INSPIREMS

The Capital Club with Jennifer and Derek Emerson {Insider Inspiration}

3/10/2019

Hey y'all!
We don't know if y'all knew, but the owners of Walker's Drive In, Local 463, Caet, and Parlor Market have taken over the management of the Capital Club in Downtown Jackson. We got the chance to chat with Jennifer Emerson about how they came into managing this iconic Jackson venue. Keep reading for more!

Jennifer and Derek Emerson are the force behind many of the Jackson-metro area’s top restaurants. The husband and wife team expertly combine their skills to bring their customers an unforgettable dining experience night after night. The Emersons purchased the iconic Walker’s Drive In with the hope of transforming it into something that was uniquely their own. “We are both veterans of the restaurant industry and always knew that we wanted to own and operate a place of our own one day. When Walker’s became available for purchase, it was the perfect opportunity to turn that dream into a reality,” says Jennifer. Already a staple in the Jackson area, Chef Derek Emerson’s ability to create delicious dishes from the finest fresh, local ingredients took Walker’s to the next level. Over time, the food and atmosphere led to the development of a loyal customer base that encouraged Derek and Jennifer to open a restaurant in Madison. They opened their second restaurant, Local 463 in Madison in 2010. Local 463 was one of the first locally owned fine dining restaurants in Madison when it opened. It did not take long for Local 463 to garner the same loyal customer base as Walker’s.

Jennifer and Derek went onto open their wine bar, Caet, named after their youngest daughter Finley Caet Emerson. “Derek always wanted to do something in the space where Caet is now. Initially we thought Caet would somewhat be an extension of Walker’s. There wasn’t room in Walker’s for a full bar, but we wanted to give our customers that space. Our vision was to have customers grab a starter at Caet and a glass of wine before walking over to Walker’s for dinner,” says Jennifer. Soon after opening, it became apparent that Caet was a dining destination in and of itself; in response, the menu was expanded to include full plates.

The Emersons have several long time employees that they were eager to partner with on their next project. When Parlor Market, an italian eatery in downtown Jackson became available for purchase, Jennifer and Derek knew this was a perfect opportunity to involve their partners Effie Hubanks, Lauren and Robert Rushton, and Michael Greenhill .“I absolutely loved the space of Parlor Market. I was always jealous of the unique interior of that space and we knew we wanted to keep that the same,” smiles Jennifer. The Emersons along with their partners updated the Parlor Market menu, making it the first restaurant in the area to use fresh, homemade pastas in all their dishes.

In addition to owning and operating the four restaurants, Jennifer and Derek along with their partners have taken over the management and operation of the Capital Club in downtown Jackson. With stunning views of the downtown skyline, the Capital Club is a versatile venue perfect for private events and wedding receptions. Under their management, both the daily menu and catering options have been updated to reflect Chef Derek Emerson’s unique and delicious style. “We’ve never been ones to sit still, we’re happiest when we have a challenge or a new project,” smiles Jennifer. Needless to say, the Emersons will continue to provide the metro-area with amazing food and wonderful experiences for years to come.

For more information on the Capital Club, please visit the website.
All photography by James Patterson.

Putt Rehearsal Dinner {Events}

3/10/2019

Happy Tuesday y'all!
We wanted to start your week off with this gorgeous rehearsal dinner. This event was so elegant, timeless, and fit this couple perfectly. Keep scrolling to see more from Harrison and Evan's rehearsal dinner.

Wendy Putt, owner of Fresh Cut Catering and Floral, is an expert on bringing her client's visions to life. for this fabulous rehearsal dinner, the client happened to be her son Harrison and his fiancé Evan. With the help of the Fresh Cut team, Wendy translated the bride's overall theme for the wedding of classic elegance into a stunning event filled with dynamic floral arrangements, clean lines, and amazing food. All these elements came together to create the perfect occasion to celebrate this precious couple.

A Celebration of Lori Newcomb {Life}

3/8/2019

Happy International Women’s Day!
Everyday we are so thankful to be surrounded by strong, caring, and inspirational women. There are so many women in our community who give so much in order to better the lives of others. One of these women, Lori Newcomb, passed away last week after a long battle with ovarian cancer. It goes without saying that Lori was a bright light in the Jackson community and beyond. Her dedication to serving her community even in the midst of extreme adversity leaves us at Inspiration in awe of her strength and wonderful spirit. In 2017, we had the privilege of sharing Lori’s story with our readers. Today, in honor of International Women’s Day we wanted to share Lori Newcomb’s story again. We hope that every one of you are inspired by the strength, generosity, and light that defined Lori. Our prayers and condolences go out to her family and all who had the privilege of calling Lori Newcomb a friend.

“God gives you gifts in life. You get to practice using your gifts throughout different stages, with different people, different circumstances and at difference times, preparing you for what you are truly supposed to do,” reflects Lori Newcomb. “When I was younger, I was so passionate about being a great mom and making the best of my path in life. Now I’m on a new journey.”

Newcomb is beautiful, elegant and smart. She exudes warmth and grace, and her genuine care for others is refreshingly contagious. Newcomb grew up on the Ross Barnett Reservoir outside of Jackson, Mississippi. After graduating from Northwest Ranking High School, she left for the University of Mississippi. While studying Public Administration and Economics, she often found herself relaxing at her favorite haunt, McAlister’s Deli.

“I was a loyal customer and went in all the time,” she laughs. “Chris Newcomb and his father had opened McAlister’s. One day I walked in to grab my signature sandwich, and Chris was working with a young lady in the kitchen. He looked at her and said, ‘I want to know who that girl is! I want to take her out.’ She just happened to be my roommate.”

Four years later, they became husband and wife and soon welcomed daughters Madison and Blair and son Hayes. Madison, age twenty-two, says, “She really is the best mom; she put all of her energy into raising us. She helped me with my homework, was always involved with my school and activities and most importantly, was always there to talk.”
In 2004, Chris opened his first Newk’s Eatery restaurant. In the past, Lori worked for the Gap Inc., training employees and opening stores in Dallas. The restaurant world was a perfect fit. “Though I have never worked directly with Chris, we both love the entertaining aspect of Newk’s. I came from the retail world, where you have total care of your clients when they come in. It is the same in the restaurant world! We love making sure our clients are happy.”

But in 2013, their world changed. “Every year for my birthday, I have an annual checkup with my OBGYN. I knew I wasn’t feeling well for a few months prior, but I kept thinking, ‘I feel better. I feel better.’ But I never felt well and it got persistently worse. I was diagnosed with Stage IIIC ovarian cancer in February at my annual checkup.”

Lori loved to exercise, but suddenly found herself in bed, undergoing treatment. Opening her laptop changed everything. “I came across the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance (OCRFA) and noticed a spin event. I thought that was so cool; it combined my love for spin, raising awareness and finding a cure.”

The symptoms of ovarian cancer are blurry at best. Bloating, lack of energy and a loss of appetite are common. If ovarian cancer is diagnosed early, the rate of survival is high. “But with no early detection test, vague symptoms are the only warning signs.

That’s why we started the Newk’s Cares initiative. Our goal is to improve the rate of early diagnosis by funding research and creating greater awareness about the early symptoms of ovarian cancer,” says Lori.

Through Newk’s Cares, Lori started an Ovarian Cycle Ride in Jackson. In only three years, the high energy event has raised over $500,000, donated to the OCRFA.

Newk’s Eatery locations across the south are stocked with educational literature, and their red straws have switched to teal in honor of ovarian cancer awareness. Lori says, “September is awareness month, and we change out our signature black cups for teal cups. We also sell water bottles with information on them, and ten cents from every bottle sold is donated to the OCRFA.”

The community has beautifully embraced Lori’s fight against this silent killer. “It has been so rewarding,” smiles Lori. “We have received personal emails from women thanking us for putting educational literature in the restaurants. We now know what the symptoms are. Women are aware, going to the doctor, and finding out what is going on with their bodies.”

Lori remains completely devoted to her adoring family. “She is one of my best friends and we talk twice a day,” says Madison. “People who meet her never forget her. I have had so many approach me and tell me she made them feel so loved, even through one simple conversation.”

Lori is gracefully humble, yet passionate about her path in life. “I am not the greatest at bringing awareness to cancer, but I think God is helping me be the best communicator I can be. He has often taken me out of my comfort zone and walked me through some major mistakes in life,” Lori smiles. “But looking back, it humbled me. It helped me to be more open minded and hopefully a gentler person. That is part of sharing my experiences with this illness. When people are fighting cancer, they need to feel empathy. I am passionate about communicating that it is okay to be you in life through all of your experiences.”

To keep supporting Lori's fight against Ovarian Cancer, please consider donating to OCRA through this link https://give.ocrahope.org/lorinewcomb. Additionally, you can find out more about Lori's story at www.NewksCares.com.
You can find Lori's obituary here.

Uptown Dental {Insider Inspiration}

3/5/2019

Happiest of Tuesdays Y'all!
As always, we hope every single one of you had an amazing weekend. We know that going to the dentist can feel like the worst chore out there, but it really doesn't have to be that way. Our friends at Uptown Dental have gone above and beyond to transform the patient experience. Keep reading for more on how Dr. Michelle Crews and her team at Uptown Dental make sure dreading a trip to the dentist becomes a thing of the past!

There are so many things that set Uptown Dental apart from the typical dental office. At the core of Uptown Dental is Dr. Michelle Crews, a talented dental professional and dedicated business owner. Dr. Crews grew up in Clinton, attended the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry, and currently lives in Madison with her husband Derrick and their three children. As a sophomore at Ole Miss, Dr. Crews fell in love with dentistry and her passion for the field has not wavered since. “I love how much changing someone’s smile can be such a life changing event for them. It’s amazing to be able to be apart of that process,” smiles Dr. Crews.

Her passion for patient care is visible in all facets of her practice, down to the atmosphere of her office. “The Uptown Dental team has an amazing dynamic that makes patients feel at home. That feeling only exists for the patient when they can tell everyone loves what they do,” says Dr. Crews. For the Uptown Dental team, a large part of making sure their patients feel at home is ensuring that every visit is as comfortable for the patient as it can be.

Technological innovation is the driving force behind Uptown Dental’s daily practice and ensures that patients are experiencing the highest level of care and comfort possible. “We strive to stay on top of the latest technology because each and every advancement makes dentistry more comfortable and efficient for our patients. Patient comfort is our top priority!” says Dr. Crews. Uptown Dental provides patients a range of services from the cosmetic, such as teeth whitening, botox, and fillers, to more complicated dental procedures such as surgically guided dental implant placements and restoration. Any service is accompanied by complimentary additions like paraffin hand dip, warm lavender neck wraps, essential oil diffusions, and blankets. Televisions streaming Netflix in every treatment room take the patient experience above and beyond what is expected of a typical dentist appointment. Uptown Dental offers these extras in order to ensure every visit to their office is as pleasant as possible.

“Mississippi is absolutely home to me. It is the people here that make it so amazing! My patients feel like extended family. I love watching their families and our bond grow,” smiles Dr. Cews. To become a part of the Uptown Dental family please call (769) 257-0399 or visit their office in the Township in Ridgeland to make an appointment!

Life on the Boswell Farm {Life}

2/28/2019

Hey y’all!
Happy Thursday! We hope that everyone has a fabulous weekend celebrating Mardi Gras or if you’re staying in, a relaxing one! Today we wanted to share a little bit about the Boswell Family. The Boswells have been raising dairy goats and other livestock on their farm in Star, just a little bit south of Jackson! We got the chance to chat with Laura Boswell about life on the Boswell Farm and Star Soap Company, the family’s very own soap business!

{Tell us a little bit about y'all!}

My husband grew up in Jackson and I was raised in Brandon, Mississippi. We moved to Star about 10 years ago and have raised our twin daughters here since they were in Kindergarten. Star is a little town south of Jackson down Highway 49 and the hometown of Faith Hill!!

The property we reside on has been in the family for a couple generations and we’ve spent years turning it into our home and hobby farm. Because of the long narrow shape of the property it was previously called “Dogpatch.” Since we’ve made it truly ours, it now goes by “Boswell Farm” and the dairy goat herd is called Hominy Grove. My husband and I knew from the very beginning that we wanted to live down here permanently one day. We figured it would be now or when our twin daughters, Maggie and Brinkley, went to college. We decided we wanted them to have childhood memories of the farm so we made the move just before they started kindergarten!

{Tell us a little bit about Boswell Farm.}
We are what I would describe as a hobby farm. We have some fenced pastures where our three horses, miniature Jersey heifer, and our dairy goat herd reside. We have lots of wooded acres as well for a few deer plots for hunting and some pines growing too. We enjoy using the property for sport and pleasure such as hunting and trail riding the horses.

{How did y'all get into raising and showing goats?}
When we moved here we knew we wanted the girls to be involved in 4-H with a livestock project of some sort. They were not keen on the idea of raising a market animal every year because they are sold each year, so we decided to look into a breeding stock species that you could use year after year and work on improving and building a herd. The dairy cows were so big for our young girls at the time so we started researching dairy goats. Rankin county has some very involved families that have raised dairy goats for years and they were very kind to help answer many questions and get us started on this journey eight years ago. The girls enjoyed showing and competing in the 4-H shows so much that we started attending open shows that are sanctioned by the American Dairy Goat Association just to give them more opportunities to show their animals.

{What was the inspiration behind Star Soap company?}
A close friend and fellow breeder taught us how to make goat milk soap many years ago. We started to make soap just for our own use and gifts for family members. We still mainly just sell to friends via word of mouth and attend a handful of craft shows every year. The name comes from our little small town that we love! I feel like our soap is truly a hometown product!! Our feed ration for the goats is mixed at a local mill and Mr. Ross has been mixing it for us for many years now. The labels for our soap bars are printed just down the road at Stephens Printing.

{What is y’all’s favorite thing about raising dairy goats?}
My daughters would say their favorite thing about raising dairy goats are the babies!!! Baby goats are some of the most adorable creatures ever. They also agree that it is fun meeting people at different events that share the same interest they have in raising dairy goats.

{What else does the Boswell Family do for fun?}
The girls enjoy playing volleyball for their school and club team. Maggie participates in archery at Jackson Prep and Brinkley enjoys riding her horse, 7-Up. My husband rides his horse weekly working cows on a friend’s ranch just outside Utica. I’ve recently renewed my hobby of painting and expanded to acrylic paints from years of only dabbling in watercolor painting. The goats and pets serve as the subjects for many of my paintings. I also enjoy making barn quilts.

{Where can people purchase Star Soap products?}
People can contact me at [email protected] for custom orders. You can find us at A Day In The Country craft fair in October at Chapel of the Cross! We’ve attended it for the past few years and always enjoy visiting with repeat customers.

{Do y'all have any big plans for 2019}
I think in the future I would like to expand the soap business in the next few years. Last year we attended the National Dairy Goat show in Ohio and would love to attend again sometime

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The Capital Club with Jennifer and Derek Emerson {Insider Inspiration}

Putt Rehearsal Dinner {Events}

A Celebration of Lori Newcomb {Life}

Uptown Dental {Insider Inspiration}

Life on the Boswell Farm {Life}

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