It is officially football season in the Mississippi!  Today, we are thrilled to share Tailgates and Traditions from Inspiration Mississippi Magazine, highlighting  Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, the University of Mississippi and The University of Southern Mississippi!  

A special thank you to the talented photographers who captured all of these incredible photographs!  Check out their websites below!
Carlyn Photography
B. Flint Photography
Chao Photography 

At Inspiration Mississippi, we have the great pleasure of working with some of Mississippi’s kindest, warmest and smartest people.  Mangia Bene recently passed the keys from one extraordinary Marketing Manager to another.  We are thrilled to honor Liz Lancaster as she departs for her new life in Oxford; we are also excited to welcome the brilliant Susan Farris!  Today we are sharing a little more about each of these incredible women.

LIZ LANCASTER:

Tell me a little about you!  Your background, where you grew up and how you came to Mangia Bene!
“I was born in Jackson, MS, but grew up in Corinth, MS. I went to college at Millsaps College and it was 'home.' I knew that after I graduated with a B.A. in Communications that I wanted to stay in Jackson and really become a part of the community. March of my senior year, I met with Jeff Good and the rest is history! Jeff was doing all the marketing for Mangia Bene all by himself... you know, on top of owning 3 restaurants and a catering business and being one of the most involved people in the Jackson community. I began my job as Marketing Manager immediately after graduation and was with the company for 5 years. It was such an amazing roller coaster! I learned so much... so much more than any master’s program could offer.” 

How long did you work for Mangia Bene and what was your role?  What was your favorite aspect of the job? 
“I worked for Mangia Bene for 5 years as Marketing Manager. Although the job is mostly marketing through print, digital, and social media, there is so much more to it. A large part of this position was event planning and community relations. Through this position, I helped our company collaborate with hundreds of non-profits in the Metro Jackson Area with community events and donations. Just one great example is the Ice Cream with Friends fundraiser we're doing right now with Inspiration Mississippi that is benefiting Friends of Children's Hospital. Although marketing is the main function of this position, working with people through community projects and events was definitely one of my favorite parts.” 

~ Tell us about your new adventures in Oxford and what is taking you there!

“Mangia Bene was not just a job for me... It became a part of who I was. I have learned so much about life and myself from working with Jeff Good and the amazing team that is Mangia Bene. I hated leaving my position, but for everything there is a season. After years of being single and working hard, I finally found the love of my life. Andrew, my fiance, is a ceramics professor and technicians manager for the ceramics department at Ole Miss. Once we were engaged, we wanted to start our lives together as soon as possible. That is how I found my new job as the new Marketing Manager for The Inn at Ole Miss. As sad as it was to leave my life, my home, in Jackson, I am so excited to see where this next road takes me. I could not be more excited to start my new job Monday, July 11th. Although I will always 'bleed purple' for 'Mother Millsaps,' I'm excited to break out the red and blue! Hotty Toddy!” 

SUSAN FARRIS:

Tell us a little about yourself!  Where did you grow up?
“I grew up in the suburbs of Brandon and enjoyed a classic Mississippi childhood. I spent the days playing outside with my brother, and when the heat finally drove us inside I’d devour books that were much too old for me. If I’m honest, there were a lot of video games involved too. Many weekends were spent in the Delta visiting my grandmother, exploring the fields and woods, and generally getting into trouble and a lot of poison ivy.

I graduated high school from East Rankin Academy out in Pelahatchie and earned my Bachelor’s in English from Mississippi College in Clinton, where I also met my husband. For the last three years, I’ve been working as a Creative Production Manager for EdgeTheory, a social media startup in Ridgeland specializing in growing their clients’ conversations and influence online. Outside of work, I love reading, gardening, watching Doctor Who, playing board games with friends, and being confused by sports- yes, I’m that kind of nerd.”

What attracted you to the job at Mangia Bene?  
“What initially attracted me to Mangia Bene?  The people!  Jeff has a wonderful reputation in the community and everyone I’ve talked to who’s known him has responded with ‘What a great guy. You’re going to love it!’ And they were right! I’m honored to be part of such a tight-knit team, and I can’t tell you how fabulous Liz has been during this transition. She’s been truly generous in helping me learn the ropes and making sure I have everything I need to be successful here. It’s easy to see why everyone she’s worked with loves her. Oxford won’t know what’s hit ‘em.”

What is your background?
“My background is in copywriting, editing, and social media. Through MC’s English program, I am firmly grounded in wordsmithing and how to appeal to others through stories. It was a very natural step from writing my own stories to telling stories on social media for my clients and from there to the broader world of marketing. However, I still love working with language; you hand me a piece with words on it and tell me to play with it and I’ll love you forever.”

What excites you most about your new opportunity?
“It’s not just one thing that gets me really excited about being here. There’s of course the possibilities for using a lot of neat platforms, both online and off, to spread the word about Bravo!, Broad Street, and Sal & Mookie’s. There’s coming up with some hare-brained scheme to create a fun event or cool ad campaign- and then being given a high five and told to run with it. There are the amazing people behind those restaurants and seeing them work so hard to bring good food and fun places to be to Jackson. In the three weeks I’ve been here, I’ve seen so much generosity and kindness and authenticity and a real love for Jackson and the people in it. And that is where all this leads to: getting back into Jackson, getting involved, getting to know the people, and giving back.”

What can people expect when working with you?
“Sass. Lol! I do say what I think but my rule is to be kind first. I am very direct because I believe my time and yours is too precious to be wasted in beating around the bush, but that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten my manners! You’ll always get a heartfelt please and thank you from me and I’ll go out of my way to help you out too. That’s just what neighbors do.”

Is there anything else you want to add?
“I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me here. It’s going to be a wild ride!”


To learn more about Mangia Bene Catering, please click here!  For incredible dining in Jackson, visit BRAVO! Italian Restaurant & Bar, Sal & Mookie's New York Ice Cream & Pizza Joint (also open in Biloxi!), and Broad Street Baking Company & Cafe!  

For many of us, this is the New Year.  There were no fireworks, nor did any confetti get scattered in Times Square.  But school has just begun.  Routines are being attempted, established, re-established.  Bedtimes are coming faster.  Morning greetings are grumpier.  If you have children in school, you are likely excited for them, yet pensive over the way the years seem to be clipping away.

 What are our wishes for our children, their classmates, their teachers, and ourselves as the school year begins?  Maybe we hope that we’ve prepared them to be kind, thoughtful, and obedient.  None of us want to be “the parents” of that rude and disruptive child.  I’m learning that we, as parents, share many fears about what our little ones will be up to as the teachers carefully and tenderly ask for their attention.  I remember the first note we received pinned to our son’s book bag notifying us that our child had been rather disruptive in school that day.  My wife and I were mortified! Had we failed at parenting?  Was there a petition seeking the expulsion of our son circulating through the school?  How bad had he been?  The wave of irrational reaction was overwhelming, and it didn’t seem so irrational at the moment.  Somehow, we meted out the appropriate punishment and survived that event in time for the next one.  We actually had to come to terms with the fact that our child wasn’t perfect.  Can you imagine how dreadful it was to face that reality? 

What I have learned after parenting in community with other parents is that NOBODY wants to be “those parents” of that unruly child…while we are all, from time to time absolutely “those parents.” I’ve learned that we are all the same, for the most part.  And that we want to give our kids the best opportunities to grow and learn and develop into relational individuals.  Maybe we can realize, together as a parenting community, that when we became parents…we became “those parents.”  And that’s alright, because we can share our fears, our worries, and our failures and therefore become stronger and better at what we all pray so desperately for.

Blessings.

2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,[a] we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

BRIDE: Molly Kathrine Foster
GROOM: Courtland Raye Murrell
Hometowns: Groom- Avon, MS      Bride- Pearl, MS
Wedding/ Reception Site: Cotton Market Venue, Pearl, MS
Bride’s Bouquet:  White hydrangeas with green and pinecones

How did the two of you meet? In Nashville, TN in P.T. school

What is your proposal story?  I woke up one morning with a note beside my bed stating “Hello Gorgeous! Meet me for a brunch in our favorite spot.” Which is the Junction on MS STATE campus.  Upon arriving to the junction, I find a blanket laid out, my favorite coffee (Albino Squirrel from Strange brew) and to my surprise, no boyfriend, just another note.  The note states “You are about to play a game, follow the clues and you only get one lifeline. Good LUCK.”  Each clue leads to a new spot on campus where we share individual and shared memories, leading from the building all of our classes were in, to the Sanderson (workout center), to the baseball field (Dud Noble) and lastly to Davis Wade Stadium.  Each clue led to a new gift at the site for our 2 year anniversary.  We had just purchased season football tickets a couple of months before.  The last clue read “The game ends in a spot where we will spend many of nights, ringing our cowbells for the Maroon and White, now can you remember the seats?” Luckily I had a saved email with our actual seat assignments; otherwise it would have been a long day looking for the last gift! Oops! Arriving to our seats in the last gift bag is a brass cowbell, that states “Will you Marry Me??” and up from the bottom of the stands he walks up and gets on one knee.  Of course I said YES! I don’t know which was prettier, the brass cowbell or the ring!! Ha!

What inspired your wedding and reception locations? I wanted a simple, rustic look with the feeling of being outside. So the barn was perfect.

What inspired your color scheme/theme/flowers? WINTER!! I love neutrals, winter, and WHITE!

How did you pick the dress? It was actually in the window on display, and I knew coming in I wanted lace and a timeless dress.  Well walking in I stated to my friend (pointing at the dress in the window) “That’s TOO MUCH lace”.  Dress after dress none seemed to be “the one.”  Finally, my friend told to lady, “Get the one out of the window… Molly you can never have too much lace. Just try it!” Well, it fit perfectly and I knew before she even finished buttoning it up that THIS WAS THE DRESS!!

What’s your favorite unique accessory? Is there a story behind it? I would have to say the item my sister gave me to carry around my bouquet which was my “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”.  She gave me a blue ribbon with my mother’s wedding ring on it and a picture locket of my mother stating “You are always in my heart.” My mother passed away when I was younger so this was really special to me that I could have her be a part of my day.

What was your favorite part of the wedding planning process? Probably picking out the food and theme.  The rest was easily due to my fabulous wedding planner, Kendall Poole Ellis, with Kendall Poole Event Planning.  She and her team made everything much more simple and less stressful.

Besides the actual wedding, what was your favorite moment of the wedding day? I would have to say the first time I saw my son and daughter (1 year old twins) all dressed up in her mini flower girl dress and his sweet tux.  My husband and me both discussed how “real” the moment felt seeing them for the first time, that we were finally going to be a family. 

What was your favorite surprise detail/moment about your wedding day?  I guess I would say seeing all my friends and family from over the years in one place.  People I haven’t seen since college or in a long time being under one roof and celebrating.

Your favorite picture from the big day? ALL of THEM!! I would say my favorite is the one of Courtland leaning me back to kiss me in front of the barn after the ceremony.

The picture that represents us best? Our first look photos.  We are always laughing and joking.  Not two people that get really emotional.  So the photo shows us laughing as soon as he turns around. 

VENDORS:

Photographer: Mary Moment Photography
Event Planner: Kendall Poole Event Planning
Dress: The Bridal Path
Bride’s Jewelry: Stella and Dot
Hair: Amanda Powell of Plush Salon
Make-up: Brittany Upton of Drench
Bridesmaid Dresses: The Bridal Path
Tuxes: George Sherman Clothiers 
Venue: The Cotton Market
Lighting: Davaine Lighting
Florist: Fresh Cut Catering and Floral
Catering: Fresh Cut Catering and Floral
Band: Union Road
Bride’s Cake: Denalda Parker
Groom’s Cake: For Heaven’s Cakes
Print Material: www.theamericanwedding.com

With Summer quickly coming to an end, it's time to get outside and enjoy all that Mississippi has to offer!  Our state has incredible pick-your-own farms where you can enjoy the freshest of fruits, vegetables and honey.  We also encourage you to have fun in the kitchen!  Celebrate the flavors of the season and whip up dessert with fresh Mississippi ingredients!

A special thank you to La Brioche for the delicious dessert!  Also, thank you to Mary Moment Photography for capturing the sweets so beautifully!