C A N T O N , M I S S I S S I P P I

June 30- July 3 is the 2022 Mississippi Championship Hot Air Balloon Fest, and you will not want to miss this action packed weekend! Featuring colorful balloons, a firework extravaganza, live entertainment, and lots of fun. A great time is guaranteed as you experience the mirage of colors decorating the sky during the Hot Air Balloon Fest! The Independence Day heritage is highlighted by fun family activities all weekend long. Pilots test their balloon savvy in purist of bragging rights and cash prizes. You are also not going to want to miss the popular Balloon Glow at sunset to delight children and adults of all ages. Come watch the balloons flicker and dance in the evening twilight!

Tonight is the launch party from 6pm-9pm on the Historic Courthouse Square in Canton! The courthouse grounds will be open to the public this year, with hot air balloon site. Enjoy shopping, food & beverage trucks, and live music from Travelin' Jane Band!

​Check out the schedule below to know what is happening all weekend long! 

J A C K S O N , M I S S I S S I P P I

Planning the biggest day of your life is only the beginning of your adventure. These days there are no rules to lock yourself into one specific theme for your wedding day. The purpose of this styled shoot was to showcase the ability of taking a space and transforming the energy in the room in just a matter of hours. 
Jackson is lucky to have some amazing vendors that truly know how to capture a vibe and run with it. People really don’t understand the importance of lighting a space. From a quick glance at these photos, you can feel the mood shift as the night went on, and we are here for it. As your special night continues, your lighting should complement that timeline. 
Floral Design is an easy way to spice up any theme, but you don’t want to just pick any florist. There’s a reason why these florals are so stunning. Green Oak has been in the business since 1960, and this family-owned business carefully selects and crafts the most jaw dropping arrangements for any style wedding.  
 
 
Vendors 
Floral Design: Green Oak 
Rentals: Pretty Presentation Rentals 
Lighting: Davaine Lighting   
Photographer: Abe Draper 
Venue: The Faulkner  ​

M A D I S O N , M I S S I S S I P P I

We got a few words about the crazy housing market from the brilliant Michelle Dugan, owner and Mortgage Broker for MS Lending:

Recently, the Fed hiked the Fed Funds Rate by 0.75%.  This was the third rate hike of the year and the Fed also projects hiking another 1.75% over the four meetings that remain this year. 
 
Remember, the Fed Funds Rate is the overnight borrowing rate for banks and it is not the same as mortgage rates.
 
But you may be wondering: How does this move in the Fed Funds Rate affect mortgage rates?
 
Mortgage rates are primarily driven by inflation, which is at a 41-year high.  When the Fed hikes the Fed Funds Rate, they are trying to slow the economy and curb inflation.  If the Fed is successful in cooling inflation, mortgage rates should decline.  History proves this during rate hike cycles for the past 50 years.
 
The media has been sounding the alarms on a potential recession this year, which has many questioning if it’s a good time to purchase a home.  When people hear about recessions, most remember the sharp decline in home prices during the housing bubble and 2009 recession.  Many often mistakenly believe that the recession caused the housing bubble, but it was quite the opposite – the housing bubble led the U.S. into a recession.

Looking back at the other eight recessions since 1960, home prices significantly increased or at least remained stable each time during and after the recession.  One of the reasons this occurs is because interest rates significantly fall during recessionary periods. 
 
During the housing bubble, risky, non-verified mortgages were commonplace.  There was a glut of supply in the real estate market along with much lower buyer demand.  Today’s housing market is much stronger – there are 3 million fewer homes for sale compared to the housing bubble, and 14 million more households.  Strong demand and tight supply should continue to be supportive of home prices.
 
If you are looking for information on how to navigate the uncertainty of today’s market or looking to buy or refinance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

F L O W O O D , M I S S I S S I P P I

Mississippi Blood Services is calling for your help! There is a CRITICAL NEED for platelet donors! Now through July 31st, all that are willing to donate will receive a $20 VISA at the time of donation. But wait there's more, when you schedule 3 appointments and donate 3 times, you will receive an additional $50 VISA. Call (601) 368-2673 now to see if you qualify and to schedule your appointment. 

Why are platelets so important?
Platelets are tiny cells in your blood that form clots and stop bleeding. For millions of Americans, they are essential to surviving and fighting cancer, chronic diseases, and traumatic injuries. Every 15 seconds someone needs platelets. Platelets must be used within five days and new donors are needed every day. That’s why they need you.

The MS Blood Service's website describes apheresis as a special kind of automated donation that allows whole blood to be withdrawn from the donor and separated into its component parts via a cell separator. All components, except for the platelets, are returned to the donor. This procedure takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. Your body replaces platelets within 48-72 hours.
Platelets are essential for blood clotting and often used by patients with bleeding disorders such as leukemia and aplastic anemia. Apheresis products or components are also used for cancer patients, patients with blood disorders, trauma and burn victims, organ transplant and heart surgeries.
You can donate platelets every 14 days. If you have donated whole blood, you must wait at least 14 days before you can donate platelets.
Platelet donors should avoid aspirin and/or aspirin-containing products 48 hours prior to donation.

"I'll never forget the feeling of gratitude that washed over me when I saw those platelets going into my husband’s body. I imagined the faces of many different strangers, taking time out of their day… their jobs… their families… their lives... to sit in a chair and give part of themselves away, simply because it is a good thing to do for another human being. A stranger. Someone’s platelets made their way to Phil that day, and it helped him recover," Cassie Brabbs described how it felt to see platelets help save her husband Phil.
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Contact Mississippi Blood Services today to donate!

M A D I S O N , M I S S I S S I S S I P P I