The holiday season kicks off with a festive start in the heart of Mississippi’s most colorful and creative district this Thursday, November 20th.  “As the arts district of Jackson, Fondren is the hub of artistic expression through music and visual arts and boasts unique owner-operated boutiques and over two-dozen locally owned restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and bakeries,” says Find It In Fondren. 

This charming neighborhood nestled in the middle of the capital city is hosting Fondren Unwrapped, presented by BankPlus and Fondren Renaissance.  Bring your children at 5:00pm, as the evening begins with a special visit from Santa Claus, along with his favorite reindeer, Rudolph!  Jim Wilkirson, Executive Director of Fondren Renaissance says, “There will be hot chocolate and cookies for all and families and children of all ages will be able to have their picture made with Santa before he returns back to the North Pole later that night - it's a perfect time to get that Christmas card shot, compliments of BankPlus!”

At 5:30pm, The Jim Hill Singers will spark the lighting of the gorgeous cedar Christmas tree on Duling Lawn, beautifully decorated by the Belhaven Theater Department.  After the excitement of seeing the glistening tree, treat your kids to crafts and activities along BankPlus Avenue, and delight your soul with Christmas music resounding from several choirs on an outdoor stage beside St. Luke’s Methodist Church.  Jim adds, “Special features at this year’s holiday concert series will be the talents of the St. James Children's Choir (5:00), the Jim Hill Choir (6:00), the Mustard Seed Bells of Faith (6:30) and the MS Boy Choir (7:00).  Mixed amid the lights, everyone will want to enjoy the hanging art show featuring the works of school age children throughout the metro area.”

We recommend grabbing a delicious bite to eat and a refreshing drink at Babalu Tacos and Tapas, before shopping all of the incredible stores in the Fondren neighborhood.  “All are encouraged to stroll the central business district of Fondren as merchants, restaurants and businesses will have extended hours with seasonal offerings, food presentations and holiday libations to get you in the gift-giving spirit," says Jim.  "This is one holiday event you do not want to miss – so join us on Thursday evening, November 20, for “Fondren’s Gift of the Season – Fondren Unwrapped!"

Thank you, Jim, for information on this exciting event in Fondren!  We hope everyone enjoys a delightful evening of shopping, dining and mingling while ringing in the holiday season!

Last year, four sweet, incredible friends in Ridgeland had a brilliant idea.  Barbara Mangrum, Lea Anne Stacy, Anne Butler and Mary Miller are all exceptionally creative with their own unique talents.  The four women decided to reach out to other artists of all genres, put together a home show, and sell some of their creations in a holiday market for Christmas shoppers.  And just like that, On A L.A.R.K. was born!

Mary Miller’s daughter, Laurel Donahoo, was hired to help with event branding and promotion.  Just like her mother, Laurel is quite talented, and her paper company, The Lovely Bee, will also have a booth at the market! Laurel fills us in on this delightful event and what shoppers can expect at On A L.A.R.K this Saturday, November 15th, from 10am until 5pm in Ridgeland!

On A L.A.R.K. is a chance to draw attention to artisans in the area!  This year, there will be a local non-profit called Mercy House with a booth to raise awareness selling some pretty nifty handmade goods like bracelets and crosses.  They have a neat faith-based program that helps equip homeless with that they need to get off of the streets.

It is actually at the home of Lea Anne Stacy, one of the organizers!  Her home is INCREDIBLE!  Even if you are not in the market for any gifts, it is worth coming out just to get design ideas from her beautiful house.  Most of the event will be held indoors, but there are a few artisans who will have their booths located outside. 

Most are from right here in the metro area, but there are a few traveling in from out of town!  It should be a wonderful group with a huge variety of things from art to jewelry to t-shirts to handmade soaps to pre-prepared food! 

This event is important because it increases awareness of the talent we have right here in our hometown.  Last year, I learned about so many little home-based businesses that have the neatest wares and ideas that I’d never ever heard of before!  Events like this really highlight what’s going on right under our noses that we might otherwise miss!  This year there are several new vendors whose things I’m DYING to see!  I personally hope to knock out a lot of my Christmas shopping all on Saturday!

Thank you, Laurel, for highlighting this fantastic event!  For more information on this delightful market, visit On A L.A.R.K.’s Facebook page here! 

All of the gorgeous items pictured will be for sale at On A L.A.R.K. this Saturday. Happy Holiday Shopping! 

Today, we are overjoyed to celebrate Inspiration Mississippi’s first anniversary!  A year ago, our blog and social media sites were launched, with the goal of highlighting our state’s incredible weddings, events and vendors, along with the talented and loving people who call Mississippi home. 

We are thrilled to launch our first print issue of Inspiration Mississippi on December 13th, 2014!  As a special anniversary surprise, we are delighted to treat you with a taste of the extraordinary people and stunning photographs featured in the magazine.  We hope you enjoy!

Gorgeous wedding photos and inspiring ideas

An intimate portrait of the life and faith of one of Time Magazine’s Most Influential People

Whimsical weddings gowns

A fascinating man teaching much more than music to students in the Delta

Creative ideas for spectacular events

A look at our Most Inspiring Person of the Year through the eyes of his mother, dearest friends and football coach

We cannot wait to share the entire magazine with you!  Look for the first issue throughout the state of Mississippi, available on 12.13.14!  We sincerely thank all of our loyal readers and incredible advertisers.  You truly inspire us each and every day.  It has been a remarkable year and we look forward to many more celebrating all aspects of Mississippi.  We are so blessed to have the hospitality state and a household of faith at the root of our inspiration!

“My dream was always to open a clothing store.  I have literally known for as long as I can remember.  I kept a binder of all my ideas and included brands, layouts, drawings, quotes, names, styles and more.  When it was announced that Dogwood Promenade in Flowood was being built, I knew it was my chance to sign a lease and begin!”

Whitney Giordano Foster has always had an innate sense of style, and yearned to pour her talents and passion into a beautiful clothing store.  Ten years ago, Whitney was busy majoring in Fashion and Merchandising and minoring in Marketing at the University of Southern Mississippi.  As a senior in college, Whitney fulfilled her dream and opened a lovely boutique, Material Girls.  The gorgeous, driven student studied during the week and spent her weekends traveling back and forth between Hattiesburg and Flowood.  Whitney reflects, [the store] “was in my home town and a big deal for us at the time!”  She worked hard to ensure Material Girls would be a great success.

As Material Girls celebrates its anniversary this month, Whitney says with awe, “Now ten years later and still growing, I have opened in Ridgeland at Renaissance Mall in 2006, Oxford on the square in 2008, and Hattiesburg in Turtle Creek Crossing in 2010.”  Their online store, shopmaterialgirls.com, is also thriving and ships daily throughout the country. 

Naturally, Whitney is not only business savvy, but also enviably fashionable.  She adores Kendra Scott, Victoria Lynn, 7 for All Mankind Jeans, Casual Friday graphic tees and her go-to Kimonos!  With our crisp fall weather and the anticipation of the holiday season, we asked Whitney to share her five tips for dressing sharply this fall:

1)   Layering – “This is the biggest thing I can say is important for fall.  We live in the south and it is hot the majority of the time!  So, it is key to layer your looks.  Start with a fun tank that can be worn year-round and pair it with a long kimono or sweater cardigan.  A few of the hottest things for the season incorporate the layered look!  Such as…”

2)   Vests – “Another great example of layering!  Vests are huge this season. Wear them with everything.  Styles are varying from puffy vests to stripes, fur and more.”

3)   Fur – “Fur is also huge…Girls are wearing it over everything!  We are getting so many fur vests in all shades.  The more over sized, the better!

4)   Plaid – “This is a popular trend for fall, whether you are wearing a boyfriend-style plaid shirt or mixing plaids.”

5)   Leather – “Skirts, shorts, pants!  Leather accents on top are fabulous as well!”

Thank you, Whitney, for these fantastic trends we can all incorporate into our wardrobes! 

Material Girls' 10th Anniversary Party!

Material Girls will be celebrating their tenth anniversary with an incredible soiree on Thursday, November 13th, from 4:00-7:00pm at their Renaissance location!  And you are invited!  Whitney says, “There will be discounts, swag bags full of free goodies and local coupons, a dessert bar and a band featuring Holley Peel!”  Beautiful clothing will be discounted throughout the store all evening, not only at Material Girls in Renaissance, but at the other three locations as well.  One lucky shopper will also win a store discount for an entire year!

As fashion designer Jason Wu says, “I think clothing is transformative. When you put something really beautiful on, you feel something.”  Happy Birthday, Material Girls!  And thank you, Whitney, for dressing Mississippians so beautifully for the past ten years. 

{Bride} - Alison Rebecca Moak   now Alison Moak Leach  
{Groom} – Brian Mayers Leach 
{Hometowns} - Alison- Madison, MS / Brian- Brandon, MS
{Wedding Site} (name and location) – Providence Hill Farm – Jackson, MS
{Reception Site} (name and location) – Providence Hill Farm – Jackson, MS

{Bride’s Bouquet}
I carried a romantic, lush hand-tied bouquet of garden roses, ranunculus, spray roses, peonies, lisianthus and with a touch of seeded eucalyptus and dusty miller to complete the full textured look in shades of ivory and white with a touch of blush and silvery grey.  Affixed to the bouquet featured a custom monogram ribbon.

{Bridesmaid Bouquets}
They carried a bouquet of dusty miller, blush and ivory blooms of garden roses, ranunculus, spray roses, dahlias and silver brunia for added texture in shades of ivory, white, various shades of pink and grey.  Each of the girl’s bouquets also featured a custom monogram ribbon.

{How did the two of you meet?}
We met the weekend of the Arkansas vs. Mississippi State football game on November 20, 2010 in Starkville.  I was a sophomore at MSU and Brian had just returned home from playing in the Arizona Fall League.  Brian and his best friend, Trey Sutton from Hattiesburg, drove to Starkville to spend the weekend and catch up.  Trey was also there visiting my roommate, Kelli Blackburn, which is how Brian and I first met. 

Following that weekend for the next three months we constantly stayed in contact and saw one another any time we were free.  During this time, I do have to say Brian was so charming, such a gentleman, very persistent and smitten with me.  However, at the time a guy was the last thing I was looking for so to me he was just a friend with an incredible personality.  All Brian wanted was a chance and I never realized that, but boy my heart and feelings for him eventually came and smacked me in the face.

At the end of February we said our goodbyes as he was leaving for another season of baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates starting with Spring Training in Sarasota, FL.  It only took two weeks of Brian being gone when I realized I had been blinded or trying to keep away all of my feelings for him.  He was truly everything I had ever looked for in a guy and on June 4, 2011 he officially became apart of my life, forever.  

{What is your proposal story?}
It was incredible!!!  Brian had taken me out to dinner for a "work promotion".  After finishing our meal we were walking to his truck when I realized the limo outside the restaurant was there waiting for us.  He had a huge congratulations sign and roses inside the limo and said it was taking us to go look at Christmas Lights, but we had to make a quick stop first so Brian could help his brother with something at their Crossfit/Baseball Facility.  Once we arrived he told me to stay in the car because it would just take a minute.  Literally right when he walked through the front door a video on the limo's TV screen started playing.  Brian had made a slide show video of pictures from all of his favorite memories of us together over the past few years with a beautiful song playing and a caption on each slide that quickly brought me to tears.  As soon as the video had finished the limo driver opened my door and led me to the door going into their facility.  Inside all the lights were off and there were 6 beautiful Christmas Trees, three on each side, filled with lights and a card on each tree.  I had a sign with directions explaining to start on the right with the first tree and zigzag back and forth reading each card.  Once I got to the end, the last card had an additional special message saying to turn the corner and to go find him.  I turned the corner to find Brian standing in between two tables filled with candles.  He gave a beautiful speech and then said he had three questions to ask me.  First, if I would accept his rose (yes, he loves the Bachelor/Bachelorette).  Second, he dropped down on one knee and asked me to marry him.  After lots of hugs, kisses and tears he asked his third question which was if I would dance with him.  When the song was coming to an end Brian whispered in my ear saying he had one last surprise for me.  The song ended, he turned me around and there stood both of our families.  They had just witnessed every second of Brian's breathtaking proposal.  Having our families there meant the world to me and will forever hold a special place in my heart.   

{What inspired your wedding and reception locations?}
I wanted my wedding to be different and unique.  There are quite a few options to choose from in Jackson, MS and I felt like everyone always did the same ole thing.  Providence Hill Farm was my first and only choice to view. 

I grew up in the country and love and have always been surrounded by horses.  This venue just made everything feel at home and very comfortable for me and is absolutely breathtaking.  It also fit the exact style that I was visioning for our wedding.  Most importantly I wanted to make sure everyone wasn't stuck on top of one another and could truly enjoy being there with us.  This was the easiest decision out of all of them for us.    

{What inspired your color scheme/theme/flowers?}
The color scheme was quite easy.  Of course, like most girls my favorite color has always been pink.  However, I have been obsessed with grey lately but still knew I wanted pops of pink, so our colors were ivory + grey + blush.  Our wedding and reception were both at a beautiful equestrian center in the heart of the South and what better way to bring that feel out for such a place than a romantic + chic + rustic style.  Our wedding flowers were so perfect!  They were soft and romantic, and they had a garden feel to them.  Our reception florals were arranged in beautiful stone and wood vessels that fit the feel of the wedding perfectly.

{How did you pick “the dress?”}
It was one long day and looking back quite hilarious.  My mom, Maid of Honor and Proxy Bride all started the journey to Low's Bridal in Brinkley, Arkansas.  We left after work on a Friday and decided to cut the trip in half by stopping in Tunica, Mississippi.  That Saturday morning we woke up bright and early, as my appointment was at 10:00 am, to a heart dropping moment.  Light snow that was predicted had turned into inches of thick snow.  My mom being amazing acted like it was no big deal and told us we better hurry up and get going before we were late for my appointment.  After what was suppose to be a short two hour drive then turned into hours on the road sitting in traffic from one wreck after another.  We arrived at Low's Bridal at 1:00 pm.  The workers were so nice, extremely understanding and told us to take our time browsing, as there were only two other brides in the store.  Everyone else had cancelled their appointments due to snow and Highway Patrol telling everyone to stay off the roads (Which we found out once there).  During the whole wedding process I was always one easy person when it came to decisions because I knew what I wanted and just like everything else I knew exactly what type of dress that I wanted.  

Around 5:30 I was completely worn out and all but in tears as my decision came down to two polar opposite dresses.  The exact dress that I knew from the beginning I always wanted or the dress I was wearing at the time that was a beautiful princess dress that every little girl dreams of being in.  This should not have even been a hard decision and yet I could not think straight nor make a decision.  Finally, I just said all right this is it let's go with the one I'm wearing (the long train princess dress) and just go home. 

Well needless to say, I said yes to the wrong dress.  That was easily realized Sunday morning when I woke up and my mom asked, "So do you just love your dress"?  We were frantically waiting and praying until Tuesday morning when Low's Bridal opened back up to find out if they would let us switch dresses even though they had a strict no return policy.  Thankfully, the company it was ordered from had not started making the dress and I was able to switch them.  That moment I was completely overjoyed and happy and realized that's the feeling I should have felt when saying yes to the dress.

{What was your favorite part of the wedding planning process?}
That Brian truly let me turn my fairytale vision and pinterest boards into a reality and that my mom was there with me every meeting, phone call, skype chat and step of the way.

{Besides the actual wedding, what was your favorite moment of the wedding day?}
Our first look was hands down a moment I will forever cherish.  The nerves and giddiness that came over me right when they said “it’s time” was like experiencing our first date all over again.  I’ll never forget being taken to the spot where Brian was waiting and just started crying seeing him with his back turned towards me.  It was all very bittersweet and so nice having that time with him before everything began. 

{What was your favorite surprise detail/moment about your wedding day?}
I loved the custom monogram ribbons flowing down from our bouquets and I also loved the custom chalkboard with information on each side about Brian and I that we stood in front of during our recession line as a photo backdrop.

{Your favorite picture from the big day?}
Oh goodness, now that is a very difficult one.  Two that really stand out to me are one of my dad and I during our dance to “Butterfly Kisses.”  I surprised him with this song and it was such a perfect fit for us as I grew up with my dad giving me butterfly kisses each and every night before bed.  I have and will always be daddy’s little girl and the pictures during our dance together truly portray the love we have for one another.  My second favorite picture would be the one of my mom and now my mother in law with their heads leaned in together crying with huge smiles on their faces during Brian and my first dance.  It might not mean much to most people but Brian and I are both extremely close to our families and it is such a beautiful and heartwarming picture. 

{The picture that represents the two of you best?}
I could name quite a few but one that really stands out is – a picture from our first look.  We were exchanging gifts and Brian had just opened his gift from me.  The picture is of Brian cheesing like crazy while holding up his present and me hysterically laughing.  I don’t remember if he said or did something to make me laugh but this picture really describes the two of us.  Brian’s personality is beyond amazing and there isn’t a day that goes by where he doesn’t have me constantly smiling and laughing.

Photographer: Adam + Alli Photography – (www.adamplusalli.com)
Event Planner: Lesley Frascogna – TULIP – (www.ilovetulip.com)
Dress: Low’s Bridal in Brinkley, AR – Allure Bridals
Bride’s Jewelry: Earrings & Bracelet from Lee Michaels in Ridgeland, MS
Hair: William Wallace Salon
Make-up: Louis Peterman – William Wallace Salon
Bridesmaid Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids in Ridgeland, MS – Dessy Collection
Tuxes: Tuxes Too (www.tuxestoo.com)
Videographer: Brock Gomez – Brock Gomez Productions –   (www.brockgomez.com)
Venue: Providence Hill Farm – (www.providencehillfarm.com)
Lighting: Stephen Barnette – (www.davainelighting.com)
Rentals: Mississippi Tent – (www.mississippitent.com), Pretty Presentations Catering (www.prettypresentationscatering.com)
Florist: Lesley Frascogna – TULIP – (www.ilovetulip.com)
Catering: Pretty Presentations Catering – (www.prettypresentationscatering.com)
Bar: Scott Jackson – Colony Wine Market in Madison, MS (we purchased everything from them and Pretty Presentation’s staff served it).
Band: Al Paris & the Heartbreakers (www.ramentertainment.com)
Bride’s Cake: The Cake Diva – (www.thecakediva.net)
Groom’s Cake: The Cake Diva – (www.thecakediva.net)
Print Material: Kristen Ley – Thimblepress Studio + Shop - (www.thimblepress.com)
Car Service: Cline Tours and Global Limos