INSPIREMS

Mississippi Championship Hot Air Balloon Festival {Events}

6/27/2018

There is something undeniably magical about watching the bright colored balloons float up and away into the summer sky. Canton, Mississippi is hosting the thirty third annual Mississippi Championship Hot Air Balloon Festival this weekend, June 28th through the 30th.

From the Canton board of Tourism,“Featuring over 25 balloons, a fireworks extravaganza, colorful balloons of all shapes and sizes, entertainment, concessions, and lots of fun. You’re guaranteed a good time as you experience the mirage of colors decorating the summer sky. Our Independence Day heritage is highlighted by fun family activities that will treat the family to an old-fashioned weekend of togetherness. There is a vast array of competitive events for pilots to test their balloon savvy in pursuit of valuable cash prizes. There is also the ever popular Balloon Glows at sunset to delight children and adults of all ages. Come watch the balloons flicker and dance in the evening twilight. We are excited to announce this year's Balloon Festival will feature special shape balloon all the way from England, Tall Steve the penguin!

For more information on this year’s festival please visit the Facebook page.

Southern Legislative Conference {Events}

6/27/2018

In the summer of 2017, Mississippi hosted the 71st Annual Meeting of the Southern Legislative Conference on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Each year, the Annual Meeting serves as the culmination of the SLC’s yearly activities and continues to be the largest single convention held within The Council of State Governments. In 2017, Mississippi’s Speaker of the House, Philip Gunn, served as Chairman of the SLC. “We were very honored to host the SLC on the Gulf Coast this year,” said Gunn. “Organizers told us to prepare for about 900 people. More than 1,300 people attended the conference. People were excited about visiting Mississippi and all of our partners did a wonderful job showcasing our great state.”

Legislators and staff from the 15 member states of the Southern Legislative Conference descended on the Gulf Coast for the conference, which combines substantive programming on pressing state policy issues and also gives the host state the opportunity to shine. “The SLC Annual Meeting has emerged as the premiere regional public policy gathering for state legislators, legislative staff, and government officials in the South,” says Amanda Wells, Mississippi’s Host State Coordinator. “At the conference, policymakers are provided a forum to engage on the issues that matter most to them and their constituents. As host state, we were also able to really showcase Mississippi hospitality to those that may or may not have ever had the opportunity to experience our state and its people.”

In addition to policy sessions, Mississippi speakers spoke to issues important to lawmakers. Laurel’s own Erin & Ben Napier of HGTV’s Hometown spoke to the SLC Executive Committee about small town revitalization and their passion for historic preservation. Mississippi’s own football king, Archie Manning, spoke at the opening plenary session on leadership and coast native and Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise spoke at the closing plenary about his experience in space research.

Throughout the conference, various venues and cities along the Gulf Coast came to life to showcase all things Mississippi. “At the Opening Reception at Gulfport’s Jones Park (Mississippi’s front yard), we featured Mississippi cuisine like turnip greens, catfish, Delta tamales, and Mississippi mud pie,” says Wells. “At that event, Emmy-winner Bobby Rush brought down the house and really proved why we are known for our music,” smiles Wells. “We had fireworks over the Gulf and a really, really great time. Fresh Cut Catering provided wonderful cuisine, Davaine Lighting helped light up the Park, and Cathead Distillery made a signature cocktail for the reception.”
An old-fashioned beach party was the theme for Family Night in Ocean Springs. “We had s’mores, carnival food, ice-cold lemonade and the like,” says Wells. “Country music star and Greenville native Steve Azar provided entertainment as well as the show-stopping march of JSU’s Sonic Boom of the South (my personal highlight of the conference.” The State Dinner was held at the Beau Rivage and featured music by celebrated pianist Bruce Levingston and American Idol runner up, McComb native La’Porsha Renae.

Throughout the conference, guests of legislators were treated to guest tours. They toured the Coast’s craft breweries, visited Shearwater Pottery and learned the history of the Anderson family, had a cooking demo by Chef Martha Foose, and enjoyed a Q&A with Richard Grant, author of Dispatches from Pluto and a Mississippi transplant.
Even the youth that attended had several great opportunities to see the fun that Mississippi has to offer. They saw dolphins at the Institute of Marine Mammal Sciences and spent a day at Lynn Meadows Discovery Center where the Ohr O’Keefe Museum helped them with an art project, showcasing our state’s rich arts culture.
“As the host state, we had a unique opportunity to showcase Mississippi hospitality at its finest and to bring a great economic boost to the coast, both of which I feel like we accomplished and more,” remarks Wells. “It was so much fun to dive even deeper into what our state has to offer than I have in my past work. It was certainly an honor.”
To learn more about the Southern Legislative Conference, please visit www.slcatlanta.org.

Article written by Jill Dale, Photography by N.T. Bullock

Static A Salon {Insider Inspiration}

6/25/2018

Happy Monday y’all! I hope everyone had a fantastic, productive day and stayed cool! The incredibly talented Molly Gee Webster is next in our series of inspirational female business owners in Mississippi. Molly is the owner of Static a Salon in Madison. Molly Gee’s creativity and talent inspires us every time we see her work. Keep reading to hear her take on owning and operating her own business!

{Tell us about you!}
Hi! My name is Molly Gee Webster and I am owner of Static a Salon in Madison, Mississippi. I also work behind the chair full time as a cosmetologist and on location for wedding/event hair and make up styling. My background started in fashion with a degree from MSU in Fashion Merchandising and living and working in New York City. It was there that I created a line of bridal hair accessories and later moved my business to my hometown of Madison. Over the next few years, I gained a reputation for myself as the go-to designer for keepsake bridal accessories, opened wholesale accounts with over 40 stores nationwide, married my husband and went through cosmetology school to offer hair and makeup styling along with the custom accessories I designed. As I grew a clientele and a vision for salon ownership, I set my focus on hairstyling and closed the chapter on sewing/design. 2017 started with a bang as we purchased Static a Salon and expected our first born, Cyrena. Salon ownership and motherhood have been two wonderful new worlds to navigate! We also have two sweet pups named Fern and Zoey.

{Tell us about your business!}
Static a Salon is located in the heart of Madison and provides numerous beauty and hair services such as haircutting, styling, hair extensions, keratin treatments, hair coloring and more. We also provide hair and makeup services for occasions like weddings and events in the salon and on location. Our mission is quite simply to set and maintain the standard for attainable beauty and unsurpassed customer service. Staying on trend with the latest techniques and continually perfecting our craft is a number one priority as we attend hair shows and education classes throughout the year. We also offer high quality, cruelty free hair care products such as Paul Mitchell and Kevin Murphy.

{What kind of inspirational women do you work with on a daily basis?}
I have hand picked a phenomenal team of highly motivated, well qualified stylists who encourage and support each other on a daily basis. We bounce ideas and share our skills with each other, working as a unit. We love our clientele and the idea that we can enhance their mood or self confidence with the change of a cut, color, or style. We wouldn't be where we are without their dedication to us and our salon.
{What was your inspiration for starting your business?}
It's funny how interests shift and mine have definitely evolved over time. My goals changed from fashion design in a big city to a new, creative life in hairstyling in the close-knit family community where I was born and raised. Each step of the way, I set a goal to offer exceptional service in each industry and evolve where I saw a need.

{What’s it like being a female business owner in Mississippi? Can you speak to any advantages or disadvantages?}
Thankfully I haven't felt any disadvantages in being a female business owner. I do feel that I understand the needs and wants of other females in the area of beauty and style. Listening to my customers and knowing what service to best offer them is key in this industry.

{Are there any resources you used to open your business that you would recommend to other aspiring entrepreneurs?}
The internet and social media are very powerful sources if you are motivated and seek out the answers to your questions. There's also nothing like a mentor who has been in your shoes and willing to offer helpful advice. We can all learn from each other!
{What words of advice would you give to other aspiring female entrepreneurs?} Owning a business is so rewarding but it's not for the light at heart. One must have set goals and a dedication to hard work and hustle along the way. As tough as it can be, failure can also be a huge motivator and way to figure out what works and doesn't work for you and your business!

{What’s your favorite part about living and working in Mississippi?}
I love the sense of community Mississippi offers. Word of mouth has been my biggest source for growth and the wedding vendor community in particular is like family. We cheer on each other's successes and it's so rewarding to see the outcome of each joining together to create a beautiful and memorable day for a happy couple.

Give Static a Salon a follow on Instagram @static_a_salon and make sure to like their Facebook page.

Photography by Lauren Liddell, Ashleigh Coleman, and Ashley Upchurch

Summer Cover 2018 {En Pointe: A Ballet Inspired Wedding}

6/22/2018

Though it’s surely felt like summer for a while now, today marks the first official day of the summer season! Here at Inspiration we love everything summer stands for. Something about the season lends itself to making wonderful, lasting memories with family and friends. From backyard cookouts to beach vacations and weekend pool days, we hope that y’all enjoy every single second under the summer sun!

This year’s summer cover was inspired by the United States International Ballet Competition. Every four years, Jackson, Mississippi, becomes the center of the dance world when ballet dancers and guests from all over the world arrive for the International Ballet Competition. Using the Competition as the inspiration for summer wedding, The Barn at Bridlewood in Madison was the perfect backdrop with its serene setting and stunning sunset. The bride was radiant in her beautiful gown and her blue pointe ballet shoes provided the perfect “something blue” for her special day.

Robbye & Zach {Weddings}

6/19/2018

Today we wanted to feature a dreamy spring wedding. We adore everything about this celebration, from the stunning outdoor ceremony to the beautiful, classically southern reception. Keep scrolling to see more photos from Robbye and Zach's big day.

Robbye Goode and Zach Smalley's younger siblings were friends and they just knew that Robbye and Zach should meet! "The night before we were supposed to go out, I was at a karaoke bar with some friends and saw Zoe, Zach's sister," says Robbye. "I went over to say hi and learned that she was out with Zach. Zoe properly introduced us and we spent the whole evening chatting. We then went now aha was supposed to be our first date the next evening and have seen each other most days since," smiles Robbye.

"We loved the Fairview Inn the first moment we stepped into it for a dinner hosted by Zach's employer. The classic look and vintage romance is just our style. Plus, I loved the idea of one venue that could accommodate getting ready, the ceremony and the reception," says Robbye.