INSPIREMS

Clarksdale Film Festival {Events}

1/19/2018

If you're looking for an impromptu get away to round out January, may we suggest checking out the 8th annual Clarksdale Film Festival. The festival starts next Friday the 26th and continues until Saturday, the 27th. Keep reading for more details about this awesome festival in Mississippi's blues city.

The 8th annual Clarksdale Film Festival returns to "Bluestown, USA" — Clarksdale, Mississippi — Friday-Saturday, January 26-27. And it's going to be a real house party.
"This is a curated film festival, so it's not just 'whatever films came out this year,'" said co-founder Roger Stolle. "We premiere new works, of course, but we also showcase films that we think are important and folks may have missed."
Films this year range from Two Trains Runnin' (a blues-meets-civil rights story about the search for 1930s Mississippi bluesmen during Freedom Summer) and Shake Sister Shake (world-premiere about women in blues, including Clarksdalians) to Love is a Sensation(special preview of Mississippi folk artist LV Hull's new bio-pic) and Chasing Trane (the highly-acclaimed John Coltrane documentary).
The film festival — which specializes in blues/roots music and Mississippi-related movies — is also about more than just screenings, according to co-organizer Nan Hughes.
"In addition to all of the wonderful films, we feature History Bus Tours of Clarksdale, a film workshop for kids, live blues music, a daily reception, special guests and more," said Hughes. "It's really just another excuse to show off our amazing, little music town."
Directors agree there is something special about screening their work in the home of the Crossroads.
New York director Lesley Abbey said, "My documentary brings together generations of Long Island's blues greats. To be acknowledged by Clarksdale, Mississippi, where it all began, is truly an honor." Her film Big Fish Blues will make its Mississippi premiere at the fest.
Similarly, Lisa Eismen, Australian director of Shake Sister Shakesaid, "I love Clarksdale, and I'm so excited to have the world premiere of my film there. It’s the perfect fit."

Head over to the festival's website for more information!

Roaring Twos Birthday Party! {Event Inspiration}

1/17/2018

Today’s post features a darling birthday party for a lucky little boy who was turning two! This darling party exemplifies how details from the invitation can be incorporated into almost every facet of the party from the color scheme to food labels! We also love that decorative pieces from the party were able to be used again in an everyday context. We chatted with Laurel Donahoo to find out how she put such a fun party together for her baby boy!

Choosing her son Wilson’s 2nd birthday party theme was easy for Laurel Donahoo. She let him choose! “We printed out six different pictures of six things he is “into” and taped them to the wall. We then let him into the room and let him pick his favorite of the six,” smiles Laurel. “The one he picked was a picture of his favorite stuffed animal, his lion Mr. Roarsly, so our theme was LION!”

She ended up hand drawing an art deco-y lion for the invitation after she decided that she wanted to take the theme a tad past “lion” to the “Roaring Twos!” Laurel continues, ‘The colors I went with on the lion dictated the color theme for the party!” One of her favorite event details was the balloon canopy that was hung on the ceiling of the room that was the main party room. “I purchased a bunch of large round balloons online knowing I wanted to use them to decorate somehow. Once we had all the balloons blown up, the idea came to us to string them up from the ceiling! It made a pretty cool statement! And now they are hanging in Wilson’s room from his ceiling,” smiles Laurel.

Venue: The Donahoo Home Cookies: Marie Williams from The Honeycomb
Florals, Cake, Photographer & Planner: Laurel Donahoo

Tracy Branch Agency {Insider Inspiration}

1/15/2018

We got the chance to chat with the incredibly talented Tracy Branch, owner of Tracy Branch Agency and co-owner of the Glossary salon in Florence, Mississippi. The Tracy Branch Agency is an industry leader in makeup and hair for special occasions. Her passion for all things beauty is clear in every facet of her business. Keep reading to find out what inspires Tracy and where her business is headed this coming year!

{Tell us a little about yourself.}
I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana but was raised in Florence, Mississippi. I am a wife to my high school sweetheart and mama to one sweet daughter, Sarah Kathryn. She is my Why. Being her mom is my favorite job and accomplishment.

{Tell us about your business.}
I own and manage a hair and makeup agency as well as own The Glossary Salon in florence, Ms with my business partner and friend, Kerri Ross Welch. With my growing business and special occasion styling clientele, I found an increasing need for a team of stylists who shared the same passion, drive, and creativity. Thus, the Tracy Branch Agency was born.
The Tracy Branch Agency is a growing beauty agency that represents the most amazing talents of hair, makeup, and styling. The Tracy Branch Agency is committed to finding and developing new artistic talent for progressive companies and clients looking for the best providers of on site beauty services.
Our team is dedicated to bringing makeup and hair styling in the setting of your choice. Book us for weddings, pageants, special occasions, commercial, film, editorial, or for the absolute indulgence of it. Each member of our agency has been handpicked for their exceptional talents, their professionalism, and just because they are all the kind of gals you will want to have around. I am so proud to represent each one of them.

{Can you describe your professional journey up to this point?}
I always loved doing and hair and makeup. My childhood friends all remember being my first “test Subjects." I was typically the one doing everyone’s hair and makeup for prom, pageants and special occasions. I remember spending hours in front of my vanity mirror with my moms old hand me down Mary Kay and Estee Lauder and creating different looks with that. These were well before the days of you tube tutorials! I had to learn it on my own face through trial and error.
Art was always my first love and I ultimately decided to attend college to pursue that. While living on campus, I used to give “clients” $5 haircuts in the dorms. I still wanted to go to cosmetology school but got married and started a family and wanted to be a stay home mom with my little one.
The week she started preschool was the same week I finally started cosmetology school! I was elated! From that day on, I have been so inspired by the hair and makeup industry. I can’t get enough of learning and growing. I love the way it touches people’s lives and makes such an impact on the way they feel about themselves.

{What inspires you in daily and in your work?}
My peers are constantly inspiring me. I love surrounding myself with like minded artists who are always pushing each other to learn and grown and support each other. It delights me to see my clients faces when we create the look they were wishing for and you can see their confidence explode. I love getting to know people and their stories. Being there for someone’s most special events is such an honor and pleasure for us.
My family is also a huge inspiration to me. My husband and daughter are my biggest cheerleaders and I couldn’t do what I do without their solid love and support.

{What advice do you have for brides and bridesmaids wanting to use professional makeup and hair services on their big day?}

book early. As soon as you know your date, pay your deposit and get on the calendar for your hair and makeup team.
bring inspo pictures, let us know what your style is. Let us know if you prefer a softer more natural look to super glam. Pictures are a great way to let your artist know your exact wants and needs.
come with your hair clean and dry for your artist. Have your waxing done a few days prior and keep your skin nice and moisturized but no spf products the day off as it sometimes doesn’t mix well with our foundations. Exfoliate your lips the day before and keep them moisturized as well.
find your desired lip color before hand so you can keep it with you for touch ups throughout the event. If not - don’t worry, we can usually leave you a sample of what we used on you.
Speak up! Please don’t be worried about hurting our feelings if you aren’t completely happy with your look. We are always happy to adjust anything until you love it. It’s our utmost goal to make sure you feel gorgeous and confident on your day. So please let us know so we can adjust.
* know your timeline and add artists as needed. For super large parties, with just 2 artists, be prepared to start super early that morning. We are happy to set you up with as many artists as you need to push that getting ready time down a little bit if you desire.

{What is next for your business this coming year?}
2018 is going to be a great year for us! The agency currently serves most of Central Missisippi and the Gulf Coast , but as of February 2018, we are expanding our teams to New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Memphis, and North Mississippi areas. We have some amazing new talent joining the team this year! I’m excited to see what the future holds.

To book one of the agency's talented artisans of beauty visit the website and fill out a contact form.

2018 Mississippi Blues Marathon {Event}

1/12/2018

Mississippi's premier running event, the Mississippi Blues Marathon is set to take place on the final Saturday this month, the 27th. The 2018 race will be the eleventh installment of the event, which has attracted runners from all 50 states and more than 15 countries. The Mississippi Blues Marathon events include of a marathon, half-marathon, quarter marathon, 5k and marathon relay. The event benefits the Musician’s Benevolent Fund of the Mississippi Blues Commission and is sponsored by Continental Tire of the Americas.
This year’s event has participants from 46 states and over seven different countries so far. If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to become more active, come get inspired by the runners (and walkers!) participating in this year’s race. The race starts and ends at The Art Garden at the Mississippi Museum of Art in downtown Jackson at 7:00 am. Live music before, during, and after the race make this event unique and so much fun!
The fun doesn’t end with the completion of the race! Saturday night there will be a Blues Crawl, taking you around Jackson’s favorite music locales to hear even more live music. Every runner will receive admission to the Blues Crawl included in their race packet, but non runners can purchase a wristband for $10 the day of the race at the merchandise tent located at the Mississippi Museum of Art.

The Mississippi Blues Marathon is such a unique and inspiring event within Jackson and the entire southeast. The Mississippi Blues Marathon was selected for the 2018 RRCA Southern Region Marathon Championship. Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas are all included in the RRCA southern region. Make sure to head downtown to check out the race, and to all who are participating: cheers to being such an inspiration!

If you’d like to volunteer to help out the day of the event as a course marshall, which means you’d be right alongside the runners encouraging them and guiding them through the race course, follow this link.

The Proposal {2018 Winter Cover}

1/10/2018

We are so incredibly thrilled to be sharing the first cover of the fourth edition of INSPIRATION Mississippi with y’all! INSPIRATION is a publication that celebrates all things weddings, events, and this crazy wonderful life we are all living. We are so blessed to have worked with some amazing vendors from around the state to bring this fourth edition to y’all. Our first cover is a picture from a beautiful engagement photoshoot set against a lovely Mississippi winter backdrop. We hope y’all are as thrilled to get your hands on the new magazine as we are to see y’all enjoy it. Make sure to pick up a copy at any of our advertisers around town.

We're starting this year out with a piece that is an inspiration for an unforgettable proposal. Established in 1940 with the purpose of being a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife, the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge provided a natural and serene setting for a beautiful proposal set up among the water and woods. The future groom arrived with the wedding dress that had been worn by the future bride's mother and restored for this special occasion.
The beautiful ring, the heirloom dress, and the peaceful setting were special details the future groom thought of as he prepared for a day they will never forget. Once the ring was placed on her finger, the couple celebrated with a picnic amongst the tall trees, looking forward to a lifetime of new memories.

Venue: Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge Photography: Adam + Alli Photography
Dress and Shoes: The Bridal Path Jewelry: Albriton's Jewelry Suit: Great Scott
Hair and Makeup: Darah Boykin with Tracy Branch Agency Florals: Fresh Cut Catering & Floral
MS Necklace & Toasting Flutes: Gifts by KPEP Serving Pieces and Decor: Persnickety

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