Twenty Something January 2012
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JaNiece Cranmer KSBI All About You Feature Writer
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Sherree Chamberlain Feature Writer
Kealey McIntire KSBI All About You Feature Writer
Christina Fallin-Bacon Fashion Writer
Alex Mendez-Kelly Makeup Artist
Denver Duncan 30 Before 30 Feature Writer
Intern: Ashley Foster
CONT
Bethany Young Editor-in-Chief Co-Creative Director Photographer
Kelsey Self Fashion Director Co-Creative Director Stylist
Chad Cosper Videography
Emily Davis Decor Writer
Luke Stephens Feature Writer
Sarah Ethridge Music Writer
Jamy Green Hair Stylist Duncan Brothers Salon 405.748.8688
Jeff Ragan Health Writer
Abigail Ogle Sports Writer
Taylor Upchurch 30 Before 30
TRIBUTORS
Click here to watch Christina’s journey through the happiest place on earth.
Photos by Christina Fallin-Bacon
Jan
nuary Fashions Hair: Lil Doescher Makeup: The MakeUp Bar Styling: Kelsey Self Photography: Bethany Young Models: Mallory Calhoun & Katy Foley Shoes Provided by Shoe Gypsy Clothing & Accessories Provided by Retropolitan
Twenty Somethi
ing Girl
Meet our January Twenty Something Girl, Emily Chancellor. Just who is Emily Chancellor? I am a twenty-four year old native Oklahoman. I lived in Oklahoma for the first 22 years of my life and attended the University of Oklahoma. I have strong Oklahoma and OU roots, but a year and a half ago I left Oklahoma and moved to New York City. I now work as an account executive for a New York City advertising agency. I love fashion, style and creativity. Tell us about your time at OU. I graduated with a Business Marketing degree. While at OU I was very active in my sorority and several Campus Activities Council groups. I loved attending OU where I met some of my best friends. OU has such strong traditions and I loved that I could be a part of them. Did your studies and experience inspire your career choice? I actually took a less than typical angle into the advertising industry. Typically those working in my industry have studied advertising or journalism as opposed to my business background. Beginning my freshman year, I really fell in love with the Price School of Business at OU and the different courses I had the opportunity to take. I knew that in the long run whatever career path I chose, a business degree was a broad degree that could open a lot of doors for me. After college, I worked in the marketing department of an Oklahoma company and it was then that the advertising industry really piqued my interest and I decided I wanted to pursue a job at an advertising agency.
How did you land your job at one of the top advertising agencies in the country? I left my job in Oklahoma and moved to New York without a job or any real job plan in mind. I am a big planner of every detail in my life and this was by far the most spontaneous thing I have ever done. At this point I was still relatively new to the work force, which made the move even scarier for me since I didn’t have a distinct career path to follow or fall back on. I wanted to be sure I could survive in my new city and was fairly open to most job opportunities at first, especially in the marketing or advertising industry, but I knew that I really wanted to see what it was like working for an advertising agency. I knew that New York was the perfect place to get that first initial experience because of the large number of agencies and different specialties each focuses on. For my first few weeks in New York I worked temporary jobs until I landed a special events position with an international financial company. It was a good secure job, but I knew ultimately I wouldn’t be satisfied until I saw what it was like working for an advertising agency. After working a few months, I received a call to interview for a position at an agency where a friend of a friend had referred me. Shortly after my interview I got news that I received the job at MRM and I have been working there ever since! What is the work environment like? One of my favorite things about where I work is the people I work with. Overall, it is a very young, fun and casual environment. We definitely work very hard, often putting in 10-hour days, but I have learned so much and continue to learn new things everyday. With tight and constant deadlines it can be very stressful, but I have found that we always find time to have a little fun each day whether its laughing over the latest
YouTube video, sharing a funny story during a status meeting or going out for a midweek happy hour.
Sonic for a happy hour Vanilla Diet Coke or run into Target to get one or two essential items. 4) OKC Thunder! When I worked in OklaWhy New York? homa part of my job involved going to alI’m not sure how or really when I fell in love most every Thunder game. I became a huge with New York, but I can remember even Thunder fan as a result. before my first trip to New York dream5) The familiarity of a place I lived all my ing of someday moving to New York City. life. I now find myself constantly running I think the fashion, fast paced lifestyle and 5-10 minutes early or 5-10 minutes late evopportunities available in New York really erywhere I go because I still haven’t figured inspired and stuck with me. Moving to New out just how long it takes to get from one York was always in the back of my mind part of the city to another. and at the top of my dream list and it was something I worked towards throughout How has your style changed college. I knew that at some point in my life, since your big move? even if it was short term, I really needed to I don’t think my style has changed that take a chance and leave my comfortable en- much since I moved to New York, but I vironment for a New York City adventure. think now after living in New York I’m more aware of my style and have more What are your 5 favorite things confidence in wearing what I like and I feel to do in the city? comfortable in. Oh tough question, but currently my favorite things to do in the city would have to be: Favorite Celebrity Style Crush 1) Run in Central Park Reese Witherspoon. I love her girly and 2) Go to weekend brunch with my roomsophisticated style. mates. New York is huge on brunch spots so this is always a weekend favorite of ours. NYC Hang Out 3) Try out new restaurants and bars One of my favorite places in New York and 4) See a Broadway show where I always take visitors to is 5) and I can’t forget shopping The Highline. A park built on an old rail line above the streets of New York. It’s such What are the 5 things you miss a fun and unique park in the City and is still most about Oklahoma? a relatively hidden treasure to many people. 1) I definitely miss my family and friends. Until I moved I was never more than a few Designers hours away from them, and I now often Kate Spade and Oscar De La Renta think how nice it would be to be able to (nothing better than an Oscar dress) hop in a car and see me friends and family without a few weeks notice and a purchased Movie plane ticket. When Harry Met Sally 2) The convenience of grocery shopping and doing laundry in Oklahoma Emergency Fashion Kit 3) (I have to combine these next two beA tide pen (my co-workers are always cause I still can’t believe how much I miss borrowing it too), bright lipstick and bobby them) Sonic and Target - you wouldn’t bepins/ponytail holders. lieve how often I wish I could drive through
Interior Trends for the New Year
Kilim/Native American Prints Maybe it’s just my Oklahoma roots, but I LOVE this trend. Tribal prints are often very colorful, which is something I definitely advocate for any home.
Photo: Designstyles.me
Bar Carts Anything that has to do with a 5:00 cocktail hour I’m generally a fan of. Bar carts are definitely on this list. This is a super fun item to accessorize and is generally a great statement piece.
Photo: Society Social
Animal Print Rugs/Mounts Fashion has a way of influencing interiors and vice versa. We first saw the animal print craze take fashion a few years back, and it has gradually made its way into interiors. Incorporate this trend into your home with a fun throw pillow, animal skin rug or with an antler mount. Remember, animal lovers, you can always go faux. It’s part outdoorsy, part chic. Photo: Apartment Therapy
Mixing and Matching Matchy matchy is NOT the way to go anymore. Have fun in your home by mixing it up- dining room chairs, china, pillow patterns... the opportunity to mix and match is endless! But if you don’t want to commit to this trend in a big way, I suggest neutral pieces for the large items (i.e. the couch) and then bring in various patterns through accessories.
Photo: Elements of Style Blog
Wallpaper Not so long ago when I thought “wallpaper” I thought “grandmother.” This is SO not the case anymore. Wallpaper is everywhere and it’s fabulous. If you haven’t jumped on board already, I highly suggest you do so ASAP. This trend can be quite pricey, though. So if you are feeling not-committal, why not try a stencil that mimics the look of wallpaper? Photo: Elle Decor
Monograms Monograms are not just for the south anymore. I have gotten into the habit of sticking a monogram anywhere I possibly can. Custom pillow shams? Yes. Painting one onto an umbrella holder? Double yes.
Photo: Elle Decor
Written by Emily Davis
New Year Trends
The biggest and most universally short-lived trend that keeps poking its impossible, liar-making head back into the spotlight has to be the New Year’s Resolution! I say don’t even bother making one, unless you enjoy feeling defeated eleven months out of the year, or you have thirty dollars you can waste on a gym membership or book club you’ll never attend. But, if your New Year’s Resolution is to make a New Year’s Resolution, I’ll give you a few do’s and don’ts on the huge commitment you are about to make. DON’T make any resolution concerning your weight! News Flash: your weight has no concern for you. Ever wonder why the fatter you get, the worse it hurts when you fall? Weight and gravity are evil partners, out to destroy you. DO make a resolution to love your body! Your body will love you back. Well, it might like you at first, then start to be more attracted to you, then one day... whamo! Love. It all hinges on you loving it first. Eat right, exercise, go to bed early every once in a while. Oh, and buy expensive clothes! DON’T post any resolution on any social media platform! This will increase your percentage to fail to like five hundred gazillion million forty two point one percent! I mean it. I consulted my imaginary mathematician to get that number. DO make yourself a personal reminder on your phone to go off every day or week, or, if Siri is not your life coach, write it down and put it in a place where you will see it everyday. Whatever you resolve to do, it will be five hundred gazillion million forty two point two percent easier to do it for yourself, as opposed to someone else or a group of peers. DON’T pick a fight with Mike Tyson when you know he’s just going to bite your ear off! If you are pudgy and five foot nine and a half, don’t think you can play for the Thunder when, in a strange turn of events, the whole bench is hurt, and the announcer calls you from the stands, and you make the game winner, and then Kevin Durant wants to be your best friend, and you get matching tattoos, and move in next door to each other, and… oh... sorry, where was I?
DO be a realist! If on nothing else, at least be one on resolutions. Start small, build up some steam. You won’t be struck down dead by the Greek god Resolutionetes if you make a new one in March because you completed yours already. Pick something you know you can do and do it. Then pick something else and do it. Then another. Rinse and repeat. Before you know it, no more split ends. DON’T make a resolution to quit something! It’s a lot harder to QUIT smoking, than to START taking a swimming class. It’s a lot harder to QUIT eating toaster strudel’s, than to START getting up twenty minutes earlier and making breakfast. It’s a lot harder to QUIT hooking up with your ex, than to START dating again. See how this works? DO do something! I said doo doo... in a magazine. Taylor, you owe me twenty bucks!
Let me demonstrate how to make the perfect resolution using the DO’s and DON’Ts. Remember, start off slow, love yourself, and be a realist. Here we go. This year I will read less, sleep more, and eat local... unless it’s after midnight!
Written by Denver Duncan
New Year’s Resolutions: What Not to Commit To
Yes, this is an article on the clichéd New Year’s Resolution. However, instead of taking the generic approach, we’re going to spend some time telling you what you should avoid committing to. It seems that we always say we’re going to do the same things and, yet, another year passes and we still haven’t lost that extra ten pounds. So stop punishing yourself, and saying you’ll do things you know you won’t, and try to think of something other than the following to resolve to do. These are our New Year’s Resolutions No-No’s:
Lose Weight and Exercise More Almost all of the things on this list are things you should or should not be doing without a ‘New Year’ to prompt a change, but this one has to be the most obvious. We’re not saying don’t go to the gym, just don’t wait for the new year to do it. If you want to get in better shape, starting anytime—even a random Wednesday afternoon in December or March—is just fine. Having trouble finding motivation? Grab a friend or your new boy and make a date!
Quit Smoking Again, this is something that you don’t need a fresh start to do. There are so many ‘helpers’ to aid in kicking the habit. If you’re serious about making this a ‘Resolution’, make smaller goals to accomplish throughout the year. Kicking an addictive habit like smoking is something that will not happen overnight. Pace yourself. 2012 is a long 366 days. It’s Leap Year!
Find a Significant Other Who remembers watching Renee Zellweger in Bridget Jones’ Diary and thinking, ‘that poor girl’? Yes, there were some HILARIOUS scenes regarding large panties, but that’s beside the point. Bridget eventually learns that you don’t and shouldn’t need the validation of someone else to make your year, or yourself, complete. That’s great if you meet someone, but if you don’t, then that just means you’ve got more time to hang with friends and family and do things that only single people can get away with. Which brings us to our next point… Resolve to Spend More Time with Friends and Family Ever read the book ‘He’s Just Not That Into You’? We think the same can be said about spending time with family and friends, but turning it around on yourself. If these people are really that important in your life, a new digit at the end of the year means nothing. We always find time for those who are most important to us. ‘Nuff said. Get Out of Debt Set realistic goals. If you’ve got five credit cards with a total of more zeroes than your annual salary, this will probably not happen this year. Perhaps you should think about resolving to contribute small amounts of money each month to your debt, or you can commit to going out to eat one time less per week in order to save money. Just make sure it’s something you know you can do.
No matter what you resolve to do this year, just make sure it’s something you know you have control over and really want to do. Kealey once made a New Year’s Resolution to floss more because it’s the only thing she knew she would actually do! To this day, she’s gingivitis-free. JaNiece’s 2012 Resolution - sustain her 30-pound weight loss she accomplished in 2011, which was not a New Year’s undertaking. Written by KSBI’s JaNiece Cranmer & Kealey McIntire
New Year, New Me. N Happy 2012 everybody! With the holidays and 2011 in the rear view mirror our thoughts turn towards what we want to accomplish in 2012. Excitement overtakes us as we envision a better version of ourselves twelve months later, particularly a better looking, feeling, more confident self as losing weight and becoming healthier seems to be the top resolution of choice year in and year out. Sadly, a large majority never make this dream a reality. Most can’t even successfully complete the month of January before quitting their new plan. The newness and excitement fade, determination and discipline wane, and you’re left the same or worse as you were before. Not exactly what you had envisioned and hoped for. This year we are going to be different. We’re going to be the minority who don’t make resolutions so we can quit them later, but actually keep them and reap the benefits of our new goals. Exercise is important but our focus will be on improving those stubborn eating habits that hold us back from the leaner, healthier body we desire. And we’re going to theme this terrific transformation “New Year, New Me. New Food, New Mood.” Regardless of your past this new day and year is an opportunity to get the life and body you want. Start your path to success today by following and implementing the below recommendations to enjoy the healthier, more confident, in control you.
New Food, New Mood.
Write it Down Write your exact goal down. Be specific. Not only for what you want and when, but detail what you are going to sacrifice and your plan for achievement. Look at this goal daily to hold yourself accountable and make sure your actions are aligned with your resolutions. Ex: lose 5 pounds by next year. I will accomplish this by sacrificing excessive fast food and dessert at every meal while eating multiple servings of fruits, vegetables, and lean meats daily. Do it with a Friend Telling someone is a great step to achieve any goal but doing it with a friend is even better. It increases the accountability and makes it more social. Simplify “People who make a lot, break a lot”. Don’t try to bite off more than you can chew with too many changes too early. You aren’t going to transform yourself overnight, and you will greatly increase your risk of quitting. Instead, have a few manageable changes that you can focus on daily such as eating one serving of veggies. Once you’ve turned these changes into habits add more changes. Mindset Matters Seek progress not perfection. You don’t have to be perfect and stop enjoying non healthy foods you like. Making things “off limits” tends to make us want them more anyway. Try reducing the quantity or frequency of your favorite foods that aren’t diet friendly. Remember the long term goal is to feel and look better, have more energy, and reduce the risk for disease and illness. Missteps will happen. Don’t let them derail you. Stay positive and make good decisions at your next opportunity. Your persistence will pay off. Get Colorful Don’t sit down to a plate that’s full of dull colors. No matter how healthy, you’ll get bored over time and be more likely to fall off the wagon. Instead, fill your plate with an assortment of different colors, especially from fruits and vegetables. Shoot for 3 or more colors at every meal. Not only will this provide a wide variety of vitamins and minerals but by being more visually appealing you’ll enjoy it more. The first sense people eat with are their eyes. If the eyes approve, the mouth will too. Written by Jeff Ragan
What We’re Listen Album of the Month: As Bright as Your Night Light, by Nerves Junior
Thanks to one of the best music blogs ever, Pretty Much Amazing, I was informed about Nerves Junior in the fall and started listening to them. I was pretty impressed, but I had to share them with all of you once I saw PMA listed Nerves Junior’s debut album As Bright as Your Night Light as their number one album of 2011. Out of 40, that is quite an honor. Five guys coming out of Louisville, Kentucky have made quite a name for themselves as they are just getting started recording studio albums. This past record was released September 6 of this year and I can only imagine what their next album would sound like if it lives up to their debut. This album is special because each track reveals the dimension of this band that is rarely seen by such a young group. Whether it is their title track “As Bright as Your Night Light” with heavy percussion and syncopated rhythms making it truly radio-worthy, or the more solemn “Luciferin,” Nerves Junior proves that they did their homework and can do it all. If you could have the voice of a Fleet Fox, Lykke Li’s GarageBand, and Radiohead’s inspiration, you would get Nerves Junior. Just go here and listen and experience them for yourself.
Artist of the Month: M83
Victoria’s Secret has been good to a couple of Indie artists, such as Lykke Li, and now M83. It’s just one guy, Anthony Gonzalez, making pretty great music with the occasional help of his brother and some of his friends. They have been around for a while, making their debut album in 2001, but made it big with their recent hit “Midnight City” released in July of this year. His music is unusually catchy, with some high-pitched synthesizers that could only be recognized as M83. Pitchfork even named his hit the best track of 2011. I know there’s a lot more in store for M83 because so far, people love this band.
ning To...
Song of the Month: “Top Bunk” by Gauntlet Hair
I know their name does not make any sense, but their music does. For a long time, I only knew of Gauntlet Hair’s song “I Was Thinking” for a while and got really excited when I heard their new song “Top Bunk” on the radio a few weeks ago. This is the kind of band that doesn’t produce much, but when they do, you know it will be awesome. They just now produced their debut album, which was released in October, even when they’ve been together over ten years. I guess when they do it they do it right. Gauntlet Hair consists of two guys from Denver and they have been BFF’s since they were fifteen. I don’t know, whatever they do works because I can’t get enough of them. They are masters of mixing Rock and Pop while making you want to dance. Get ready for a lot of electric guitar as well as singing of words you might not understand. Regardless, they are worth the attention. Believe me. Written by Sarah Ethridge
Movies to See
This Month...
Makeup: The MakeUp Bar Styling: Kelsey Self Photography: Bethany Young Models: Conner Brasher & Kendall Harris Clothing: Sherri Hill & Express Special thank you to The Caliber for location and car.
“My name is Bond, James Bond.”
In the Present
Hey all . . . . I’m currently writing this to you from a hotel in Jersey, and you better believe we’ll be making a trip up to the Jersey Shore before jetting over to NYC for New Year’s Eve. I’m writing this to you as I’m sitting next to my fiancé. You know . . . the one I only knew as “adbrad” on Twitter last year. I’m writing this to you sitting across from my future father-in-law, also on his computer; future sister-in-law snoozing next to him; future mother-inlaw, post-workout showering. You know, the ones who gave up their beds, picked us up from the airport, and took us to get chicken noodle soup after Brad and I have been deathly ill the past two days. This time last year, I was typing out my New Year’s resolutions; it was a pretty lengthy list, but by this point I can only remember two: 1. Learn how to do the splits 2. Be semi-fluent in French Needless to say, both came and went; neither one fulfilled. I tore my hamstring or something in February, and gave up on French after heading to a “French Conversationalist” gathering and realized I was way. in. over. my. head. Nowhere on that list did it say ‘find the perfect boyfriend’, ‘take a breathtaking trip to Ouray, Colorado’, ‘celebrate the birth of a new, perfect baby niece’, ‘quit my job’, ‘play a show in Chicago’, ‘raise $15,000 and write an album’, ‘go back to school’, or ‘blubberingly squeeze out the word “yes” to the boy on his knee asking to get old and wrinkly together’. You better believe I will be making a new list of resolutions - mainly consisting of “Wedding diet 2012. Wedding diet 2012. Wedding diet 2012.” But what I have realized in the past year is that you have absolutely no clue as to what will pop up in the future. Go ahead and make your plans, but also take the time to look back. Be amazed at yourself, be amazed at the others around you, be amazed at life and all of its curveballs. Take a minute to stop looking into the future. Be in the present. Love life for what it is today, and for how clueless you get to be about the future. Written by Sherree Chamberlain
30 Before 30
Round two. November was fun. We had no idea December could top it. Hopefully our list keeps getting better and better. These are the adventures of Taylor Upchurch, a beloved high school science teacher, husband, and music enthusiast and Denver Duncan, a local musician, husband, and father of two. Friends since childhood.
#5 Dinner with Gary England
Denver: Ok, we started this month off huge! We had... Taylor: We had dinner with the one and only Gary England! Denver: Dang I was going to break the news. Taylor: You snooze, you lose. Denver: You suck! Anyways I’ll be real honest. I thought he would come in for about 45 minutes and put in his time, but he was really cool! Taylor: Yeah, I was surprised he stayed for almost two hours. Denver: At first it was a little hard not to let Gary do all the talking. The food at Picasso’s Cafe was so amazing. A big thanks to Shaun Fiaccone and the whole Picasso’s crew. Taylor: I could not stop eating the Ahi tuna. A little embarrassing. Denver: Yeah man! I had to actually tell you to stop eating so Gary could take a break from his storytelling and eat. Taylor: I almost choked on my prosciuttowrapped fig when he called me son.
Denver: You set him up for it. Taylor: Why did he sign that picture to my mom, “Love ya, Gary”? I’m just glad he played along. That was my favorite part of the night. Denver: He was hilarious the whole night. All his stories were funny. My favorite was
all the crazy stalker stories. I believe people really think he can control the weather. Taylor: Thank you, Gary, for making our year end well. Denver: Really, we had a blast! You truly are a legend and we were honored to get to sit and chat.
#6 Take Glamour Shots Taylor: Blackmail material. I hope I never run for political office.
Denver: I hope you don’t either! Because guess who was standing next to you in a fur vest. Taylor: Faux-fur. PETA friendly. Denver: I liked the Thunder themed pic the best. Shirts and skins. Taylor: Only because you got to wear a Durant jersey and I had to go skins. Not attractive. Denver: Ha ha! People were walking by in the mall yelling derogatory things at you. Taylor: There was one cougar that was “catcalling” us. Then she went to the electric cigarette kiosk. Smoking is a major turn off. Denver: Thanks to our Oklahoma certified professional photographer Christi for really making us work for our poses. Taylor: Two free 10 X 13 photos. Those are mantle worthy. Denver: GLAMOUR SHOTS!!!
#7 Emcee a Beauty Pageant Taylor: Your pageant expertise/background got us this gig. Thank you Denver.
Denver: Being Mr. Irresistible 2001 does have its perks. Taylor: It was fun to go back to our Almamater, Woodward High School. Denver: Ever my school. Truest, fairest, best. Taylor and Denver: Pride of western Oklahoma, Rah! for W H S! Denver: Ha ha! I can’t remember my wife’s birthday, but I can remember my Almamater. Sorry, love you Heather. Taylor: So, back to the pageant. I don’t know how many times I had to remind Denver that we needed to be serious because some girl’s future was on the line. Denver: I finally got it when that one girl’s mom was mouthing all her words back stage during dress rehearsal. Taylor: I was actually kind of nervous until I learned that I only had to read a script. Strictly business. Word for word. Denver: The thing that got me the most nervous was pronouncing all their names. Taylor: There is about six different ways to say Arianne. I’m pretty sure we used them all. Denver: It was confusing until you wrote out air-reeee-ann. Taylor: Congrats to the winner, Miss Woodward 2012... (drum roll) Julia Benbrook. Denver: Here she comes Miss Amer.... Woodward.
#8 Street Perform and Make $50 Taylor: Wow, was this a bust or what?
Denver: Yeah, I guess people are not into mimes this time of the year. Taylor: Either that or the economy. Denver: We might have made more than $1 if we would have prepped a little more with Youtube videos and practice. Taylor: Practice makes perfect. We should have made a routine or something. Denver: Instead we just winged it and failed miserably. Taylor: If we look at percentages, 10 people stopped to watch us and we made $1. Just think what we could have done with more traffic. Denver: It was freezing which made it hard to mime, but the hardest part for me was watching you actually become the mime! You were good! I couldn’t stop laughing. Taylor: I wasn’t good. But anything is better than you hiding behind a tree, trying to stop laughing. My snowball throws were a hit with the crowd, I think. Denver: Ha ha! I was a bit embarrassed. Felt better when we got some ice skates and started to mingle in the rink. Taylor: Yeah, it gave us something to do. We didn’t have to make up moves. Our silence didn’t last long out there. Denver: Yeah I was very surprised how quick I ran out of mime moves. I’m going to make a bold statement and say “I, Denver Duncan will never mime again.” Taylor: I will take that vow also.
#9 Attend a Party at the Governor’s Mansion Denver: I’ll put this up there with our dinner with Gary.
Taylor: I agree. I thought this would be the hardest task on our list. Denver: I knew it was a big deal when we had to pass a security check to even get in. Taylor: I felt giddy, like I was somewhere I shouldn’t have been. Denver: Did you feel like Cinderella? Taylor: A little. Denver: It was definitely a magical evening. Taylor: We got to hang out by the Governor’s pool, that had a Governor’s hot tub. There was even a Governor’s fire pit. Did you see all the colorful Governor’s Christmas lights? Denver: I sure did. I saw it all as I walked through the Governor’s back yard. I was hoping for the opportunity to say “ello Guvna”. Taylor: I had to Google “cocktail attire” before the party. Glad I did, because everyone was dressed to the nines. Denver: I just had to Google what “dressed to the nines” meant. Taylor: Big shout out to Sara Sara Cupcakes and Pachinko Parlor for the cupcakes and sushi. I’ll be stopping by there for dinner in the future. Denver: How great was it that Christina Fallin-Bacon (our new best friend) set it up where we not only got to attend, but also helped host the party! Taylor: Twenty Something Magazine got to wrap up a huge year by inviting their models, contributors, and family to the Governor’s mansion. Denver: We’re exited for 2012. Not just for 30 before 30 but for the magazine also. Thanks Bethany and Kelsey for helping us accomplish these crazy tasks.
December was huge! We hope to top it in January. Just 21 more tasks until we are “old”. This month’s shout outs go to: @bethany_young, @ Kelseyself, @melissa_cosper, @chad_cosper, @garyeOK, @picassocafe, @PachinkoParlor, @sarasaracupcake, Woodward High School, Julia Benbrook, Glamour Shots, and Christina Fallin-Bacon. Keep up with our shenanigans through Twitter by following @20somethingmag, @denver_duncan, and @taylor_upchurch, the Twenty Something Magazine Facebook and website.
To watch videos from this month’s tasks and see more photos, click here!
Picasso Cafe
Meet Shaun Fiaccone, co-owner of Picasso Cafe.
Tell us about yourself. At the age of 16, my first job was at OKC restaurant legend Applewoods on Reno and Meridian. My best friend’s father David Egan, who incidentally was and remains to be the Director of Operations at Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, drew from our high school unemployment pool. The restaurant had two facets to its operation; the full service restaurant side and the banquet side, which required remedial job skills that could be performed by high school aged kids (you have to be 18 to have a liquor license). Many of my friends bragged about their huge wages (think… ‘I made $35 dollars last night!’), and I was attracted to the easy money and fun camaraderie. Little did I know that Mr. Egan had different plans for me (he had four girls, no boys). He started me in the bakery making 30, 60 or 90 dozen batches of home made rolls at a time, as well as huge amounts of their world-renowned apple fritters. I also worked in the heavy prep capacity, as expediter, and as line cook. While I enjoyed working in those capacities, I still longed for the easy money and clean, white, pressed shirts of the wait staff. That eventually led me to ask him, “When I turn 18, am I tall enough to wait tables?” David, who isn’t a very imposing man himself, laughed and obliged. From that time, I worked at Applewoods for another twoand-a-half years, The Ranch Steakhouse, Nonna’s, Deep Fork, Nova, Iguana, and Bolero. I now own Picasso Cafe, Kaiser’s and am a partner in Sauced on Paseo. Needless to say, I’m hooked.
What is the story behind Picasso? Like all restaurant ‘lifers’, Kim and I always knew we wanted to open our own restaurant. We have always been attracted to the unique nature of the Paseo, and when Galileo closed, we jumped at the opportunity to occupy that space. We are both very convivial people that enjoy going out to eat and drink, so we created a space that embodies those ideals. While I have never sat down once to eat at any of my restaurants (I would be too distracted), I can honestly say that Picasso would be my favorite restaurant in town. How is Picasso different from other restaurants? Picasso is different for a host of reasons. First and foremost, every employee that works there loves it, as if it were their own, and fosters it as such--they truly believe in what we’re doing. We are very authentic in that we don’t try to be anything that we are not--we’re not fancy or pretentious, but rather warm and inviting. I am a firm believer that spaces should work organically with their surroundings and, simply put, Picasso just “fits.” Furthermore, EVERYTHING is made from scratch (although our prices don’t reflect such), our outdoordining is incredible, and our live music component adds another dimension above and beyond food alone. What would you say is your signature dish and drink? I don’t necessarily think we have a signature dish. I enjoy different things on our menu according to my mood. If I had to say, I might suggest our pretzel. My parents lived in Germany for several years and my mom bought back a love for pretzels, so that dish is a nod to her...and you can’t beat bacon/
bleu cheese cream to dip it in. As for cocktails, most likely our Pimm’s Cup when the weather is nice. It’s refreshing, sweet and savory without being too strong. You offer live music - when can customers come in and enjoy that? Picasso offers live music every ThursdaySaturday along with special occasions, such as Acoustic Oklahoma, certain Mondays and other things such as ACM showcases from time to time. Music typically starts around 9pm and goes until 1am or so (we also serve food that late on those days!). I would say that you should certainly make it a point to catch Denver Duncan live every First Friday Art Walk!
Granville Community Music School
All around the country, music programs are getting cut in schools. The school doesn’t have the funds, and music is one of the first things to go. It’s clear that music doesn’t always get the appreciation it deserves, especially in the lives of children. Yet, the impact music can have on a child, the purpose and hope it can give them, is something that should not be underestimated. It is also true that music lessons can at times be unmanageable for some families, but every child deserves the opportunity. Granville Community Music School has this goal in mind. Its mission is simple: to offer quality music lessons taught by skilled professionals at 50 cents a lesson to children who qualify for free or reduced lunches. Cindy Scarberry is the executive director of the Opry Heritage Foundation of Oklahoma, and decided to start Granville only a few years ago. “Granville started by being in the right place at the right time,” she said. Scarberry was in Nashville for a songwriting workshop and stumbled upon the W.O. Smith Community music school. This school had been offering music lessons to local kids for 20 years, and she knew that a place like this needed to be in Oklahoma City. After several conversations, the executive director in Nashville agreed to let Cindy use their model. She needed help, however, so she turned to her sister LiAnn Armitage, whom she asked to be program director. Armitage admits she was a little apprehensive at first. “I had some misconceptions about the neighborhood and the kids we would be working with. I’m happy to say I was wrong.” They started the school in 2009 with 15 students and are now almost up to 40, having already outgrown their first studio. She believes that for the kids, this is the greatest outlet for them to see a bigger and better world. “There are people outside their immediate family and their immediate community that care and are willing to give time to them and try to enrich their life. “ These people are the teachers at Granville. They are all volunteers, so she makes certain that the kids are dedicating themselves to practicing for at least 45 minutes a week and showing gratitude to those teachers who drive from all areas to work with them. “My expectation is not that they’re all going to become professional musicians. Some of them may never actually master the instrument they’re trying to play, but we’re providing them a safe place to be, a loving environment, a nurturing environment. My goal is that they leave here feeling confident, feeling strong, and knowing that people care about them. It’s not just about the music. I want them to feel an experience that enriches their life.”
Scarberry believes that the impact at Granville has been huge. “We’re seeing these children that walk in the door, many of them keep(ing) their heads down, (they) don’t make eye contact and (they) are pretty unsure of themselves. It’s not very long until they’re standing up tall, they’re meeting you, they’re saying ‘thank you’, and they have confidence in their speaking and in their playing.” However, their new confidence extends past the walls of Granville. “We’re finding out from parents that they’re doing better in school in all of their subjects and are more actively engaged. They are becoming well-rounded children because of this. They’re making more friends because they’re finding out how to socialize with other kids. They’re developing better, deeper relationships in all areas of their life. It’s been one of the best things we’ve ever done and been a part of,” explained Scarberry. Armitage and Scarberry have done so much for students in Oklahoma City but they still need more help. “Every semester brings new kids and new opportunities to touch their lives, but it also brings an additional need for more teachers,” Armitage said. She described this as a constant battle. “To get teachers to come for zero pay is not easy. To get them to understand what we do here before they get here is difficult. Once they’re here, they fall in love with the kids, they love what we’re doing, and the teachers have all been wonderful and very supportive.” And who knows what Granville can accomplish in the years to come? “The plan is to continue to grow and develop. W.O Smith has over 400 students, so maybe in less than 20 years we can grow and be able to impact that many kids’ lives. And when we impact one child, it’s affecting their whole family,” said Scarberry. Granville has received grants and donations from several Oklahoma foundations, companies and individuals. Scarberry explained that they were also able to receive an entire piano lab through the combined donations of Devon Energy, the Carmichael Foundation and Toby Keith. “It just shows you (that) when Oklahoma communities and companies come together, great things can happen.”
Written by Ashley Foster
Let’s talk about New Year’s Resolutions! First off, let’s deal with the elephant in the room. No one makes good on their New Year’s Resolutions. Whether it is to lose weight, eat healthier, or work out, they never pan out for the whole year. So, my plan is to make it something easier, and not food related. Here is my resolution, and I invite you to join in it with me: Stop listening to the Marty McFly in your head. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Marty McFly was the main character from Back to the Future, and if you haven’t seen the movie, then that should be your New Year’s Resolution right there, cause it is a GREAT movie. Marty McFly wanted to make it big with his band, but was scared to do anything about it. He said to his girlfriend, “Well, what if I take the tape in and they don’t like it, what if they say I’m no good, what if they say ‘Get out of here kid. You’ve got no future.’ I just don’t think I can handle that kind of rejection. Jesus, I’m starting to sound like my old man.” I’ve found that as I’ve been finishing up my last year of law school, I’ve had the same thing going through my head. And everyone does it. What if I ask her/him on a date and they say no? What if I apply for the job and I don’t get it? What if I take a chance and fail? My New Year’s Resolution is to quiet that voice and go for it in 2012. The only thing that happens when you listen to your inner-Marty McFly is you’ll never know what would have happened if you would have taken a chance. Not all of us get the chance to go back in time and make our parents take those chances like Marty did, and none of us want to be the people who wish that our kids could go back in time and help us out. So, go for it this year, whatever that means for you. Because if the Mayans are right, you’ll probably want to get all of this out of the way before 2012 is over. LUKE STEPHENS www.everygirliveeverkissed.com
Great Scott!
Is your New Years Resolution to know more about sports? Thought so! Let me help you with that... It’s January, which means “Bowl Games” for college football. Last week, I asked my sports director at KSBI-TV, which can be found on Cox channel 7 or 707 (shameless plug), “Hey Mark, why are they called bowl games?” I found his answer interesting enough to put into this article, so listen up. First, you should know, not all college teams are invited to play in bowl games... only the best get a bowl invitation. Secondly, these games are called bowl games because they are special. Back in the day, most colleges just had bleachers on either side of the field and it was an honor to play in a “bowl”-shaped stadium. Yes, I know. It is crazy to think that OU and OSU haven’t always had state-of-the-art bowl-like stadiums. This is why it was special for the best teams to get to play in a bowl. This season, both OU and OSU were good enough (as usual) to
be invited to play in bowl games. OU played Iowa in the Insight. com Bowl and OSU will face Stanford in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. As you probably noticed, bowl games are always sponsored. Mizzou and North Carolina played in the AdvoCare Indepedence Bowl (another shameless plug because I sell AdvoCare). I don’t know about you but I can’t wait until there is a “Twentysomethingmagazine.com In The Know with Abby-O Bowl” and we select two teams who have the most fashionable uniforms to battle it out. Just so you have some newfound sports knowledge to impress your significant other, OU smashed Iowa in the Insight Bowl. To impress your husband, boyfriend, baby-daddy, say something like, “Can you believe the Sooners won 31-14 without having their best wide-receiver Ryan Broyles, and best running-back Dominique Whaley?” Also, feel free to mention the Sooners’ “Belldozer” package in which Blake Bell uses his 6’6”, 245lb frame to push through the defense and score touchdowns. For you Pokes, #3 OSU is set to face #4 Stanford January 2nd in the Cowboys’ FIRST EVER BCS Bowl Game. Before I let you go, I need to at least mention the OKC Thunder. In my eyes, Oklahoma City has one of the best teams in the NBA this season! They have so many talented players and are really fun to watch. Go Thunder! Hollatchur girl if you have questions or topic suggestions: www.facebook.com/AbigailOgle
Britney Spears No matter what you think about her, we have all grown up watching the life of this icon including all of her various fashion statements.
Styling: Kelsey Self Photography: Bethany Young Model: Jessica Bohne Clothing: Bad Granny’s Special thank you to Extreme Animals
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