The compassionate, philanthropic and impressive women of the Mississippi State Society Daughters of the American Revolution will be hosting a lovely reception tomorrow, March 7, in honor of our brave Vietnam War Veterans. 

Inside the stately War Memorial Building in downtown Jackson, all Vietnam Veterans are invited to mingle with Governor Phil Bryant, MSSDAR State Vice-Regent Cindy McNamara, speaker Lt. Col William Patrick, G.V. Montgomery dignitaries and Mayors of the Metro Jackson area. 

DAR Member Bette Poole says, "Veterans will arrive to register and enjoy a buffet catered by Wendy Putt, Fresh Cut Catering & Floral.  Guests will assemble in the auditorium for a patriotic program and patriotic music.  Vietnam Veterans will be honored and thanked for their service."

The United States infantrymen in Vietnam saw a staggering average of 240 days of combat each year during the two-decade long war, fought from 1955 until 1975.  58,253 American soldiers were killed (including 636 Mississippians), and 153,363 were wounded. 

Ten central Mississippi DAR chapters have come together to host this incredible event, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War, and the American Veterans who fought so selflessly and bravely.  The ten Mississippi State Society chapters hosting the reception are Annandale, Chief Red Jacket, Doak's Treaty, Fort Rosalie, James Foster, LeFleur's Bluff, Magnolia State, Ralph Humphreys, Rebecca Cravat, and Walter Leake.

DAR is a service organization of dedicated women who promote Education, Patriotism and Historic Preservation.  More than 930,000 women have joined DAR since its founding over 125 years ago!  Mississippi boasts 3,000 of these members, in 79 chapters throughout the state.  These outstanding women make a difference in their communities, our country, and around the world.  One of DAR’s major focuses is servicing Veterans throughout the year. 

For more information on the MSSDAR, visit www.dar.org.  To learn more about the Veterans of the Vietnam war, please visit www.vietnamwar50th.com.

We hope all of our brave Veterans and their families will enjoy this special and unique reception in Jackson!

Today we are thrilled to feature a precious nursery for a sweet baby boy.  Laurel Donahoo of The Lovely Bee fills us in on her inspiration for the nursery, and shares all of the local resources she used to complete her vision!

“Since we let the gender of our baby be a surprise, I went with a gender-neutral color scheme and had more fun than I ever could have imagined with it! I have been in love with the birch trees wallpaper from SummerHouse for years now, so when I found out we were having this baby, I knew that this wallpaper would be my starting point! From there, I picked out a rug and changing table. I particularly love the rug because it brings in just enough color without any one color being too overwhelming! I wanted to keep the color scheme very simple so this rug added just the right touch!”

“I’ve been in love with Lee Industries’ swivel glider chairs for years!  I work at SummerHouse, and we almost always have one on the showroom floor for me to sit in! I’ve spent many hours in that cozy chair and grow to love it more with each new day!”

“I have followed a custom neon company, Endeavour Neon, on Instagram for a while now, so I went out on a limb (with my husband’s permission) and had a neon sign made for the baby’s room! It says “coisrig” which is Gaelic for “set apart.” This goes right along with Jeremiah 1:5, our verse for the baby, and since we both have Irish heritage, incorporating something Gaelic just seemed right! The guy at Endeavour was able to create the sign based off of my own handwriting, which I thought was just super neat! This sign will be something we can have for a really long time, and it has a great story behind it.”

“My friend David Dill of d+p Design Build was able to take this bookshelf idea I’d found and make it a reality. He had to work around my picky-ness and the stud situation in the wall where I wanted the bookshelf, but he rose to the challenge and the shelves ended up just how I’d imagined! We were gifted so many sweet books before our little one arrived, so I knew I had to have a place where I could display them all that wouldn’t take up too much space (since our nursery is on the smaller side!) David also made the house shelves for me, and he did a great job!”

“A lot of love went into creating this space for our baby boy and I just love how it turned out! I’m thankful for my husband who can install light fixtures and put together cribs like it’s nobody’s business, and for my mother and grandmother for teaching me how to sew so I could make the baby some drapery! (But don’t look too closely… It’s definitely flawed and would never pass a professional seamstress’s test!) I also made the mobile hanging over the crib, the fuzzy footstool, the pillow in the chair, and white lacquered the skull mount, which were great ways to get to indulge my crafty side while pregnant!”

“I am so in love with my baby Wilson and love spending time with him in his cozy little baby room!

Local Resources:
Swivel Glider, floor lamp, wallpaper - SummerHouse
Bookshelves and house shelves - d+p Design Build

Other Resources:
Rug, changing table, side table, bathroom shelf - West Elm
Crib, ceiling light fixture - Ikea
Bedding - Serena & Lily
Animal Prints - Animal Print Shop

Thank you, Laurel, for sharing your adorable nursery with Inspiration Mississippi!  Check out The Lovely Bee’s website here!

With all of the frigid, wet weather we have been experiencing across the state, we at Inspiration Mississippi are craving warmer, sunnier days.   With thoughts of spring and summer on our minds, we can’t help but think about fresh, beautiful skin.   March is the perfect month to update your makeup and brighten your look! 

SKIN The Spa at Runnels Center has created an incredible new makeup line guaranteed to keep your skin looking youthful and rejuvenated.  SKIN the Makeup cosmetic line is Paraben-free and hypoallergenic, and was designed to camouflage any redness or bruising after surgical procedures and injections!

Christina Foto captured lovely pictures of Kayla and Aileen applying their revolutionary SKIN the Makeup products.  Here are their simple steps for enhancing your natural beauty with a few cosmetics:

~ Kayla and Aileen used high-definition foundations and mineral powder foundations on both models for base coverage.
~ Kayla used the eye shadow palette of neutral tones, while Aileen used tones of purple.
~ Once eyeliner was added to both models’ eyes using black mechanical pencils on top and bottom lids, their eyes popped with a sweep of high-definition mascara!
~ Lip liner, lipstick and lip-gloss gave each model enviably gorgeous lips.  Aileen chose Brick liner, Fire Engine lipstick and lip Candy gloss on top!  Kayla layered Organza liner, Cocktail lipstick and lip Candy gloss to finish off her model’s look.

The results?  Lovely and achievable makeup looks for spring and summer!  To schedule a makeup consultation, call SKIN the Spa at Runnels Center at 601.939.2457.

Thank you, Christina Foto, for capturing these pretty photographs! For more information on Christina Foto, please click here!

Photography by Adam + Alli Photography
Dresses by Imaginations Bridal
Hair, Makeup & Adornment by Molly Gee Designs
Car by Way Back in Time

A Winter wedding can be simply magical!  Today, we are thrilled to share our Classic Dress Inspiration photo shoot from Inspiration Mississippi Magazine.  These feminine dresses adorned with lace, pearls and crystals will have you craving a wintry affair.

{Blog by Mitchell Walters}

MEET MY MISSISSIPPI (By Patricia Neely-Dorsey)
William Faulkner’s Sanctuary
Eudora Welty’s home state
Elvis Presley’s birthplace 
The bulk of the Natchez Trace;
Choctaw Nation native land 
Rolling hills of the Chickasaw band 
Sprawling beaches along the Gulf Coast shore
One blues man’s Crossroads and inspiration for more;
Like Albert, B.B., Bukka, Howlin’ Wolf ,
Little Milton and Muddy Waters who came to the fore 
There’s farm-raised catfish , Delta tamales, seafood galore 
And warm front porch welcomes with a wide open door 
Creative muse for Barq’s, Stetson, Peavey, Viking 
And Henson’s famous green frog
And “Where The Southern Crosses The Yellow Dog ”
An abundance of history, tradition and folklore
With Ruins of Windsor, Vicksburg Battlefield 
Emerald Mound and Pharr Mounds to explore 
You’ll find an authentic Dentzel carousel merry go round 
Where Jimmie Rodgers fathered a unique country sound
She’s a ride down the Mighty River on the American Queen
And some of the most beautiful countryside that you’ve ever seen
She’s music and melodies and the mockingbird’s songs,
By valor and arms and faith ever strong;
She’s magnolias blooming around Jackson’s capitol dome
With the buzz of the honeybee 
And sweet scent of the honeysuckle
That forever say “home”
Since December 10, 1817 
Our 20th state
“Go Mississippi” 
The Hospitality State
Roll On Mississippi
You’re a true State of Grace.