Drinking the Oklahoma Kool-Aid

Truth be told, I am a transplant from the heart of Hollywood (8 years) and a life-long, California native. When I told my Hollywood friends about my brave leap of faith to move to Oklahoma, I am sure they all thought I was crazy.  Many people who live on the coastline, often conjure up images of prairie lands, teepees and tumbleweeds when the word "Oklahoma" comes to mind.

I am the sort of girl that loves the hustle and bustle of the city; I find beauty in a nighttime, city skyline. It was in the desolate countryside that I would get unnerved--becoming uneasy once my cell phone started to lose reception; open plains and long, empty stretches of highway out in the boonies freaked me out. What was a bona fide city girl like me going to do in a small town like Tulsa?  I didn't know, all I knew was that I was burnt out from 13 years of toiling away in the fashion industry, I missed my family, and I was ready for an adventure.

I am not going to lie, my first year year was rough, really rough. There were lonely weekends, and tearful days at first. Why had I moved to this strange land where the locals were obsessed with Big Gulps, trucks, and hunting camouflage?  Was I ever going to make friends?  Would I be able to make a life for myself here? The initial culture shock was overwhelming, and I found myself resistant to partake of the "Oklahoma Kool-Aid",  Where was my city night life? Where were my arty-fashionable-hipster friends? Where was the velvet rope entrance to the nightclub?  I was at a loss. I didn't get the fashion either:  Why were guys dressed like Ivy League frat boys?  Why were people wearing bright orange shirts and sweats to nice restaurants?  I didn't get it.  I didn't understand the food culture.  Why couldn't I find a Raw/Vegan Food restaurant? Why was everything fried and covered in bar-b-que sauce?  I felt like every street corner was either: a Gas station, a church, or a Walmart.

And now, here I am! 2 years later and I am pleased to report that despite all odds, I am a happy transplant! I am amazed when I reflect on how far I have come. It took some time, and adjustments but I am genuinely happy, and I love living in Tulsa. I work at a fantastic, Medical Spa, I adore my coworkers and our loyal clientele- best of all, I get to do what I LOVE every day!!! My lonely weekends are a thing of the past and now I'm super busy attending events, concerts, and having fun with wonderful friends.

The downtown Tulsa Brady District is booming and thriving with an impressive art scene, delicious restaurants, trendy bars, gourmet food trucks, local bands, music festivals and super fun events at the Guthrie Green. We recently had a music festival where over 40,000 people attended and over 70 bands played, does this look like a pokey ghost town to you?

Center of the Universe Festival -Neon Trees & One Republic headlined.

I traded in my LA skyline, for a more modest but beautiful, Art Deco one, and I've traded in my beloved, Silver Lake Reservoir for Centennial Park, which has become my little slice of heaven--isn't it pretty?

This rock and roll gal, has also embraced a little bit of country. Just a little bit. I learned how to 2 step to country music, I bought a pair of cowboy boots, and I unabashedly listen to Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert! Hollywood friends cover your ears- because I know all the words too!  I've successfully made a hybrid of my valley-girl-speak with a vaguely southern drawl where I often drop my "G"s. I am: "workin', playin', singin' lovin' it y'all!"

I got my spiritual groove back as well. In L.A., I was staunchly anti-organized religion- I hadn't gone to church for over 10 years!  But after two years in the Bible-Belt, and after countless invitations to go, I finally caved and started going. I am the most surprised of all to report, that I'm loving it, and genuinely look forward to going every week!  In addition, the slower paced, more peaceful life here has allowed me more free time to pursue my passions, my main one being horseback riding; I find it therapeutic and thrilling all at once, as it should be: horse back riding is the third most dangerous sport in the world, and controlling a creature that weighs half a ton, with a mind of it's own is no easy feat!

This is my riding partner : Diva 

I've also traded in day trips to the beach, with views of the pacific ocean, for day trips to the lake where I soak up the sun on a boat, or float in the water, admiring the view. Oklahoma is so beautiful, hardly a day goes by where I don't think to myself how lucky I am to live in such a pretty city, with so many genuine people around me.

Looking back, it's amusing to me, how much I have embraced the culture and how much I love living in Tulsa. Yes, it's small, much smaller than I am used too, but the people are friendly and authentic, and I feel like the roots are deep. I feel incredibly blessed that I have a job I love, friends that I can count on, and family nearby. My stress levels have been reduced to a tenth of what it was living and working in LA.  I am the most carefree, and content that I have been in a long time---and that really says it all.

In the end, not only did a self-described city girl like me, decide to drink the "Oklahoma Kool-Aid, but I am quite happily, drunk on it.