most organized, creative, and warm hearted people we have ever met. We planned a surprise wedding. When we told Brandon our plans, I honestly think he was more excited than most of our guests that attended the wedding! His kind heart and enthusiasm made our wedding day that much more special and we couldn’t have done it without him. He captured every moment, giving us precious pictures and video to cherish for years to come!” Lindsey Morris 2012 Bride
A look inside an American Father who works over seas in Baghdad, Iraq For the celebration of Father’s Day, we asked a few dads to share why they enjoy being a father. But first we’d love to share with you a small interview with a man we love and cherish. Michael Breslin is a father and is currently serving on a medical support contract in Baghdad, Iraq. While being over seas he took the time to share with us his challenges of being a father and gives unforgettable advice on being a loving father.
Tell us about your family and what you’re currently doing overseas.
My wife and 2 daughters currently reside in Austin, Texas where I have a 15-year old named Alexandria and a 3-year old Isabella and my wife Vanessa. Ali currently attends Stony Point High and my Vanessa works for Texas A&M HSC. I’m currently serving on a medical support contract in Baghdad, Iraq with a company that provides medical support to a federal government agency’s employees and their affiliated contractors. We staff 4 large hospitals and numerous clinics.
When you became a father explain how your life changed?
When I married my wife it was a simultaneous event because she already had a 10-year old. Making the decision to become a father was easy given my love for my wife and her little girl. The application of that decision into daily life was similarly easy given my military background. Leading a team of soldiers on a successful mission is very similar to leading your family to success. As a family, you decide the major goals and objectives you want to accomplish in life, long-term and short-term and then break that down into smaller goals that lead to its eventual success. This same rule applies to financial, physical, spiritual and parental goals. There are so many ways to accomplish any goal you can mentally construct. I have always dreamed of having a family and becoming a father was just the manifestation of my dreams into reality.
One can only imagine how difficult it must be being away from your family as much as it is required, what do you find is your best coping mechanism?
Routine. My wife and I talk on the phone every day and video skype with the kids on the weekends. I exercise consistently and our work requirements in-country are 12 - 14 hours a day so that keeps me busy. I have been in the contracting business 5 of the past 6 years and the family lived in the Middle East for 2 of those years. Being apart isn’t new to our family and we all have our own method of continuing daily life. Vanessa and I also do our best to plan great vacations during the times I am home. This year we are going on a Disney cruise and everyone is super excited.
What do you find to be the most challenging part of being a dad?
Because I am the only male in the house, relating to the girls and their emotions is difficult for me as a Father simply because I’ll never truly understand what its like to go through the rollercoaster of being a female, not to mention that of a teenage girl. It’s an extremely tough age for all as we begin to come into the early stages of adulthood and as a father, I can only hope that my parenting choices have the intentioned impact. For most parents out there, I think we all have the same intentions – we love our children, want them to be happy and do not want them to experience pain in any form. Though, living life as we do, we are shaped by those same experiences and knowing that – hope I can be there when needed, provide sound advice and protect when I can.
What is the most important lesson you hope your girls will take with them through life?
Wow – there are so many so I’ll give you 3 of my favorite. The first being that you shouldn’t take life or yourself too seriously – laugh every day. We will all die one day, it’s inevitable, accept that fact and you’ll stop living your life in fear. We all move on to greater things in the spiritual world so enjoy the here and now. The second is the power of creation with thought. Thoughts are energy like anything else in life and literally manifest your reality. Be a positive optimist and dreams will begin to seek you out. This is a universal truth and once applied – life is no longer a challenge but a joy. The third is love and its various forms. Try to find love in everything you see and do and try to experience it as much and often as you can.
What would be some advice for dads that work overseas?
Communicate every day - Tell your family you love them every day – you never know when it will be your last. This not only applies to deployed Dads but for those at home. It keeps me grounded, my priorities clear and provides purpose. It also helps the family to ‘feel’ like I’m not that far away. Do special things for them too, like write a letter, call their day care – I do that every Wednesday, send flowers and candy and chocolates. Those small, inexpensive gestures of the heart go a long way with family and create memories of love they can lean on until you get home.
Write a small message to Vanessa and the girls.
I love you all so very much and I look forward to our time together when I return home. I miss the laughter and smiles and can’t wait to make more memories. You all are the loves of my life.
photo by Angel Porch of Art and Soul Photography
As far back as I can remember I have wanted to be a father. I think that is why I was drawn to teaching at such a young age. I thought I knew how great fatherhood would be, but when my son was born the feelings I thought I would have were laughable compared to the emotions that have engulfed me ever since. I thought I knew what love was, and don’t get me wrong, I love my wife with all of my being, but the love I have for my son is incomparable. He is literally an extension of the love we share. I have never been more frightened in my life than when Rozz (my wife) and I drove Taylor (my son) home for the very first time. I would do anything to protect him, so I drove 20 mph the entire way home, honking horns and flying fingers be damned. From the moment we walked in the house with him, we felt home. As long as we were together, we were home. Since that day I have seen my boy grow up in front of my eyes, which is an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything. He is still young, but in his two years he has developed an amazing personality. I
genuinely couldn’t ask for a cooler kid. He has shown interest in music since day one, which makes this daddy very proud. Music has been a huge part of our lives from the time we were kids, and we have big plans for this musical family. In fact, Taylor saw me play the drums for the first time a few weeks ago. I get teary eyed just thinking about that feeling I got when I looked into the crowd and saw my own son grinning ear to ear and clapping for daddy. As people we have been asking, for the entirety of our existence, “why are we here?”, or “what’s the meaning of life?”. Well I think I have cracked the code, thanks to my family. The answer is love. We are here to love the way a father loves his son, or the way a son loves his father. If we as a people would just keep that in mind, I truly believe this world would be a better place for everyone. Thank you son for giving me this gift of life, I love you. -James Grigsby
Every child is a gift from God and bears his image. Nothing else for which you will be responsible will have the same eternal qualities or infinite value as one of these tiny human beings. A man may work at a job to make a living for his family, but the man who makes his family his vocation understands the whole point of life. What is life without relationships, and what relationships have more potential for fulfillment and satisfaction than those you have with your wife and children? Only in giving ourselves up for the sake of our family do we truly mirror God. -Marty Kessler I love the joy she brings, when she smiles I smile. I constantly wonder what she will do next, what she will discover, and who she will become. She is so delicate and fragile and I love her so much. Seeing her makes me feel whole and like I’ve made a difference in the world. -Brad Glauner Well being a dad has its ups and downs, but I enjoy every single moment with my son Kobe. Although he can be a pain in my butt (gets it from me :)) he is the joy of my life! Now it is hard being a dad, up at 3am to give him a bottle then put him in his reclined chair and put “Veggie Tales” on TV and he goes back to sleep!! I love having everyone stop and say “he looks just like you” and “oh man he is a doll”! Even on my worst days he is the only person to make me smile! -Jacob Shockley Oliver is 2 and a half now. I love that I’m special to him. He could be in a room full of people--friends, other family members, his little classmates at daycare--and no matter how much fun he’s having with them, when he sees me walk into the room, he lights up, shouts, “Daddy!” and runs to me and jumps into my arms. Being a parent is hard, but those moments alone could make it all worth it. -John Goodine
What’s so special about fatherhood? I probably am not the normal father. I didn’t graduate from the university first and then marry and then raise my family in suburbia USA. It seems that my life as a father was actually done backwards. I fell in “love” at a young age and married when I was seventeen years old. I was determined to finish High School and did so while working nights. My first born, Brent, was born on my 19th birthday which has made for a special birthday ever since. My second child, Danna, was born four years later and my third child Terry was adopted four years later. During these years of early fatherhood, I had to work, and I mean work hard to make a living for my young family but I gladly did it because I was living my dream. I am a minister in the International Pentecostal Holiness Church and at that time I was pastoring churches as a bi vocational pastor. One year after our daughter was born, my wife Brenda and I knew we needed more preparation for our life career in the ministry and we enrolled in Southwestern Christian University in OKC. Those where the early tough years and all along we were trying our best to instill values and character in our children even though the world around us did not always see the importance of the same values. I was young and maybe a little ignorant but I loved God and family and was willing to lay down my life for both. Now the years have passed and my children have all grown and have children of their own. I now am older, much older and have seven grandchildren. We went into mission ministries over twenty five years ago and our children, still young, learned many new things in life while living in Costa Rica that perhaps they would not have learned here in the States. They have all gone separate ways and have made good and bad choices and have reaped
from their choices (good and bad). I can’t say I have agreed with everything they have done in life but all of them will still tell you that their best years and the formative things in life that sticks with them are the values and principles that were planted in their lives. They may wander away at times but they keep coming back to the stability implanted in them way back when. What’s so special about Fatherhood? I guess it’s in knowing that my role as a father is never finished. It wasn’t just for a time when they were children but even now as adults. My role has changed somewhat but I am still dad. I once sold my gold wedding ring so I could purchase shoes for my three kids. It was a sacrifice then but that’s what fatherhood is all about. I still would sacrifice the world for my children to give them a great life but I don’t have to. Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross so that each of us could have life and life more abundantly.
The following article was written by: Dan Clowers, Continental Director of World Missions IPHC in Latin America/Caribbean Dan & his wife Brenda have been in missions for over 25 years and base out of Lima, Peru.
My name is Gabrielle Mariayh Reedy. I am twenty-one years young, and have the life scars to prove it. My FIRST aspiration has always been acting; I have always had an interest in movies, plays and the magic that goes into acting. Something about leaving yourself and exploring a new character has always been comfortable and strangely natural to me. These qualities will always be a part of me and I will pursue this, even if it’s the last thing I do. My SECOND aspiration would be psychology; again something about the inner workings of the human psyche has always drawn me in. I’ve always found the human mind fascinating---One day, I definitely see myself being a counselor of some sorts. I have a higher comprehension of human emotion, and believe I could flourish in an environment such as that. I enjoy modeling because of the beauty of it all---I love how many elements and people can come together to deliver such glamorous photographs; it’s not just the model or the photographer. I see it as an illusion of some kind---an illusion that’s harder to achieve than most people realize.
My favorite outfit to wear is my most comfortable outfit; my skinny jeans, a tank top and my flats---this is pretty boring, but sadly it is what I wear most days. My favorite pass-time? I enjoy going out to eat and shopping with friends as much as anyone, but my favorite thing would have to be spending time with my son, he’s just turned two so what ever we get into, it’s always a blast! I also love movies and music, especially rock and roll. I just love cozying up on my couch, watching old movies, and downloading new tunes continuously. Legally of course! What lesson have I learned from life? Well after twenty-one years, I can admit all the lessons your parents taught growing up---all the cliché or generic life lessons--are actually true! It is so important to keep moving, and growing as a person, no matter what others say or what happens to you. And also don’t take the advice your parents or grandparents give you for granted. They love you and want the best for you and most the time they really do know what they are talking about.
Exclusive interview with Ricki Wilson, the author of Maggie’s Fall. Tell us about Maggie’s Fall. How long did it take you to write the book
“Maggie’s Fall is about Maggie McClellan, a single and single- minded woman whose sole purpose in life is to protect the M-Bar Ranch and the M-Bar Ranch family: her son, T.J., Martha and Jonah (who have lived on the ranch as long as Maggie), the M-Barhorses,andonestra ydogwhoknowsallMaggie’ssorrows. Maggie is smart. She knows how to run a ranch and how to keep her guests happy; she knows when to stay out of Martha’s kitchen and not to leave Jonah’s tools lying around; she knows how to soothe a frightened colt, and that T.J. worries too much for a little boy, but she doesn’t know how to stop an anonymous investor from buying out her leases. Maggie will not lose everything her parents built. Saving the M-Bar is the only way to keep her parents’ memory alive. When the pressure of holding everything together weighs too heavily, Maggie breaks a long-standing rule: she rides off alone across the M-Bar pastures without telling anyone where she’s going.
and what was your writing process?
“I would imagine I spent two years on the novel, which includes long, stagnant stretches where I just could not find the time to lose myself in the writing. At times I tried to force the words onto the pages, and I ended up deleting over 50,000 words from the final manuscript. The only process that works for me is to watch the story in my mind and record it. When I’m in my writing zone, nothing exists but the story, and I never know what’s going to happen next until I’ve written it. When I step away from the keyboard and realize that four or five hours have passed, I feel as if I’ve had a satisfactory writing session.”
What kind of research did you have to do?
Maggie’s Fall is set in the fictional town of Marfa, Texas; however, there is a real town named Marfa, so I didn’t want to stray too far from the authenticity. I made good use of Google Maps and Google Earth to verify travel times and to create a realistic layout of the setting.
Witt McCreigh has been Maggie’s best friend her whole life. When Maggie never returns to the ranch, In what kind of environment did you have Witt saddles Maggie’s best mare, abandons the formal to be while writing? search party, and follows his heart. Witt rides with one For writing, I have two stations set on Pandora: Film hope—to find Maggie alive, and one regret—that he Scores Radio and Yiruma Radio. A little background has never told her how much he loves her.” music, a cat in my lap, and the computer is all I need – oh, and lots of coffee. I seem to be at my most What inspired you to write the book? productive late at night and into the morning, which “Some people paint, some crochet, or bake, or play doesn’t always coincide well with a daytime existence.
golf; I write—often for the same reasons that I read, to escape, to discover something beyond my physical world. Writing Maggie’s Fall began as an experiment to see if I could create the reading experience from the other side, to see if I could record a story as I was imagining it. The process was arduous and exhilarating in equal measure. Following the age-old adage to “write what you know,” I chose familiar subjects (stray dogs, horses, and cowboys) and wove them into a story.”
What kind of obstacles did you run into while writing Maggie’s Fall?
Lack of time is the biggest obstacle to my writing. Often I’m writing when I should be doing something else, which can allow guilt to creep in and silence the muse. I can never thank my family and friends enough for not giving up on me when I seemed barely accessible, and they didn’t even know why. I was finished with the first draft of Maggie’s Fall and into the editing stage before I even mentioned what I was doing.
What was your publishing process? Are there any new book projects in the works?
I knew absolutely nothing about the publishing process when I finished Maggie’s Fall, but I got a quick education. It didn’t take long for me to realize I had to let go of my romantic, naïve notions. The hard truth of publishing is that it is nothing like what we see in the movies. There were well over 200,000 books published in the United States in 2008, the same year that Breaking Dawn hit the stands, and unless these authors were Meyer or Rowling or Grisham, they were figuring out how to do their own marketing and promotions, and they weren’t making much money. Despite some very encouraging responses from agents I had queried, I chose not to pursue traditional publishing. Not only am I unwilling to wait around for the economy to allow agents to open their doors wider, I’m also unconvinced that traditional publishing will be the primary outlet for authors in the future. The more I investigated indie publishing, the more I was convinced this was the right path for me, and I’ve never looked back
Yes, I’m nearly finished with the first draft of a sequel to Maggie’s Fall. I got so wrapped up in my characters’ stories that I couldn’t let go. I am hopeful that Maggie’s Stand will be finished and ready to release before the end of 2012.
What advice would you give aspiring authors out there?
I would advise those who aspire to publish to be avid readers, to educate themselves about the current and ever-changing trends in the publishing field, and to prepare themselves for the reality that the writing is the easiest part. A year ago I never would have dreamed that I would have to build a dedicated Facebook page, that I would need to be on Twitter, that I would need to develop a website—all for the purposes of promoting Maggie’s Fall and making contacts. I am no good at self-promotion, and I don’t enjoy it, but it hasn’t been all bad. Indie authors are extremely generous in helping one another, and, thanks to social networking, I’ve been helped along my way by those more experienced.
Where can we purchase a copy of Maggie’s Fall? Maggie’s Fall is available in both paperback and digital formats: Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YCZD3I Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/maggies-fall-r-wil- son/1105958243?ean=294001 1541742&format=nook-book iTunes : http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/maggies-fall/id472897817?mt=11 Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/93058
A big congratulations to Lauren Sims & Jodi Buck for winning a copy of Maggie’s Fall.
tyle bivens
B E AU T Y T I P S by Morgan Black I don’t know about you guys, but I am totally and completely obsessed with Pinterest! If you’ve not been on Pinterest yet…DO IT. I get tons of inspiration from it, ranging from my future wedding (even though I’m not engaged…it’s not pathetic, it’s planning ahead!) to photo shoot ideas to homemade beauty products. I love anything “homemade.” It makes me feel so crafty and knowledgeable when I tell people, “Hey, want to keep your sunburn from blistering? Fill up an old raggedy washcloth with ice, dip it in Red Wine Vinegar and gently dab it onto the skin. Voila, no blisters!” However, I come across beauty tips on Pinterest and sometimes question if they really do work. For instance, one of the most popular tips comes from http://petitelefant. com/how-to-pore-strips/ It is a how-to on how to make your own pore strip mask. So being curious, and also tired of my blackheads, I decided to try out the instructions listed on the website. I started out with a clean face. I suggest pulling your hair back very well. This mask will have a good grip and any hair trapped in it will be ripped out.
Then, I took a tablespoon of unflavored gelatin (I got mine at WalMart) with a tablespoon and a half of milk
I used skim, but according to the website, it doesn’t matter what kind I mixed it in a clear glass bowl and heated it up for 15 seconds in the microwave.
’t d.
n
BEFORE
AFTER
The result was a very liquid-y mixture. I applied this to my face with a spoon, concentrating on my “t-zone” or middle area of the forehead, nose and surrounding area and the chin. This is where I have the most blackheads. Soooo hot. I took care to avoid my eyebrows and hairline…I’m not going to risk it ripping out my eyebrows! They already don’t show up without eyebrow powder! Anyway, I left it on until it felt hard, or around the 10 minute mark. Warning: It will hurt coming off in some areas. Now, I may be just a big ol’ baby, but I thought it hurt a little bit. Once it was all peeled off, I washed my face with warm water and a washcloth, then moisturized. Conclusion: My skin does feel very clean and soft! However, I didn’t notice an absence of blackheads. Now, before I discredit this recipe, I do think it works better if you do it multiples times, like once a week or so. The blackhead
strips are more effective when used once every three days, so I would guess that this mask is the same way! With all my love, Morgan
Photographed By: Brandon Burton Photography
Jessica Harder is a local artist near Oklahoma City and has always stayed active within the Art scene. It is our greatest honor to introduce you to Jessica and her latest collection of beautiful paintings on 16x20 canvas. Her inspirational talent is a beautiful sight for anyone that is looking for home decor or an astonishing piece of art to display.
Jessica Harder A lot of artists consider their craft therapeutic, would you consider painting therapeutic? And why? “Absolutely. It’s a way to channel any negative energy or experiences into something incredibly positive. Art is a wonderful way for a person to express themselves. Painting helps me to relax, clear my mind, and forget about any issues in the world.”
What inspires you the most while you paint?
“It’s hard to pinpoint the source of inspiration. However, my life experiences definitely motivate me. Certain things in life inspire me to keep painting. It pushes me to think of new things to create and to try different techniques. “
What kind of environment do you have to be in while you paint? (music playlist, light/ dark, beverage of choice etc.) “It sounds so silly but when I paint I always light candles, have a glass of wine, and watch T.V. It really helps me focus more on what I’m doing and relaxes me. I prefer to paint at night when the house is quiet and there are few interruptions. “
How long has art been a part of your life?
”Art has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. When I was little I remember getting art supplies for Christmas from our preschool staff. I’ve always loved looking at and creating art and it will be a part of my life forever.”
What do you consider your biggest challenge while painting?
“My biggest challenge is that I’m a huge perfectionist and I will obsess about every little detail. It often takes me weeks for me to officially finish a painting. It’s hard for me to perfect the image I see in my head and put that on to canvas in the exact way I want. It’s definitely a lot of trial and error. “
Where can we purchase your paintings? My Etsy shop at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/JessicaHarder
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coupon clo set
your closet of savings
We’ve all seen or heard about the show “Extreme Couponing” on TLC. Let’s be honest, these people are nuts. No one needs 500 jars of peanut butter, no matter how cheap it is. However, after seeing this show a couple of times, it got me motivated to start saving money on groceries, so I started to do some research. I saw that one of my friends was going to take a coupon class. I thought to myself, “Coupon class? Who needs to take a class to learn how to cut a coupon”? What I found was awesome. Coupon Closet is a blog devoted to teaching people how to coupon. Carrie, wife and mom of 4 beautiful kids, started Coupon Closet after taking a Financial Peace class with Dave Ramsey. After finding out how much they were actually appending on groceries, Carrie started couponing pretty seriously. Now, Carrie is an expert couponer and offers free couponing classes in Oklahoma. I highly suggest attending one of these classes, especially if you’re thinking about couponing. What’s really awesome about Coupon Closet, and is one of my favorite features of the website, is that if you subscribe to her email list, she will send you one email per day with all of the deals going on in the grocery stores and the coupons that match up with those deals. It makes your couponing life a whole lot easier. If you’d like any more information on couponing or classes, visit www.CouponCloset.net.
“Ok, why did I start doing this blog? It all started with one class. I took a Financial Peace class by Dave Ramsey at my local church, St. Andrews United Methodist Church. We didn’t have a crazy amount of debt, but it still changed the way we thought. I tried to cut down our expenses to help pay off our minivan, but I couldn’t get the grocery budget to budge. We were spending on average a CRAZY amount of $900-$1000 a month. We were shocked, because we really thought we were only spending $500-600. It was VERY frustrating. I could not get it any lower. Finally, I started couponing… I started REALLY couponing. It grew into a small obsession and I realized that no person or family could live like this… long term. There had to be a better way to get these great savings without it consuming my life. I figured it out! My sole mission now is to help as many people become saavy shoppers like myself while maintaining a normal life.” -Carrie The owner and author to CouponCloset.net and EatingonaDime.com
Mikah Anderson Mikah Anderson is 22 years old and attends Bethany Beauty College. She is aspiring to be a cosmetologist. She’s always been fascinated by fashion and beauty. She loves modeling because “it’s like getting to play dress up and be someone else for awhile. Someone who is something of a role model to self consience girls, just because you’re not a size zero doesn’t mean you can’t be beautiful.” Mikah’s favorite outfit would consist of her dress and boots. Her pass-time includes fishing or spending time with her family and friends. Here at BBP Magazine we adore Mikah.
MIKAH ANDERSON
When Lindsay contacted us wanting to do photos with her best friend Katie, I was ecstatic. She mentioned they both were turning 21 and wanting to do something fun and memorable. So I thought about it for a minute or three and thought nothing is more fun than celebrating a birthday with cake. So we decided to plunge right into it. We met in the Paseo for some traditional photos and then we brought out the best part, the cake. If you read last issue I discussed a similar story about a cake smashing, but it was more traditional and with a one year old. I don’t know about you but I don’t ever see a cake smashing done with two best
friends that are turning 21, not even on Pinterest. Even though one would probably frown upon the idea I knew that we would have a blast and as long as Lindsay & Katie was down with it, I was definitely okay with it. With them turning 21 I couldn’t seem to get the top hit song by LMFAO featuring Little Jon “Shots” out of my mind. However, I quickly turned that rather impressive and addictive song rythym to another tune called, “cake cake cake.” In my opionion. this was one of the best ways to celebrate a 21st birthday and being a part of it was extremely fun.
Britney Browning