I grew up in the great state of Oklahoma. It has always puzzled me why people still expect Oklahoma to be full of cowboys and covered wagons. Or what's even more suprising is when I tell people I'm from Tulsa, they say, "Oh, Arizona" (referring to Tucson). I went to a large public school and had a pretty 'normal' childhood. I am in the middle of 3 kids and the only one without any children of my own. I left Oklahoma to go to College in Utah where I graduated with a degree in Organizational Communication. Most people don't know what that means; if you do, consider yourself lucky. If you don't - it basically means the study of businesses or organization and their communication behaviors and patters that influence their overall success and effectiveness or as some people say - Strategic Management. A few years after graduating from college, my husband and I (yes, I am married) returned to the midwest where we now reside. He is a law school student and I work full -time.
There was an 18 month period I took off from college and served as a missionary for my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. As a missionary, I was assigned to the New England states. I was able to travel to Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusets. It was a wonderful time in my life and a beautiful place to live. The fall leaves are absolutely breathtaking. Maybe I'll share some of my pictures with you sometime.
Anyway... so here we are living in the great plains and loving it. I have to say, winter is not my favorite time of year. I do enjoy the holidays, but I hate feeling cold for 4 months straight.
There is a new magazine that premeired in June 2007. It is called Eliza Magazine. You can learn more about it at ElizaMagazine.com. I have really enjoyed their quarterly issues. This magazine is different than any other fashion magazine because it focuses on innovation and uplifting entertainment. Editor, Summer Bellessa, writes in this years fall issue, "Eliza strives to bring you the best of fashion without any of the trash. We are dedicated to finding up and coming fashion lines... along with presenting articles on current issues, creative ideas, and life in general."
I love the idea of a positive and uplifting fashion magazine that focuses on women's wants and needs in the real world as mothers, accountants, CEOs, teachers, or lunch lady's. Anyone can love fashion and that's what makes it so fun.
In the words of Fraulein Maria, "these are a few of my favorite things":
- Black tights with knee high socks and boots with the socks poking out just a bit on the calf
- Big, fluffy scarves or pashminas
- A mix of silver and gold bangles (not too many)
- Knee lenth shorts with cuffs and or pocket details
- Black and navy - together
- Soft yellow ruffles on a blouse or dress
- Smokey eye and nude lips
- Gun metal gray with dark wash jeans
- Peep toe shoes with tights
- Fuscia with gold accessories
- Black patent leather handbag
Now - back to addressing my question in the original blog. What is normal and who decides? I've been thinking about this a lot and have come to only one conclusion - that normal is different for every person and what may be normal for me, may not be normal for you. I'll give you an example: it is completely normal for me to clip coupons every Sunday from the newspaper. Sometimes I use them and sometimes I don't, but I saw my mom doing it every Sunday and I guess it's just a little something of her I took with me. Some people may think it's absolutely ridiculous to clip coupons, or much less USE coupons. Even if I am only saving 50 cents or a dollar, it reminds me of my mother and maybe that is why I do it. Tell me, what are some things you think are completely normal that maybe your friends or family think is anything but.
2 comments:
In "Travels With Charley" Steinbeck wrote about a New England woman who said that the fall colors can't be remembered, so they always come as a surprise. Did you find that to be true. They say pictures don't do it justice. I say the same thing about the Grand Canyon. You simply have to see it or you will never believe it.
I remember the beauty of the fall colors in my mind, but there is more to it than that. When you actually drive through the mountains of Vermont in the fall - there is this overwhelming sense of beauty in the soul. It's hard to explain and really can't be understood unless experienced firsthand. I've never been to the Grand Canyon, but I would imagine it much the same way as well as Niagra Falls. Pictures just can't do the 360 degree visual and spiritual images justice.
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