It is official.  The busiest shopping weekend of the year is upon us!  This Saturday is Small Business Saturday, a chance to celebrate all of the extraordinary local businesses in our communities. Whether you are browsing or searching for something specific, we encourage you to get out and support local!   We guarantee you will be in awe of the talented and creative people behind the beautiful businesses nestled in your neighborhood.

We reached out to some of Mississippi’s finest local businesses, and asked them to share what inspired their business, and what makes shopping local so special. 

Lisa Palmer
President, Principal Designer of SUMMERHOUSE

“I own SummerHouse, a high-end 7000 sq. ft. furniture boutique located at The Township in Ridgeland, MS. With my talented staff of designers we work on design projects all across the country as well as sell furnishings, accessories, lighting, rugs and art directly off the floor.  I opened SummerHouse in its current location in April of 2006 after a fire destroyed my original store in Fondren. I was an independent designer and couldn't find what I was looking for in Jackson for my clients. I felt there was a strong need for soft modern, cleaned up traditional looks from companies not seen before in the Jackson area.

It brings me a great deal of pride to bring jobs to my community. I employ 20 fabulous hard working Mississippians. And I know my customers! I know this area and how my customers shop and their needs.  My kids go to school with their kids. I know most of them by name and that means so much! You don't get that when you shop at a big box store."

Steve Scott
President of Great Scott

“I started working in my uncle’s clothing store, which was located in Maywood Mart when I was 15.  I fell in love with retail, especially Men’s clothing. Because I grew up in Jackson, I have a passion for our city, and in order for Jackson to thrive everyone needs to support our local merchants.”

Laurel Donahoo
Owner of The Lovely Bee

“In the past couple of years, since I've become a small business owner, I've really come to realize the importance of shopping local! Local businesses give any city a unique flavor that can only be added by small, one of a kind shops and companies. Among other things, shopping local is more personal!

I love being the owner of my own business because I don't have any big corporate figurehead to report to. If I have a weird or different idea for product or marketing, I can just do it! That's very liberating and exciting!

Don't ever let anyone tell you that owning a small business is easy... Even though The Lovely Bee doesn't have a brick and mortar store (yet!), having a business is a LOT of work! But so very rewarding!”

Adam and Allie Hudson
Owners of Adam + Alli Photography

“I personally prefer to shop local as much as I can. Not only is it a practical benefit by keeping revenue within the area, but also a personal satisfaction from connecting with and fostering a local community. Locally there are so many great artisans, farmers, and craftsmen that put their heart and soul into what they do. I would much prefer to patronize a local craftsman than send money outside of the community via a big box store.”

Carrie Golden Lambert
Marketing & Sales Director, Monmouth Historic Inn

“I love working at Monmouth, because it embodies all that is so special about Natchez - history, beauty, and an interesting story.  Monmouth was restored in the late 1970's by people that fell in love with the property and its unique story; the current owners felt that same pull and work tirelessly to keep the legacy going.  We have an incredible gift shop on the property, which our guests and locals love.  It's imperative that people shop locally, because that which makes a town unique, like Natchez, can only be found in local shops. If those shops aren't supported financially, they cannot survive, and neither will that which makes the town unique. So please remember to shop local to save your town and all that you love about it!”

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” — Albert Einstein

Thanksgiving is a wonderful day that joins friends, family and loved ones to celebrate our incredible gift of life over a hearty meal.  Thanksgiving is also a day of traditions.  Thanksgiving traditions are often handed down among generations, or perhaps you enjoy creating new memories each year.

We reached out to many of our close friends who run incredible businesses around the state.  Here, they share their unique holiday traditions with you!

Aven Whittington III, Caterer for Mangia Bene Catering
Home of Broad Street Baking Company, BRAVO!, & Sal and Mookies NYC Pizza Joint

Whitney Giordano Foster, Owner and Buyer of Material Girls and The Landing

Dixie Krauss, Catering Manager at Hilton Garden Inn Jackson Downtown, Formerly the Historic King Edward Hotel

Carrie Golden Lambert, Marketing and Sales Director, Monmouth Historic Inn, Natchez

Alaina Reed, Catering Manager at Hilton Garden Inn Jackson Downtown, Formerly the Historic King Edward Hotel  

Adam and Alli Hudson of Adam + Alli Photography

Tamisha Thomas of Epic Dance & Fitness

Lisa Harrison, Frameblender Films, 662.202.2366

Thanksgiving Menu:
Turkey
Ham
Macaroni and Cheese
Dressing with meat
Dressing without meat
Green Beans
Sweet Potato Casserole
Hashbrown Casserole
Potato Salad (because apparently we don’t have enough potatoes lol)
Cranberries
Deviled Eggs
Fruit Salad
Some Surprise Something brought by Aunt Christine (my PawPaw’s sister)
Dinner Rolls
Dessert is always a tossup- Texas Delight, Strawberry Congealed Salad, Pecan Pie, Chocolate Pie and something that our family friend Kimball Bufkin will bring as a surprise (usually this strawberry tiered something that is very tasty) but she always brings something to WOW us over”

Laura Beth Strickland, Communications Manager, Vicksburg CVB

If you are in the Natchez area, head over to Monmouth for an unforgettable Thanksgiving feast.  “Create memories to treasure for years to come with an authentic Antebellum dining experience.  Join us for Thanksgiving Dinner in Restaurant 1818 at Monmouth Historic Inn.  Seating is available at the Main Dining Table, as well as separate tables in the double parlor.  Dining at the Main Dining Table has become a tradition for some families throughout the year.  What a wonderful way for your loved ones to enjoy Thanksgiving! 

Call 601.442.5852 for reservations, seating times, and menu, or to view their menu online go to:  http://www.monmouthhistoricinn.com/holiday-menu.html. 
Please call 601.442.5852 to find out more about Monmouth's Thanksgiving Overnight Stay Specials for those staying with us anytime from Wed.- Fri. (Nov. 26-Nov. 28).”

We wish you all a very warm and happy Thanksgiving!
{Blog by Mitchell Walters}

{Chao Photography Photos 1-4}
{Mary Moment Photography Photos 5-7}
{Stephanie Hea Photo 8}

With Thanksgiving just three days away, many of us are focused on creating a delicious meal for friends and family. While the food is important, so is your table!  Today, we are pleased to feature lovely tabletop ideas that will make a perfect setting for your holiday meal. We turned to Bliss Gift & Home, a beautiful new store at Banner Hall in Jackson, to create an elegant, yet simple table that is warm, inviting and easy to recreate.

Cathy Joyner of Bliss Gift & Home says, “The first Thanksgiving tablescape photographed was styled by designer Cindy Walsh and the second was styled by the talented staff at Inspiration MS.  The handmade farm table from Taylor, MS was the perfect backdrop for a fall setting.”

“We used a variety of dinnerware patterns rather than the predictable matching plates, bowls, etc. to add some interest and color to the browns and neutrals.  One of my favorite touches is the use of a line of women's scarves instead of a tablecloth.  The aqua and gold colors of the scarves helped separate the browns of the straw place mats from the rustic table.  Acorn Christmas ornaments were attached to the napkin rings and driftwood turkeys with a tin spray were scattered around the table to lend a unique touch of fall.”  

Cathy adds, “The multi-colored glass pumpkins are a wise purchase that can be used from year to year rather than the expected real pumpkins - save those for the front porch!”

All of these incredible items are available at Bliss Gift & Home, as well as Cathy’s favorite books: Giving Thanks and Gratitude.  “The former is a holiday guest book to fill with thoughts of gratitude and is made to be a tradition from year to year becoming a record of all that shapes you and all that brings your family together.   The latter is filled with quotes that remind us of the simple things in life for which to be thankful; for example, ‘Those who know and love you shall rise to your example and be inspired. (unknown)'”

Thank you, Cathy and Cindy, for putting together such a charming table.  We especially love that all of it can be stored and reused for many years to come.  After a wonderful Thanksgiving feast, wrap up in one of the gorgeous scarves and adorn your tree with the Christmas ornaments!

For more information on this exciting new store in Jackson, please visit www.blissgiftandhome.com or call 601.326.3337.

The stunning floral arrangements were created by the talented Wendy Putt at Fresh Cut Catering & Floral, and add life to the table with vivid fall colors.  Wendy filled a traditional cornucopia with sunflowers, richly hued roses, greenery and berries.  The result is a spectacular arrangement that is sure to impress your guests.  For more information on Fresh Cut Catering & Floral, visit freshcutcateringandfloral.com

Also, a very special thank you to Christina Cannon of Christina Foto for capturing these pretty images.  Visit christinafoto.com to view a gallery of Christina’s lovely work.

This Friday, November 21st, Blues @ Home, an incredibly moving exhibition showcasing the sound and fury of the Mississippi blues, will open in Vicksburg.  Wildly talented artist, H.C. Porter, will proudly present her documentary collection of portraits and voices of Mississippi’s living blues at 16 different locations in Vicksburg, plus the H.C. Porter Gallery.  The exhibition will be open through Saturday, December 6th.

“From living rooms to home studios, juke joints and a chicken coup, this exhibition by H.C. Porter goes beyond the music to give the visitor a human experience, revealing the true grit and spirit of each blues legend,” boasts the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau. 

The artist behind the work is rather impressive.  As a child, Porter’s mother was a great painter and a wonderfully creative influence on her daughter.  As her mother often put brush to paper, Porter fondly remembers her home filled with the pungent smell of turpentine.  “She enrolled me in a local art class where I learned to draw Snoopy with perspective and make clay knick-knacks from molds…it was heaven for me,” says Porter.  By the time she reached the second grade, Porter knew she wanted to be an artist. 

Porter perfected her craft in high school, and recalls painting and drawing through lunch, then paying her younger sister an hourly wage to sit and model for drawings.  With her impressive portfolio, Porter received an art scholarship to the University of Alabama, where she studied painting, sculpture, clay and photography.  She apprenticed with a well-known artist in Tuscaloosa, Rick Rush, and was exposed to the silkscreen printmaking process.  Porter was hooked. 

After graduating from college, she returned to her roots in Jackson and created a studio in the basement of her grandmother’s home.  “I would paint or print anything to earn the 25 dollars a month rent my grandmother charged me to keep me honest!  I also could only print on days her ladies clubs weren’t meeting upstairs because my fumes would waft up through the floorboards and create nausea, dizzy spells and general malaise when they had major decisions to make, as my grandfather liked to tease, about pie,” Porter laughs. 

She soon moved to Millsaps Avenue and joined the growing art movement in Jackson in the late 1980’s.  Local children began wandering in and out of her studio desiring to paint, so she started Avenue for Art, offering kids basic art classes.  She also began photographing her neighbors and documenting their lives.  Suddenly, her signature style was born.  She recalls, “I soon had what I considered powerful portraits of a challenged, struggling community with a strong sense of spirituality, adaptability and strength.  But, with these photographs in hand I didn’t want to just be a photographer or just a painter, so I relied on silkscreen to allow me to combine the two.”

Porter became widely recognized as an extraordinary artist with her Backyards and Beyond: Mississippians and Their Stories exhibition in 2008.  The exhibit featured paintings and stories of Hurricane Katrina survivors.   Driving home from a walk through of the exhibit at Delta State University, she drove along Highway 61 in Cleveland and watched the sunset create a beautiful painting across the delta sky.  She realized she had never told the story of the Delta and the blues, and Blues @ Home was born. 

In her Blues @ Home exhibition, Mississippi’s finest blues legends leap to life in Porter’s striking works of art.  Porter created these masterpieces using her signature mixed media process, combining painting, printmaking and photography. “I make up the color in each piece, bringing a sense of hope through the use of vibrant color and joyful music,” says Porter.  The finished works are handsome, intimate portraits of talented musicians.

Porter says, “With my artwork, I have always had a deep desire to bring attention to the human spirit that thrives in Mississippi.  Created with fire in the midst of fundamentalism and impoverishment, we were the last mysterious state.  With the Blues @ Home exhibition, I am able to define moments of both our past and our present musical heritage helping us understand and celebrate the place we love to call home!” 

Thirty powerful portraits will be paired with oral histories, spoken in each legend’s soulful voice.  We invite you to take this incredible journey that “details the rich textured lives and musical knowledge born and lived out chopping cotton and plowing the fields, a strong and passionate, but oppressed people, living the four main themes of the blues:  orphaning, homelessness, injustice and sexual conflict,” says Porter. 

Porter hopes to turn the Blues @ Home exhibition into a book within the next year, and is already dreaming up future projects.  “There is a trailer park in Rolling Fork that whispers my name every time I drive past it.  It has Mississippi stories it wants to tell and I might be up for listening.  Anyone want to go with me?” says Porter.  We will certainly be along for the ride.

{Name} Mandy Mangrum
{Hometown} Flowood, MS
{Event Site} Summertree Clubhouse, 100 Woodgreen Drive, Madison, MS 39110

{Tell us about the occasion for the event?} Mandy’s “Saying good-bye to the 20’s” 30th birthday party.  I always have some sort of birthday celebration but I knew I wanted my 30th to be a blow out.

{What inspired your event location and theme?} Most people would assume the idea came from The Great Gatsby movie but actually I was inspired by the movie Fever Pitch.  In the movie, Drew Barrymore’s friend throws a 1920’s themed party and ever since seeing that scene I have been planning my own 1920’s themed party.  The location was great because it was easy for everyone to get to and the aesthetic of the building lent itself to the style of the 1920’s.

{What inspired your color scheme/flowers?}  My inspiration for the color scheme and décor details came from my dress, as well as, “The Flapper Murder Mystery” storyline from www.shotinthedarkmysteries.com.  I had my heart set on finding a mint colored dress, probably from seeing one on pinterest, another form of inspiration in the planning process.  For the record, a mint 1920’s style dress is not easy to come by.  Thanks to the “Gatsby Lady” on etsy.com I was able to get exactly what I was hoping for, and, as luck would have it, Alter’d State had a perfectly matching headband that I added feathers and a vintage pin to.   The murder mystery was set in the “Half Moon Club” so there were several crescent shaped moons added into the details of the room.

{What’s your favorite event detail? Is there a story behind it?}  My favorite detail was the gold and silver spray painted wine bottles with the white and peacock feathers sticking out.  They were so easy and inexpensive yet looked so classy.  The idea came from pinterest and I was so afraid it would turn into a “pinterest fail” but I was pleasantly surprised by how nice they looked! 

{What was your favorite part of the event planning process?} My favorite part of planning was the murder mystery.  I kept that part of the party a secret until the last minute.  Once guests RSVP’d that they would attend, I emailed them this second invitation along with details of the murder mystery.  The murder mystery was set up so that no one would know who the killer is, not the killer or me.  I love a surprise!  The only information I knew were the characters profiles, which were available for all party guests to read online.  I chose who would play certain characters based on their profile information.  Most of my guests felt that I assigned them the perfect character to play. 

{What was your favorite moment of the event day?} Seeing all my friends dressed in 1920’s attire.  I think my face lit up every time my eyes landed on a new arrival.  Everyone was dressed to the nines and looked amazing.  My décor was simply the backdrop to all the glitz and glam of my guests.

{Your favorite picture from the event day?} My favorite picture is probably the one of all the guys.  I fully expected the girls to get into dressing up but the guys really impressed me in their 1920’s attire.

{Photographer} Lindsay Vallas with Lindsay Vallas Photography
{Event Planner} Not a professional, just me with help from my mom
{Venue} Summertree Clubhouse
{Any Additional Vendors} Reservoir Wine and Spirits, Cakes n’ Candles, www.shotinthedarkmysteries.com, GatsbyLady on etsy.com  (https://www.etsy.com/shop/Gatsbylady)