It is no secret that Broad Street Baking Company and Cafe makes the tastiest King Cakes in Mississippi.  Jen Adelsheimer, Pastry Chef at Broad Street, recently took her incredibly talented team and their delectable King Cakes to New Orleans, competing in the ultimate King Cake Festival.  "We had a blast!  It was so funny because they were all scared that we were from Mississippi!" smiles Adelsheimer.  "But when they tried our King Cake they were amazed that Mississippi was capable of making such a delicious King Cake!"

On January 29th, 2017, over 15,000 people gathered in Champion Square in New Orleans, tasting King Cakes and raising money for Ochsner Hospital for Children.  Broad Street's delicious King Cakes blew everyone away.  "We didn't win, but we had a blast and got our name out there," says Adelsheimer.  

Broad Street's King Cakes and cookies are especially delicious because they are made with one unique ingredient: local milk.  "We get fresh milk delivered three times a week!  All the way for Rolling Fork, Mississippi - Kin Growers Family Farm!  they are an amazing family and go out of their way to deliver fresh milk to our local restaurants and homes."

We have no doubt New Orleans fell in love with Broad Street's King Cakes!  Pick yours up this week before we kiss Mardi Gras goodbye!  Congratulations to Broad Street on participating in the 4th annual King Cake Festival!  

Photographs courtesy of Jeff Good of Mangia Bene, Inc. Restaurant Management Group 

Elisha Roberts has an innate passion for giving.  "When I was younger, my mom helped me start a Christmas Gift savings account.  I saved money all year and I was so excited to go shopping for gifts for my family.  I loved it so much, I went from giving gifts to my family to doing it for strangers," reflects Roberts.  "When my daughter, Layla, was old enough to walk, I thought it was a cute idea to dress her in a Santa suit, give her envelopes filled with cash, and have her give them to random people."

During one trip to mall, Layla handed an envelope to a woman.  "She was about to give it back, but I said, 'No, she is your secret Santa.'  The lady began crying and looked into her envelope, filled with $100," says Roberts.  "Even I was struggling as a single parent at that time."  Amazingly, the woman gave Roberts the $100 back, and added another $100 on top of that.  "It felt so good to give it to her, and the feeling of receiving was a different feeling.  So now I know the gift of giving and receiving.  When you actually need, receiving is such a big blessing.  I wanted others to experience that same feeling."

Roberts and her fiance, Dr. Justin Turner, created 4EverCaring, a non-profit based in Jackson, in late 2016.  4EverCaring meets the needs of those who are less fortunate.  Whether they need help paying a few bills, or need help understanding financial responsibility, 4EverCaring is here to help.  Roberts and Turner recently held a "Who's Your Santa" Christmas Benefit Ball, centered around the beautiful gift of giving.  "I chose ten families and went and interviewed them.  We focused on what they needed, not what they wanted.  I passed each list to a Secret Santa, who each had a team of 10 people.  Each team raised money however they could creatively, and they were able to bless each of these families."  Over 40 people were truly blessed that evening.  The families had the opportunity to meet their Secret Santa and thank them for their incredible gifts.  

2017 promises to be a wonderful year as well.  "We will have the Ball again this year, but we want to do something for the community for back-to-school as well," smiles Roberts.  "We want to bless the community with school supplies and uniforms for at least four families."

Roberts daughter, Layla, is now 7-years-old, and has received the giving spirit from her mother.  "She has been able to see the impact of giving to others, and to hear her talk about our non-profit and the Christmas Ball is incredible.  She was watching and took it all in.  That was the best feeling ever; knowing she understood the beauty of giving." 

Elisha, thank you for sharing your giving spirit with Mississippi!  For more information on 4EverCaring, please visit their Facebook page here! 

Blake Belcher Photography recently captured Lee Gabardi and Emily Cutrer's romantic proposal in the heart of the Grove.  We are thrilled to share these beautiful moments today and hear more from the bride-to-be!

how we met: "i was working at a marketing agency in jackson, ms back in september 2014. my boss, beth, was best friends with lee’s mom, ellen. one day beth asked me if i would want to go on a blind date with this guy named lee. all i knew was that he went to ole miss, worked at a bank and lived in jackson. i agreed to meet him and go on my first blind date ever.

on september 11th, lee came to meet at my office in fondren for our date. we were having a wine tasting at work and everyone in the office of course knew that i was having my blind date that night - poor guy had to walk in front of all my coworkers ;). after we were introduced to each other by beth, we went to dinner. when i left the date, i called my mom and told her that he “couldn’t have been more of a gentlemen.” i remember loving that he was tall, handsome, was familiar with the coast (where i am from) and very genuine."

engagement: "a little over two years later, he proposed to me on january 21, 2017 on the ole miss campus. i thought we were going to oxford for the weekend to attend a ceremony for his dad. little did i know that both of our families were camping out in oxford for the weekend too (there was no ceremony ;)). it was the most special weekend in oxford - we got engaged around 11 saturday morning then spent the rest of the weekend sharing hugs, having happy laughs, eating yummy food around town and enjoying our families that will soon become one."

Thank you, Blake Belcher Photography, for capturing these photographs and for letting us share them today!  

Today we are thrilled to leave you with a sweet poem about Emily and Lee's engagement, written by Lee's mother, Ellen Gabardi:

She stopped to find
a boy’s name
on a brick
Instead
she found a boy
on his knee
on a brick
with his name
saying
Will you marry me?

A girl
A boy
A sparkly ring
hidden in a box
in a pocket

And an invitation
of a Lifetime
for a Lifetime

A kiss of Yes.
A hug of Yes.

Mamas and Daddies
and Sisters and Brothers
whooping with joy

Champagne glasses
bubbling with joy

Mardi Gras
GabardiGras
beads
swinging with joy

The Lyceum,
as silent witness
of much history,
as silent witness
of this moment,
couldn’t help but 
squeal
a
squeal
of pure delight

of pure joy.

Great lighting can turn a wedding or event into something magical and extraordinary.  Davaine Lighting, Mississippi's premier event lighting company, proudly showcases their lighting expertise in this dramatic photoshoot!

VENDORS:

Venue:  Mississippi Museum of Art
Photographer:  Adam + Alli Photography
Jewelry:  Albriton's Jewelry
Dresses & Veils:  Willow Bride
Florals:  Blooms a Garden Shop
Lighting:  Davaine Lighting 

“Terry ‘Harmonica’ Bean…He is a one-man band bluesman.  He plays the guitar and the harmonica, he has the blues voice and uses his feet.  He is the real deal,” smiles Roger Stolle of Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art.

Watching Bean perform is an unforgettable experience.  The way he pops his guitar, fiercely plays the harmonica and taps his feet perfectly on beat.  Soul stirring, rich vocals pour out of him, and his subtle smile reflects his passion for the Mississippi blues.

A deep-rooted passion that was evident at a young age.  A lifelong resident of Pontotoc, Bean was born in January of 1961.  He grew up with seventeen brothers, six sisters, five step-mothers and four step-fathers.  A love for the blues runs deep in his blood. “I play the real deal blues,” he smiles.  “It ain’t taught in no book.  You gotta be born around this stuff.  I learned from my father, my grandfather and my father’s friends.”   Out of twenty-four children, he is the only one still playing the blues.

"This is how I got my start…I played on street corners for seven or eight years for absolutely nothing. I took my harmonica around in a paper bag back then,” remembers Bean.  “Sometimes you have to do things for nothing in order to get something. I'm learning by listening.  And now I'm sharing the blues with people around the world.”

Bean plays as a solo artist and also performs with the Terry Harmonica Bean Blues Band.  He dazzles crowds in juke joints, at blues festivals across the country and venues around the globe.  Bean is not only talented, but his sound is exceptionally unique.

“A lot of people want to give the Delta all the credit for the blues, simply because of the talent from the Delta.  B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Charley Patton. But honey, let me tell you, just as many bluesmen are from the Hill country,” Bean smiles.  “None of these guys were professionals, but the blues were alive up there.  The Delta had one sound and the northeast people had another.  The Delta musicians played laid-back blues, but the Hill country guys had a chopping, energetic sound.”

Bean is determined to keep his beloved style of blues buzzing.  “The blues will never die.  There will always be someone playing the blues.  That’s what’s amazing about it.  The blues are so powerful and it always comes back to Mississippi,” he says.  “My grandfather and so many other men could have been blues legends.  I do this for them.  I am always representing Mississippi.”