Twenty Something January 2013
Jamy Green Hair Artist Duncan Brothers Salon 405.550.0690
Angela Hamilton Hair Designer Elevation Salon 405.659.5212
Samantha Lamb Feature Writer
Jessica Bohne OneHealthyBod Monthly Workout
Kealey McIntire Feature Writer
Melissa Cosper Guest Photographer DCMGMT Creative, Inc.
Alex Mendez-Kelly Makeup Artist Feature Writer
Steve Clausen OneHealthyBod Monthly Workout
CONT
Bethany Young Editor-in-Chief Co-Creative Director Photographer
Kelsey Self Fashion Director Co-Creative Director Stylist
Sarah Ethridge Music Writer
Denver Duncan Feature Writer
Meagan Owen Feature Writer
Chad Cosper Videography DCMGMT Creative, Inc.
Jeff Ragan Health Writer
Sharon Tabb Makeup Artist www.SharonTabb.com
Whitney Lynn Feature Writer
Emily Davis Decor Writer
TRIBUTORS
Fashion
Fashion
New Year. New Look.
New year. New resolution. As the idea of starting fresh is in the air, does your wardrobe need a new look as well? With the start of a new year, freshening up your wardrobe could be a great idea. Now is the time to try that look that you have thought about trying for the longest. Now is the time for you to pull out that brand new handbag. Now is the time to really go for it and make a fashion statement. With great accessories and clothes, any fashionista can feel fresh and new! Adding new accessories is a great way to freshen up your wardrobe. The first accessory that comes to mind is a great fashionable bag. A woman needs something to carry all of her belongings in, so having a bag is important. With the addition of a new bag in your wardrobe, you have the potential to see your outfits in a new perspective. Make sure you find the right bag for you. If your style is not simple chic, stay away from the simple handbags. If you don’t like getting all dressed up, you might want to avoid the flashy handbag. Bags are one the easiest ways for a fashionista to update her wardrobe. A lot of you are going to love this next one since we are on the subject of accessories! If you are not feeling the handbag idea, try adding a new pair of shoes to your wardrobe. A nice pair of flats or a pair of statement heels can easily add a fresh pep to your step. Just like a handbag, shoes are important because we need something to protect our feet. With a stylish pair of new shoes, your feet are covered in a chic new way. As with the handbag, make sure you find the right pair of shoes for your style. Alright! If you don’t like the idea of adding either a new handbag or a pair of shoes to your wardrobe, you might be thinking about adding new clothes. The addition of new clothes to your wardrobe is a bigger step than adding any bag or pair of shoes. Clothes are what we focus on and fashionistas want their clothes to reflect their personal style. While it is a great step to buy new clothes for your wardrobe, gradually adding new clothes is a more important step. Remember, fashion trends come and go. What might be in style for the moment may not be in style the next week. As with accessories, buy new clothes that compliment your style. A new look is only a great look if it is the style that makes you feel the best. Try something new and make sure it is you! Written by Whitney Lynn
Purse: Marc Jacobs Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Feature
Creating a Dream Dining Room
I know that in many homes, formal dining areas are going the way of the dinosaur. But not mine! I love beautiful dining spaces and think having a designated space for a family to gather for a meal is very important. Here are some ideas for creating a dream dining room. Mix and Match While every so often a matching set is great, more often than not mixing and matching various pieces will work to create a more collected space.
Image source: Barrie Benson Interior Design, Studio M Interior Design, Jenny Komenda Interiors, Shelter, House Beautiful, Houzz
Try a Painted Chandelier The quickest way to update anything home related is a coat of paint, and chandeliers are no exception! If you want to bring some punch to your dining space, just spray your chandy your favorite accent color! Or a glossy black/white never hurt anyone.
Go for Drama Since not a ton of time is usually spent in the dining room, it can be a perfect place to add some drama that might be overwhelming in a different room. Huge art, bright or moody colors, bold patterns - the dining room can be a perfect spot to take a decorating chance!
xoxo, Emily
Fashion
Landing in 2013
Photography: Melissa Cosper Hair & Makeup: Sharon Tabb Styling: Lacey Rosenwald Clothing: Isabella Model: Heather Carter
Music
What We’re Li Album of the Month: alt-J, An Awesome Wave
Alt-J, or ∆ for Mac users out there, is a British band consisting of Gwil Sainsbury, Joe Newman, Gus Unger-Hamilton, and Thom Green. They met in 2007 in Leeds, England. They rehearsed for two years before signing a record deal with Infectious records and took five whole years to record their album, An Awesome Wave, released May 2012. Good things come to those who wait, because their album won the British Mercury Prize this past year. Just like all the greatest bands of the 21st century, they made their earliest recordings on Garage Band, hence their technological influenced title. This album includes all different kind of beats, with everything from rock to hip-hop influences. This album was surely a stumble upon for me. I saw it as one of Billboards top albums for 2012. As we should highlight what was good about 2012, furthermore use this as what you might also consider new for 2013. Alt-J is a great blend of Fleet Foxes, The Radio Dept., and maybe even Bombay Bicycle Club, as the lead singer mimics their lead vocal. I’m telling you, the British know how to make good music.
istening To... Artist of the Month: Crystal Castles
All right, friends, time to think outside the box again. Crystal Castles bring a darker, but brilliant side to electronic rock music. Just recently releasing their third album, III, November 7, this Canadian duo has been at work since 2004. Originator Ethan Kath brought on Alice Glass to complete what we know to be Crystal Castles, and then hit the soundboard. They are classified as an “electronic experimental” band and they most definitely live up to their experimental title. With each album they bring something new that no other band seems to master. “Crimewave” and “Vanished” for instance, sound like video game music while “Plague” brings a much darker sound that oddly captivates listeners. If you want something different and awesome, Crystal Castles need to be your new friends. Yes, they’re a little crazy, but they know what they’re doing.
Song of the Month: “Wild” by Royal Teeth
This band from Louisiana makes it seem so easy. Formed last year, these musicians came together from the southern parts of the state to make Royal Teeth, a noteworthy addition to New Orleans’ musical contribution. Without being too over the top, their single “Wild” makes you feel productive and adventurous. It’s totally soundtrack material. Nora Patterson and Gary Larsen harmonize impeccably to show off their talent, but add playful vocals to prove they don’t take themselves too seriously. This is a great song to bring in spring and cheer you up after your bittersweet post-Christmas depression.
Written by Sarah Ethridge
Feature
Twenty Something Girl Courtney Ann
Photo by Bethany Young
Meet our January Twenty Something Girl the fabulous stylist, Courtney Ann.
Tell us about yourself! For starters, I’m extremely motivated! Furthering my career and continuing to make it grow, and develop, are among my top priorities after Christ. This may be a surprise to most, but I can actually be somewhat shy when I first meet people. I’m always pushing myself out of the box both in career as well as in life. I have a lot of energy! I think that comes with the passion that I have for fashion and for my styling. I am always diving into new adventures, and traveling whenever I have the opportunity. I have found that it is simply the best way to enjoy life! I just love experiencing new cultures, and I do not want to leave any stones unturned and later on say, “I really wish I could have done that.” When did you first realize fashion was the industry you were meant to live in? Well, ever since I was a young girl. There wasn’t any question in my mind; I wanted to be a part of the fashion world. Back then I used to say, “I want to make clothes for Barbie!” I actually tried to fit into the mold there for a while, and said “Maybe I should be a lawyer like my father, and have a practical job.” I enrolled at Sewanee “The University of the South” and just knew my heart wasn’t in it. So, I decided to move, take a risk, and follow my heart and my passion. God blessed me for that! As a stylist, what is the most exciting part of your job? Without sounding cliché, I truly love all aspects of my job! Consequentially, all the experiences are what make it the most exciting. I love meeting new people and working with such talented creative indi-
viduals! It makes every day and every photo shoot a new adventure within itself. Plus, who doesn’t love playing with designer and vintage wear? So far, what are your top 5 most memorable moments? My first would be when I first moved to NYC, and began interning with Stacy London and Shala Rothenberg from the hit television series “What Not to Wear”. I was a little star struck at first honestly! I remember Stacy walking in with this great pair of paint-splattered jeggings, and a neon necklace. I was shocked! She is so different than her television personality, but in a spunky way. I loved it! Shala does a lot of the behind the scenes styling for Stacy, and she was just this cool-soul and such a great mentor to me! Second, when I was introduced to a creative director in NYC named Ryan Ross. He collaborates with powerhouse brands such as Marc Jacobs, Jimmy Choo, and David Yurman, just to name a few. In turn, I became his lead stylist and continue to work with him. Always fun! Next would be the first time I was booked on an out-of-state job. This occurring was such a blessing, and surreal moment. Another would be when Marc Jacobs showed up at our apartment at 5 am... Unannounced! Who has Marc Jacobs show up at their house? Lastly, I think every shoot I have had has been memorable in its own way. Collaborating with the diverse photographers, hair stylists, make-up artists, models, assistants... All of the fun-loving and talented individuals create memorable experiences. You learn so much through each experience. My growth has been enormous because of this!
Stylist: Courtney Ann Photography: Anthony Chiang
What is the biggest difference when styling in NYC, LA and OKC? New York is just a whole different world! Without a doubt, my styling becomes much more high fashion in New York. I can really push the borders of artistic freedom and create something beautiful! I have so much fun with it! LA is great! My styling tends to favor a more bohemian, laid back fashion. For example, instead of pulling a vintage to mix with my Lanvin, I tend to go more with the Jeffrey Campbell feel for projects. I enjoy styling in Oklahoma, simply because it is my home state. I love watching it grow and feel so blessed to be given opportunities to be a part of its development. When I’m collaborating back home, my loyalty rests with Choate House, L.J. Hill, and Trichology salon. All of them are so incredibly talented. The differences between the three really are just the borders and different levels of exposures. I have to stretch the borders rather than pry them with full force. Essentially, a more conservative approach is in higher demand in OKC. What’s next for you? I want to continue working as I am, but work more overseas! My most recent editorial was for a Berlin based magazine and I had such an awesome time with it. The fashion is more aggressive on the other half of the globe, and that excites me. I can put a man in a skirt, and I dig that. Also, in May of 2014, I am the creative director for an awesome event here in my home state of Oklahoma: Mercedes-Benz Oklahoma Fashion Festival. It will be a 3-day event showcasing Oklahoma stores as well as designers from NYC and LA. I am working with such a great team. I’m very excited to bring world-class fashion to Oklahoma that it has not quite seen yet! Stylist: Courtney Ann Photography: Anthony Chiang
Fashion
Winter Pearls
Pearls: J Spencer Photography: Melissa Cosper Stylist: Teresa Dissell Model: Anna Marie Costello Makeup: Donna Cosper
Feature
New Year, New Room
It’s a new year, a time of resolutions. Some resolutions personal, some for better health, some of which will be broken by March. But what if one of your resolutions was to invest in something you love? For me in 2012, I made a resolution to create a room in my house that I loved. As any newlywed, in 2010 we accepted any and all hand-me-downs to fill our new-to-us house. As we began to work and live in the house, I began to realize which rooms we really did live in the most and which rooms went mostly unused. One of the rooms that we rarely used was our dining room. We had friends over all the time but, as most twenty-somethings, we all hung out in the kitchen with overflow into the living room. With an adjoining game room to this dining room, I saw some real potential. All the guys retired to play pool in the game room so I figured the girls needed a lounge area as well. Through the transformation, I had such fun hunting for pieces to be up-cycled or to use as is. I went to various vintage shops and did a fair share of Craig’s List hunting and am so pleased with the result! I am usually one to tackle small DIY projects but this room took me so far out of my comfort zone, including painting furniture and even building a piece of it myself! I can attribute the success of this room to a few things: a great re-upholsterer, a mom with a knack for sewing, a painting that was once my least favorite painting in the house and encouraging friends. So if you decide to invest in a room or even a wall to makeover in your house this year, do it! There is just one requirement, make sure you love it! Check out some of the before and after pictures and maybe be inspired to start a New Year’s project of your own! Now, if only I could decide which room to tackle next...
Written by Meagan Owen
Feature
10 Life Lessons To Take Into 2013 Many people like to take the New Year as an opportunity to put the past behind them and look forward to what the next year will bring. I do too, but this year has been a pretty pivotal year in a lot of ways for my family and me. So much so that it’s hard for me to toss everything aside come midnight January 1, 2013. It’s been a very up and down year with a lot of firsts and just as many lasts. Through it all, I’ve learned a lot. In no particular order, here are some life lessons I vow never to forget:
1. Going from one child to two children is a MUCH bigger difference than I thought it would be. Our second son was born on New Year’s Day 2012, so I’ve had exactly one year to come to this realization. I was reminded of how sweet life is, but also reminded of how much work babies are… and that the second child doesn’t just ‘blend in’ as many people had promised! 2. Don’t let your career define you. Like many people in this economy, I was laid off this year. It was, and still is, something I struggle to accept. I’ve learned that I shouldn’t let my job be the definition of who I am. I am so much more to so many people outside of those forty hours Monday through Friday. 3. Dollar stores rule! The first two points mean that money was a little tighter this year than usual. I hit up Dollar Tree for stalking stuffers this year, which I never would’ve thought to do before. Prior to this year, I wouldn’t have been caught dead in one of those stores. 4. Working more than one job isn’t so bad. 5. Don’t sweat the small stuff. The bathroom can be cleaned tomorrow; the laundry isn’t going anywhere, etc. 6. Not to sound negative, but the only person who has your best interest at heart is you. Trust others, but don’t rely too heavily on them. Here are some from those of you who chimed in on Facebook: 7. Trust your heart and listen to God. 8. Have faith that God knows what is best. Even when you think the worst is happening, it may turn out to be the best thing ever. Know your strengths and who you are and have confidence to move on! 9. Don’t allow fear to hold you back. That, I believe, has been the single one hindrance in my choices in 2012. 10. Happiness isn’t something that just happens. It’s not a job or an event or a person. Happiness is a state of mind and it takes work. Good or bad, the past is what has brought us to the path we currently face. Embrace everything you’ve experienced; you can’t change what’s happened, but you might have learned the lesson of a lifetime. Happy New Year!
Written by Kealey McIntire
Health
Do 2013 Different – 5 Ways t
This year we are going to be different. After all, isn’t that what New Year’s resolutions are about anyway? Being different or, more appropriately, becoming a better version of ourselves. And since we’re all about getting better, we are going to do something different this year. Something that will not only help us improve this year, but every year and day for the rest of our lives. We will make tremendous gains instead of being insane like everyone else. After all, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. Why would we keep treating New Year’s resolutions like years past where we haven’t accomplished what we wanted? It’s time for a sustainable change for the better. Do 2013 different and become a better, happier, more fulfilled You by taking the time to reflect and think deeply about who you truly want to be and what you want your life to look like. Set the plans and daily habits in place on how to become that person. Then get excited about the vision of your greatest self, keep it on your mind always, and enjoy the journey and amazing transformation as you daily grow towards the You of your dreams!
Write your Life Story Like any great trip, you have to understand where your destination is. Think of it as your mountaintop. What do you want your life to say after it’s over? What legacy will you leave? What type of person were you? Happy, loving, giving, hard working? Or moody, selfish, and lazy? Find your purpose. Who were you created to be? Find your passions. What do you love to do? If you knew you couldn’t fail, what would you do? Who would you be? Self SWOT Analysis Understand where you are, your starting point. What equipment you have and don’t, what can help and hurt, and what things out there can make it easier or difficult along your climb? What are your strengths, weaknesses? How can you better use your strengths? How can you turn weaknesses into strengths? What opportunities are available? How can you take advantage of all these? What things threaten your progress? How can you handle these? Daily Habits/Goals Understand what steps you can take daily to get closer to your destination. Map out your climb, seeing what steps always take you forward. What things can you do daily to make progress? People put things off when goals are down the road because they think they have time to make them up later. Later comes and they put off again until that goal is a distant memory. For every road we go down, we are leaving another road behind. When you chose not to do something daily towards your goal, you are choosing to go down the path that prevents you from achieving your dreams. Does this sound like a good road to take? Have discipline. Fight through temptations to not do positive habits. Don’t give into weakness, just do it. Your life changes when your habits change. What can you get rid of? What can you add?
to the Life of Your Dreams
Enjoy the Journey Understand what you can do along the long climb to make it fun and an enjoyable experience. People are naturally social and do what they enjoy. Get a climbing group. Who will make the climb with you? Who can hold you accountable while motivating, inspiring, and bringing joy to you? Alleviate your fear of being alone by getting people who want to grow personally and with you towards the same destination. The ‘natural want’ to be social tends to make us fall off our path or digress when those we associate with aren’t going down the same road. All of us have our own journeys, even when surrounded by others. When you have someone on the same track but different train it makes life that much better, as you can travel along the road to a better you with someone you love. You’ll not only be closer to who you are supposed to be, but help them do the same, and strengthen and deepen your friendship along the journey. Assess What’s working? What isn’t? What strategic changes need to be made? What obstacles are in the way? How can you remove or get around them? Has your desired life story evolved? Always be paying attention. Awareness is critical. You can’t change what you aren’t aware of. Constantly keep a pulse on your life, how it’s going, and who you want to be. Schedule specific times to earnestly and deeply reflect and evaluate. Then make changes where needed and continue to enjoy your climb to your best self!
Written by Jeff Ragan Founder of Kize Concepts Inc. www.KizeConcepts.com
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