INSPIREMS

Deep Blues Festival {Events}

9/27/2018

Happy Happy Friday y’all!

We sure are looking forward to what looks to be a beautiful weekend!
We wanted to bring y’all’s attention to the 11th annual Deep Blues Festival going down in Clarksdale on October 11-14. Located in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, Clarksdale is such a fantastic weekend away from the hustle and bustle of the every day routine. Keep reading for more information on this unique festival!

This year the nation’s best blues artist and biggest fans will all gather in Clarksdale to celebrate the incredible power of the blues. Do you feel like you would love to go and check it out but maybe music festivals aren’t really your thing? The Deep Blues festival isn’t Bonnaroo, Coachella, or Lollapalooza. It’s a unique event that the creators of the festival were yearning for, “Organized by hardcore roots music fans — a mix of Clarksdale locals and international transplants — Deep Blues Festival is not your typical music festival. It's the fest that they always wanted to attend but could never find.

"Look, there are plenty of amazing festivals with enormous stages, big anonymous crowds and rows of portajohns. They're fine, sometimes even great. But Deep Blues Fest is better," according to co-organizer Robin Colonas. "Our event aims for two things missing from that 'festipalooza' formula — authenticity and intimacy. At DBF, concert-goers enjoy the town, the venues and the people every bit as much as the absolutely killer musical lineup."

The Deep Blues festival celebrates the history and local flavor of Clarksdale. The New Roxy and the Shack Up Inn are the stages for incredible talent. Attendees of the festival are sure to be delighted by the richness of the Mississippi Delta. This year's festival lineup features RL Boyce, Alvin "Youngblood" Hart & Muscle Theory, Jimbo Mathus, Psychotic Reaction, Bob Log III, Big George Brock, Reverend John Wilkins, Monsieur Jeffrey Evans & His Southern Aces, Jimmy "Duck" Holmes, Molly Gene One Whoaman Band, Robert "Lil Poochie" Watson & Hezekiah Early.

For more information and to grab your tickets, please visit the Deep Blues Festival website.

Molly & David {Weddings}

9/26/2018

Happy Wedding Wednesday y'all!
Today we wanted to share a beautiful celebration of one of the sweetest couples we've ever seen! From the stunning florals to the delicious food, the details of this wedding came together perfectly resulting in a beautiful, elegant, and perfectly southern celebration!

{Tell us about y’all!}
David and I met and started dating almost 11 years ago when we were both in the 8th grade at St. Joseph Catholic School in Madison, Mississippi. We attended Mississippi State University together, where David graduated with a Bachelors in Exercise Science. I left MSU after my junior year to attend nursing school in Jackson. After 10 years of dating, David planned the most special proposal at the Chapel of Livingston. Afterwards, our family and close friends were gathered at The Farmers Table Cooking School to celebrate with us!

One of my favorite things about our relationship is that we have been a part of each other's life for as long as I can remember. There aren't many memories in my life that David is not a part of. We have been together through so much together over the last 11 years and I'm so excited for all that is to come!

{How did you pick your wedding venues?}
We chose to get married in the church that I grew up in and that holds a special place in my heart. My dad played a huge role in building our new sanctuary, so having the wedding there made it even more special! As for the reception, I wanted to have it at a place that would allow us to choose our vendors and I loved the look and feel of Bridlewood of Madison.

{Tell us all about the flowers!}
I could talk all day long about how incredible Lesley Frascogna, the owner of Tulip Floral, is. She was the creative design behind our entire wedding day decor. I knew that I wanted my florals to be primarily whites and greens with a pop of lavender for color. My biggest request was to have a large bridal bouquet and bridesmaid bouquets. I was blown away with how beautiful her work was.

{What was your favorite moments of your wedding day?}
There are so many moments from our wedding day that are my favorites...getting ready with all my favorite girls, the first look with my Dad, putting on my dress with my mom and sister, seeing David at the end of the aisle. I could honestly go on and on! If I had to pick one, I would say my first look with David before the ceremony was my all-time favorite. I will always remember the moments during and after our first look. It was the moment that the two of us got to be alone and soak in that our special day was finally here.

{What were some of your details from your celebration?}
The food! Oh my goodness, it was phenomenal! The first decision I made when planning my wedding was choosing to have our close family friends, Derek and Jennifer Emerson cater our wedding. The Emersons own multiple restaurants in the Jackson metro area, including Walker’s Drive in, Local 463, Caet, and Parlor Market. David and I have always loved celebrating special occasions in our life at their restaurants, so having their amazing food be a part of our day was a must!

One of my other favorite details would have to be the music! Magnolia Strings played for thirty minutes prior to the start of the ceremony and accompanied the vocalist. This elegant music set the tone for the beautiful ceremony to follow. Their final number of the prelude was Surely the Presence. I chose this song because I wanted everyone to feel the presence of the Lord during the ceremony. The worship songs sung by the vocalist were personal favorites of mine. How deep the Father’s Love for Us and In Christ Alone were both sung by our dear friends. It was important to both of us to have our ceremony centered around worship and the music we selected allowed us to do that!

The band that played our reception, Entice, was INCREDIBLE! They ensured that our guests had the best time.

{What was your favorite part of the wedding planning process?}
My favorite part of planning a wedding was getting to spend the quality time with my mom. My wedding day would not have been what it was without all of her help! After the wedding, we had the best time going through our photos when Lindsay got them back to us! They turned out so well and we are so happy that we made the decision to hire Lindsay Ott Photography to capture our celebration.

{Do you have any tips for anyone else planning a wedding?}
I would suggest to slow down and make sure to focus on enjoying the day! Try to take as much as you can in because it truly does go by way too fast!

{Vendors}
Photography: Lindsay Ott Photography| Reception: Bridlewood of Madison|Catering: Walker's Drive In|
Florist & Creative Design: Tulip Floral| Ceremony: First Baptist Church Madison| Cake: Cakes by Iris|
Lighting: Davaine Lighting| Day of Coordinator: Meghan Robinson| Make Up & Hair: Static a Salon|
Menswear: Kinkade's Fine Clothing| Bridal Gown: Maggie Louise by Amsale| Bridesmaids Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid| Band: The Entice Band| Videographer: Hinkle Productions|

Fall Cover Reveal

9/21/2018

Y'all!
It's finally fall! Today marks the official start of the fall season and we couldn't be more excited. Today we wanted to share our fall cover and the amazing photoshoot behind it with y'all. With the help of some amazing vendors we put together the tailgate of your dreams and we can't wait for y'all to take a look!

With the cooler temperatures and the change in color of the leaves, Fall is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy food, drinks, games, and fun for a few or in a group of many. The South is home of the best tailgating around and Southerners sure know how to throw a party! With backyard games that will provide hours of entertainment for guests and the Karavan Bar providing the perfect place to serve your favorite drinks, this tailgate party will leave you wishing it was Saturday all over again.

Lucid Models {Life}

9/18/2018

Hi y’all!
We hope this Wednesday is treating y’all so very well. Today we wanted to share the next installment of our inspirational female business owner series with y’all. Sharon Coker and Erin Griffin are the owners and operators of a new local modeling agency, Lucid Models. Lucid Models is a stand out in the fashion scene because their focus is on embracing the differences that make us all wonderfully unique. It’s such an honor to share a look at Sharon and Erin’s story with y’all today, keep reading for more!

{Tell us a little bit about y’all!}

I am Sharon Coker and I am Mississippi born and raised. I grew up in the Reservoir/Brandon area and I graduated high school from University Christian School in 2000. After high school, I spent some time studying art at the University of Mississippi. After graduating from college, I worked a few random jobs before finally starting my own photography business in 2008. Since starting my business, Sharon Coker Photography,I've been a published photographer for 10 years in the Jackson area. In 2017, I was voted Jackson's best photographer. I have been photographing and developing models in our area for the past 5 years.

I am Erin Griffin and I am also a proud Mississippi native! I grew up in Morton and graduated from East Rankin Academy. I attended Mississippi State University where I studied Kinesiology. I modeled in my teens and after floating around the south, I came back to the place I call home. I started working alongside Sharon in her photography business in January 2018.

Jodye Sabatini

Jarvis Hues

{What kind of business is Lucid Models?}
We own and operate Lucid Models. We are a small staff business consisting of Erin and myself only. Our focus is on offering local models and talent in the local fashion and entertainment industry opportunities. We are also proud to develop and place models in larger modeling markets.

{What kind of inspirational women do you work with on a daily basis?}
We work with a multitude of amazing women. From our models to our clients to other local lady entrepreneurs. Fortunately, we constantly find ourselves surrounded by with talented, supportive women.

Jon Macapodi

Anissa Hidouk

{What’s it like being a female business owner in Mississippi?}
In the slow moving south, strong women are starting to emerge and that can be intimidating to some. But, by starting our own business we are hoping to prove to other female entrepreneurs that it is totally possible to follow your dreams and accomplish your goals.

{Are there any resources you used to open your business that you would recommend to other aspiring entrepreneurs?}
Social media is a huge part of our business. We rely on face to face interaction, networking, and good relationships to build our brand. Our advice is to develop relationships with people who are like minded, driven, and successful in their field.

Erin Griffin

Sharon Coker

{What words of advice would you give to other aspiring female entrepreneurs?}
Surround yourself with positive influences, do not take no for an answer, believe in yourself and your brand, and continue your education in your field. Also, join a local female networking group, like Rising Tide Society. Rising Tide Society meets once a month to discuss aspects of being a female business owner and offer business education, friendships, and support.

Sneakerboxx Photography

Sharon Coker

{What’s your favorite part about living and working in Mississippi?}
We are in love with the community. The people in Mississippi are unlike any we've ever met. There are so many talented people in our state. From models to musicians to actors, there is an untapped amount of talent here. We love discovering and working with all the different types of people in our area. We are also in love with our state geographically. Mississippi hosts a plethora of different types of landscapes. From the foothills in north Mississippi, to the flatlands and crop fields of the delta, to the Gulf Shore beaches. Our state is just beautiful.

{Models Pictured: Lucid Models} To find out more about Lucid Models, visit their website and follow them on Instagram @lucid_models
Names of Photographers are underneath the individual photos. To see more of their work, check out their Instagrams.
@jarvishues | @jonmacapodi | @anissa.photography| @sharoncoker| @erin_lucid |@jodyesabatiniphoto

BankPlus International Gumbo Festival {Events}

9/14/2018

Happy Friday y’all!
We couldn’t be more excited that the weekend is finally here! Today we wanted to share an upcoming festival with y’all. The BankPlus International Gumbo Festival will be held in Smith Park in downtown Jackson on September 22nd. Mark your calendars and keep reading for more information!

On Saturday, September 22, the BankPlus International Gumbo Festival will take place at Smith Park in downtown Jackson, Mississippi. The event will be a fun-filled day featuring gumbo tastings, blind judging from celebrity judges, children’s activities, food trucks, and great live music. The event will begin at 11:00 a.m. and last until 5:00 p.m.

This year’s festival is expected to be another year of gumbo and good times. Lovers of gumbo will be able to sample selections from over twenty gumbo-cooking teams from across the Southeast region. Prizes will be given to the “BankPlus International Gumbo Festival Champion,” “People’s Choice Champion,” and more.

This year’s music line-up includes some of Mississippi’s great musical talent including the world- renowned blues rocker Cedric Burnisde, Hattiesburg singer-songwriter Webb Wilder, Jackson’s own Chris Gill and the Sole Shakers, and Natchez singer-songwriter Matt Willis.

This festival supports and helps fund the Harold T. & Hal White Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship assists students in the culinary arts program at Hinds Community College.

The BankPlus International Gumbo Festival has been a regular event in the Jackson area since it was established in 1992. The event has been held at several locations, and for the past five years the festival has taken place at Smith Park. This fall, the BankPlus International Gumbo Festival will return to the recently renovated, family-friendly green space in the heart of Jackson.

General admission advance tickets are on sale now for $10 single tickets and $30 for a pack of four. Tickets will be $15 at the gate. Children under 10 will be admitted for free.

To purchase tickets and for more information regarding the festival, including information on competing and sponsorships, please visit the official website at www.jacksongumbo.com. Also, stay connected with the festival at www.facebook.com/InternationalGumboFestival.

This festival is produced by Ardenland and B&B Promotions.


Copy and Images all provided by the BankPlus International Gumbo Festival

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Deep Blues Festival {Events}

Molly & David {Weddings}

Fall Cover Reveal

Lucid Models {Life}

BankPlus International Gumbo Festival {Events}

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