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Lucid Models {Life}

9/18/2018

 
Hi y’all!
We hope this Wednesday is treating y’all so very well. Today we wanted to share the next installment of our inspirational female business owner series with y’all. Sharon Coker and Erin Griffin are the owners and operators of a new local modeling agency, Lucid Models. Lucid Models is a stand out in the fashion scene because their focus is on embracing the differences that make us all wonderfully unique. It’s such an honor to share a look at Sharon and Erin’s story with y’all today, keep reading for more!

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{Tell us a little bit about y’all!}

I am Sharon Coker and I am Mississippi born and raised. I grew up in the Reservoir/Brandon area and I graduated high school from University Christian School in 2000. After high school, I spent some time studying art at the University of Mississippi. After graduating from college, I worked a few random jobs before finally starting my own photography business in 2008. Since starting my business, Sharon Coker Photography,I've been a published photographer for 10 years in the Jackson area. In 2017, I was voted Jackson's best photographer. I have been photographing and developing models in our area for the past 5 years. 

I am Erin Griffin and I am also a proud Mississippi native! I grew up in Morton and graduated from East Rankin Academy. I attended Mississippi State University where I studied Kinesiology. I modeled in my teens and after floating around the south, I came back to the place I call home. I started working alongside Sharon in her photography business in January 2018. 
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Jodye Sabatini
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Jarvis Hues
{What kind of business is Lucid Models?}
We own and operate Lucid Models. We are a small staff business consisting of Erin and myself only. Our focus is on offering local models and talent in the local fashion and entertainment industry opportunities. We are also proud to develop and place models in larger modeling markets.

{What kind of inspirational women do you work with on a daily basis?}
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We work with a multitude of amazing women. From our models to our clients to other local lady entrepreneurs. Fortunately, we constantly find ourselves surrounded by with talented, supportive women.


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Jon Macapodi
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Anissa Hidouk
{What’s it like being a female business owner in Mississippi?}
In the slow moving south, strong women are starting to emerge and that can be intimidating to some. But, by starting our own business we are hoping to prove to other female entrepreneurs  that it is totally possible to follow your dreams and accomplish your goals.

{Are there any resources you used to open your business that you would recommend to other aspiring entrepreneurs?}
​Social media is a huge part of our business. We rely on face to face interaction, networking, and good relationships to build our brand. Our advice is to develop relationships with people who are like minded, driven, and successful in their field.



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Erin Griffin
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Sharon Coker
{What words of advice would you give to other aspiring female entrepreneurs?}
Surround yourself with positive influences, do not take no for an answer, believe in yourself and your brand, and continue your education in your field. Also, join a local female networking group, like Rising Tide Society. Rising Tide Society meets once a month to discuss aspects of being a female business owner and offer business education, friendships, and support.
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Sneakerboxx Photography
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Sharon Coker
{What’s your favorite part about living and working in Mississippi?}
We are in love with the community. The people in Mississippi are unlike any we've ever met. There are so many talented people in our state. From models to musicians to actors, there is an untapped amount of talent here. We love discovering and working with all the different types of people in our area. We are also in love with our state geographically. Mississippi hosts a plethora of different types of landscapes. From the foothills in north Mississippi, to the flatlands and crop fields of the delta, to the Gulf Shore beaches. Our state is just beautiful.

{Models Pictured: Lucid Models} To find out more about Lucid Models, visit their website and follow them on Instagram @lucid_models
Names of Photographers are underneath the individual photos. To see more of their work, check out their Instagrams.
@jarvishues | @jonmacapodi | @anissa.photography| @sharoncoker| @erin_lucid |@jodyesabatiniphoto

BankPlus International Gumbo Festival {Events}

9/14/2018

 
Happy Friday y’all!
We couldn’t be more excited that the weekend is finally here! Today we wanted to share an upcoming festival with y’all. The BankPlus International Gumbo Festival will be held in Smith Park in  downtown Jackson on September 22nd. Mark your calendars and keep reading for more information!

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On Saturday, September 22, the BankPlus International Gumbo Festival will take place at Smith Park in downtown Jackson, Mississippi. The event will be a fun-filled day featuring gumbo tastings, blind judging from celebrity judges, children’s activities, food trucks, and great live music. The event will begin at 11:00 a.m. and last until 5:00 p.m.
                    
This year’s festival is expected to be another year of gumbo and good times. Lovers of gumbo will be able to sample selections from over twenty gumbo-cooking teams from across the Southeast region. Prizes will be given to the “BankPlus International Gumbo Festival Champion,” “People’s Choice Champion,” and more.
            
​This year’s music line-up includes some of Mississippi’s great musical talent including the world- renowned blues rocker Cedric Burnisde, Hattiesburg singer-songwriter Webb Wilder, Jackson’s own Chris Gill and the Sole Shakers, and Natchez singer-songwriter Matt Willis.
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This festival supports and helps fund the Harold T. & Hal White Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship assists students in the culinary arts program at Hinds Community College.
                    
The BankPlus International Gumbo Festival has been a regular event in the Jackson area since it was established in 1992. The event has been held at several locations, and for the past five years the festival has taken place at Smith Park. This fall, the BankPlus International Gumbo Festival will return to the recently renovated, family-friendly green space in the heart of Jackson.
                    
General admission advance tickets are on sale now for $10 single tickets and $30 for a pack of four. Tickets will be $15 at the gate. Children under 10 will be admitted for free.
                    
To purchase tickets and for more information regarding the festival, including information on competing and sponsorships, please visit the official website at www.jacksongumbo.com. Also, stay connected with the festival at www.facebook.com/InternationalGumboFestival.
                    
This festival is produced by Ardenland and B&B Promotions.
                

​Copy and Images all provided by the BankPlus International Gumbo Festival 

Ava in Wonderland Birthday Party {Event}

9/12/2018

 
Happy Hump Day ladies and gentlemen!
By this point in the week, we’re always craving something that’ll put a smile on our faces. We figured y’all can relate so today we wanted to share an absolutely precious birthday party with y’all! This special twist on an  Alice in Wonderland birthday celebration was taken to the next level and we are head over heels with how everything turned out. Keep reading to hear from Celita Davis Norwood on how she put together the most magical “Ava in Wonderland” party for her darling daughter Ava!
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{Tell us a little bit about you!}
Hi! My name is Celita Davis Norwood. I’m originally from Jackson, Mississippi. I graduated from Provine High School and attended Mississippi Valley State University. I graduated from Mississippi Valley State University with a degree in Criminal Justice. I then attended Jackson State University and completed the masters in Rehabilitation Counseling program. I am married with one child, my daughter Ava Danielle. We currently live in Crystal Springs, Mississippi.
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{Tell us about the party!}
This event was my daughter Ava’s 2nd birthday party!  We had the party at the Oakhurst Subdivision Clubhouse in Clinton, Mississippi. The party began around 3 o'clock in the afternoon, we invited around 25 children to join us!
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{How did you decide on this theme?}
Alice in Wonderland was one of my favorite childhood movies and for that reason it was a natural choice for my daughter’s birthday!  I decided to take the theme of Alice in Wonderland and personalize it for the occasion by calling the party “Ava in Wonderland.” I also loved that this themed allowed for so many elements to be customized, making the whole event very unique!

{What were some of your favorite details?}
My favorite details of the events were the ones that translated straight from the story into the decor of the party. There are so many fun details from the story that I was able to incorporate into things like the cookies, decorations, and the cake!
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{How did you manage to incorporate the Ava in Wonderland theme so thoroughly?}
I really have my vendors to thank for bringing my ideas and the theme to life. I knew I wanted to make my guests feel like they were actually in Wonderland and my vendors were able to make that happen! All in all, every single one of my vendors absolutely nailed it and I couldn’t have been happier.

{Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to plan a similar event?}
When planning any event,  I would say it’s a good idea to make sure you write your vision down. Writing your vision down allows you to ensure all your details match up with the overall vision you’re aiming for. I also suggest having a thorough budget outlined and making an effort to hire vendors that you know will be able to help you pull it off.  Additionally, it’s a huge help when the venue you chose lends itself well to the theme! Don’t forget that all the small details matter and choosing the right vendors for your event makes all the difference in the world.

Vendors: 
Decor: Creations by Miss DP LLC| Cake: The Cake Diva| Catering: Elegant Catering| Personalized Treats: Sugar Coated Creations by Shimeka Drashon| Cookies: Creative Bites MS by Candace| Candy Table: Sweet Stuff LLC| Gift Bags & Face Painting: Prissy Paintbrush Studios LLC| Graphic Design: Covered Girl Designs|


Photographs provided by Celita Davis Norwood 

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Brown Bottling Group Presents a Total of $15,000 to 3 Local Charities {Insider Inspiration}

9/10/2018

 
Happy Monday y’all!
As always, we hope your weekend was filled with all things good, including football, a little downtime, and a whole lot of quality time spent with friends and family. We wanted to bring y’all’s attention to a really cool fundraising contest our friends at Brown Bottling Group sponsored this summer. Brown Bottling Group recently awarded three local charities $15,000 through their Pick Your Charity fundraising contest. Keep reading to find out more about the contest, a little bit about the winners, and Brown Bottling Group!


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 Brown Bottling Group presented three checks totaling $15,000 to three local charities on Wednesday, August 22, 2018, following the second annual Pick Your Charity fundraising contest supported by Dr Pepper and Canada Dry. ​

Between July 5 and August 8, one dollar from every case of Dr Pepper and Canada Dry take-home packaging purchased at select grocery locations in central Mississippi was collected to benefit the local charity finalists: DREAM of Hattiesburg, Canopy Children’s Solutions, and PALS Rescue. 
These charities encouraged their supporters to vote online during the same timeframe, and at the end of the voting period and nearly 87,000 total votes later, PALS Rescue, a no-kill animal shelter based in McComb, Miss., won first place and $10,000 followed by Canopy Children’s Solutions and DREAM of Hattiesburg, winning $3,000 and $2,000, respectively.

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“These charities worked so hard this year to get out the vote to earn funding for their causes that they doubled the number of votes from last year’s competition,” said Shelley Brown Floyd, Executive Vice President at Brown Bottling Group.  “We’re delighted these funds from Pick Your Charity are able to directly impact three charities doing such admirable work in the Mississippi communities we serve.”

Headquartered in Ridgeland, Miss., with more than 500 Mississippians employed throughout the state, Brown Bottling Group is one of the nation’s leading independently-owned Pepsi-Cola distributors.  Brown Bottling offers Dr Pepper, Canada Dry, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Muscle Milk, Lipton, Starbucks and Aquafina, as well as a diverse portfolio of Carbonated, Non-Carbonated, Coffee, Water and Tea products.

For more on Brown Bottling Group please visit their website. 

To find out how you can help support these amazing organizations please visit their websites. 
PALS Rescue Inc. 
DREAM of Hattiesburg
Canopy Children's Solutions 


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Soggy Sweat Craft Beer & BBQ Festival {Events}

9/7/2018

 
Happy Friday y'all! 
We wanted to bring your attention to an awesome upcoming event from the Mississippi Brewers Guild, the Soggy Sweat Craft Beer & BBQ Festival. If you like cold beer and delicious barbecue this is the festival for you. Keep reading for more and mark your calendars for September 15th! 

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The Mississippi Brewers Guild (MBG) recently announced the inaugural Soggy Sweat Craft Beer & BBQ Festival is scheduled for Saturday, September 15 at Smith Park in downtown Jackson. The festival, exclusively celebrating craft beer made in Mississippi, will be the first of its kind. A collaborative Czech Style Pilsner brewed for the Mississippi Brewers Guild, Lucille: Drink’em on Down, is perfect for Mississippi summers and will be released at the event. Mississippi Craft Breweries will also create custom beer for the festival with samples available at brewery tents. Soggy Sweat gives beer manufacturers the opportunity to put their own spin on a festival beer with a BBQ element. Local BBQ enthusiasts will also be onsite creating their own delicious BBQ to pair with the newly created beer. Samples of the specialty firkin beer, Lucille: Drink’em on Down, and BBQ will be available until gone. 

“We are excited to have the Soggy Sweat Festival where we can solely highlight our Mississippi breweries,” said Matthew McLaughlin, Executive Director of the Mississippi Brewers Guild. “For the past couple of years, we have held different Mississippi Brewers Guild events, however, we are excited to have a branded annual festival. Soggy Sweat gives our state breweries an opportunity to create specialty beers for the event as well as to have their popular brands onsite. It is going to be a great afternoon to enjoy the newly renovated Smith Park, listen to music, sample beer and BBQ, and enjoy Downtown Jackson.” 
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The name of the festival, Soggy Sweat Craft Beer & BBQ, is derived from the renowned speech given by Judge Noah S. “Soggy” Sweat, Jr., a judge, law professor and state representative about the repeal of prohibition. When asked if he was for or against prohibition and whiskey, he answered candidly about the different sides of alcohol and it’s effects. His speech termed the phrase “if-by-whiskey”.

The Soggy Sweat Craft Beer & BBQ Festival will feature live music by John Causey and the Jason Daniels Band, samples of festival created beer and BBQ, food trucks and beverages. The festival is scheduled for Saturday, September 15, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Smith Park in Downtown Jackson. Advanced tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased at soggysweat.eventbrite.com. Event day tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the gate. Children are free and must be supervised by an adult. Proceeds benefit the Mississippi Brewers Guild. For more information about the Soggy Sweat event, visit facebook.com/mscraftbeer. 

Photos and Copy provided by the Mississippi Brewers Guild.
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