Sue Bankston met her future husband, John, on a double date over sixty years ago.  The only problem was, he was on the date with her dear friend, and she was with another young man!  “We went to a movie and at intermission, I asked my girlfriend to swap dates with me!” Sue laughs.  “I just liked the looks of John and preferred that he was my date.”

John was equally smitten, and the two quickly fell in love.  After three years of dating, Sue and John were married.  Sue says, “We got married when I was eighteen and he was nineteen.  In August of this year, we will celebrate sixty years of marriage!”  Sue and John had three beautiful daughters, Brenda, Debbie and Laurie.  Sue says, “Sadly, we lost our sweet Debbie to multiple myeloma in 2013.”  They are overjoyed to have four precious grandchildren and two beautiful great-grandchildren.  

We asked Sue to share her secrets to a loving and lasting marriage. “John and I both grew up in Christian homes, and I believe in putting God first and trying to live by the Ten Commandments,” she says.  “Personally, I think you have to think about the other person instead of doing everything for yourself.  Today, I feel like so many people think about themselves and not their spouse.  It is important to be a selfless person - to care for each other and all of the people you come in contact with.”

Thank you to our talented vendors for creating a memorable evening for this lovely couple:

Christina Foto – Thank you for so beautifully capturing Sue and John!  You can view more of this talented photographer’s work on her website here!

Fresh Cut Catering & Floral – The talented staff at Fresh Cut Catering & Floral created Sue’s dazzling floral arrangement.  Click here to see more of their extraordinary floral and catering creations!

Way Back in Time – The premier provider of vintage and classic antique cars in Mississippi!  View their website here, and book one of their handsome cars for your wedding or event!

Amerigo:  An Italian Restaurant – One of Jackson’s most beloved restaurants provided the perfect space for Sue and John's Valentine’s Day date.  Amerigo is not only located in Jackson, but we are thrilled to announce they have recently opened a beautiful Flowood restaurant as well!  Click here to visit the Amerigo website. 

An incredibly cool hotel, nestled on The Square in Oxford, has become the spot in the charming college town.  Graduate Oxford's cozy restaurant, Cabin 82, warmly filled with reclaimed barn wood and comfy furnishings, serves one of the tastiest brunches in town.  Their rooftop terrace, The Coop, is also the perfect spot for a drink.  This Valentine’s Day, grab your best friends and head to Graduate Oxford for a mimosa, a flavorful meal and a laid-back double date!  

On the way to Graduate Oxford, the guys stopped by Oxford Floral and picked out gorgeous flowers for their wives.  Whether your holiday wish list includes a lovely floral arrangement or beautiful accessories, the gracious staff at Oxford Floral will fulfill all of your Valentine’s Day needs!

A special thank you to the incredible vendors who made this fantastic photoshoot possible:

B. Flint Photography – Brian Flint is an incredibly talented photographer, and we were absolutely thrilled to have him shoot this casual double date!  For more information on B. Flint Photography, visit his gorgeous website here.

Graduate Oxford – Thank you for providing the warm and inviting atmosphere and the delicious drinks for our photoshoot!  Visit Graduate Oxford’s website here, and plan your next stay on The Square!

Oxford Floral – This family-owned and operated store in the heart of Oxford is known for their impeccable floral arrangements, lovely gifts and bridal registries.  Visit their beautiful website here! 

SummerHouse, our favorite design firm and furniture boutique in Ridgeland, is hosting an incredible event THIS Thursday, February 11th, from 5:00pm until 8:00pm, benefiting Stewpot Community Services!  This fantastic evening is part of a national campaign called Lee Loves Local, hosted by Lee Industries furniture company and Restyle Source design website, celebrating locally owned design-based businesses!

Laurel Donahoo of SummerHouse says, “Each business participating in the Lee Loves Local campaign hosts an event benefiting a local charity during the month of February.  SummerHouse’s event is called For The Love of Art!”  

Two regional artists will be present at SummerHouse, showcasing exclusive pieces made specifically for the event! Painter Lauren Barksdale Hill, a Baton Rouge native, will be selling gorgeous acrylic on canvas pieces, and one lucky guest will win a gorgeous work of art in a raffle! New Orleans lamp and bowl designer, Michael J. Clement, will have exclusive “Lindsey” bowls for sale, made just for Thursday evening’s soiree!  

While viewing the lovely art, guests will nibble on light bites and enjoy refreshments and live music! Each attendee is encouraged to make a $10 donation to Stewpot or give a bag of non-perishable food items for Stewpot’s food pantry at the door to gain entry. SummerHouse will have bags available prior to February 11th, should attendees want to stop by, pick up a bag to fill and bring back during the event!


SummerHouse owner and lead designer, Lisa Palmer, says, “We love the Lee Loves Local campaign because it helps put small businesses like SummerHouse in the forefront and it highlights one of the best things that local businesses do for our communities: give back! We are thrilled to have two of our favorite artists and makers join us for the evening with exclusive designs. And as always, we love to have an opportunity to help support Stewpot Community Services! What they do in our city is so important so we want to help support them in any way that we can!”

Stewpot Community Services was founded in 1981 to assist Jackson’s poor and homeless population. With multiple shelters and programs, Stewpot continues to help the underprivileged gain the skills and experience necessary to live successfully on their own.

Traditional Home Magazine’s Rising Stars of Design:

Beloved shelter publication, Traditional Home, is searching for the next interior design star, and Lisa Palmer, SummerHouse founder and principal designer, has been nominated!  Lisa smiles, “ A friend and my Public Relations agent from Atlanta nominated me. She has a very popular blog called ‘The Peak of Chic’ and is privy to the whole interior design industry, its social world and all of it’s publicity worthy news.  I wasn’t familiar with the contest, although I read Traditional Home and truly love the magazine. In fact, I’m not really sure how it got past me! But she thought it would be a great thing for me. I am not one to put myself out there, so to speak. I haven’t worked very hard to get my work published either. I love managing my staff and buying for SummerHouse; I also love my design clients and working for them!  I am truly passionate about the world of design. I simply couldn’t live without it.” 

To vote for Lisa, please click here!  Her talent and love of design is astounding.  She would truly be the perfect winner of this contest! 

Best of luck, Lisa!  We will all be voting for you! For more information on SummerHouse, please visit their beautiful website here.  We hope to see everyone at the For The Love of Art Event this Thursday!

{Blog by Mitchell Walters}

The countdown to Super Bowl 50 begins! As the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos face-off for the title of Super Bowl Champions, why not throw a last-minute viewing party for family and friends?  We have everything you need for your Super Bowl menu:  something savory, something sweet and the perfect toddy. 

Something Savory:  Sal & Mookie’s Famous Wings

Your guests will love digging into Sal & Mookie’s New York Pizza & Ice Cream Joint's flavorful Hot Wings - with Gorgonzola cheese dipping sauce and your choice of sauce: classic, ginger-molasses, Thai chile or chipotle BBQ!

Aven Whittington, Caterer for Mangia Bene Catering says, “The classic and Thai chile are my personal favorites… Really some of the best wings you will ever put in your mouth!  We also offer larger ‘catering’ sizes for pick up – Perfect for the big game!!”

Click here to visit the Sal & Mookie’s Website, or call 601.368.1919 to order your wings!

Something Sweet:  Broad Street Bakery’s King Cake

With Mardi Gras in full swing, tempt your taste buds with Broad Street Bakery & Cafe's famous king cake.  What makes them so delicious?  Jennifer Lake Lancaster, Pastry Chef at Broad Street Bakery, says, “Oh that is simple.  The heart and energy that go into each and every cake!  My team is 120% dedicated to each other and what we make for our customers.  We love to see our customers smile!”

With a tasty almond cream filling, this cake is beautifully smothered with a sugary icing and colorful sprinkles.  What’s not to love?  They will even be offering a football-themed king cake on February 6th and 7th! Stop by Broad Street Bakery or call 601.362.2900 to order yours today!

The Perfect Toddy: The Kings Punch from Bravo! Italian Restaurant and Bar

Chris Robertson, Bar Director at Bravo! Italian Restaurant and Bar says, “The thing about the Super Bowl, or any intense event for that matter, is that you don't want to have to keep getting up to make more cocktails for your guests. This is where the beauty of a punch comes in. 1) It does not have as much alcohol as a stiff drink so there is less likely hood that someone will do something to embarrass themselves or you! 2) It is a self-serving bartender of sorts. Your guests take the ladle, pour themselves a cup and then compliment you on how good the drink is. It's your basic ‘win-win’ scenario!”

Recipe: (20 people)

40 oz. Brandy (I prefer an applejack brandy for this, but a good handle of regular brandy will do)
10 oz. Fresh lemon juice
10 oz. Simple syrup
10 oz. Ginger liqueur (I like King's Ginger, but Canton will do as well)
20 oz. Apple cider

Chris says, “Pour all ingredients into a nice serving bowl then add some lemon peels and sliced pears - and there you have it. A cocktail that is sure to impress and allow you to remain on the couch or at the grill for the game. You can even fudge some of the proportions to the taste that you like. If you would like it sweeter, add more sugar. If you would like it less sweet, add more lemon. It's really up to up to you. Enjoy!”

We hope you all have a fantastic weekend.  Enjoy the game!

{Blog by Mitchell Walters}

On a gorgeous winter day, a Hattiesburg community center opened its doors for a beloved Mardi Gras event.  Guests were warmly ushered into a bright and beautiful ballroom, glowing in pastel shades of pink, coral and gold.  For months, John David Williams, owner of Fearless Entertaining, and Anne Lauren Gammill secretly and carefully created every exquisite detail of the Queen’s Festival. 

2015 marked the 75th anniversary of the Mystic Krewe of Zeus, and Anne served as the lovely Queen of the diamond jubilee.  “The Queen’s Festival is a direct representation of the Queen,” says John David.  “I took my lead from Anne.  She is very feminine and envisioned the color palette of the party.” 

John David added his glamorous touch to the event as well.  “We had a gorgeous chandelier created for the Krewe of Zeus King’s Feast and the Queen’s Festival.  It was a gold and crystal chandelier, and was quite special.  It set the tone of the party and perfectly anchored the room.”  With the help of Pretty Presentations, the tablescapes and delicious fare blended beautifully with the florals and décor. 

John David reflects, “The room and the Queen were just radiant.  And more than anything, the space was pretty, soft and feminine because it had Anne’s touch.”

Anne says, “One of my favorite things about the event was the artist who painted the party.  I now have it hanging in my house as a memory that I will never forget!”

As evening fell on the Queen’s Festival, John David and his team turned to theatrical lighting for a stunning effect.  “The room had enormous windows on both sides.  A lot of sunlight pooled in during the daylight hours, and as night fell, it took on a completely different feel,” he smiles.  Friends and family celebrated well into the night and toasted Her Majesty, Queen Anne! 

VENDORS:
Event Venue: Jackie Dole Sherrill Community Center in Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Catering:  Pretty Presentations Catering
Linen Rentals:  Pretty Presentations Rentals
Photography:  Adam + Alli Photography
On-Site Artist:  Christopher Turner
Rentals:  Taylor Rental
Florals:  John David Williams