We wanted to bring a really awesome opportunity to y'all's attention today. This year, Mississippi Perks Pass is supporting local efforts to make Refill Café a reality.  With every purchase of a 2018 Mississippi Perks Pass right now, $50 dollars will go to Refill Café.  The 2018 Mississippi Perks Pass allows you to redeem over 150 special offers at over 50 locations. These offers include two-for-one entrees and other perks.  The pass is valid for an entire year and has a value of over $1,700 for a purchase price of only $97. The 2018 Mississippi Perks Pass allows you to explore some of Mississippi's best restaurants and venues all while saving money and supporting a fantastic local cause. It's a fantastic way to get out in the community and experience something new. 

Refill Café is set to make such  difference in our community. "Refill Café will be a non-profit workforce development café in the community of west Jackson, Mississippi located at the former Koinonia Coffee House on the Jackson State University Parkway."

​"Refill Café’s mission is to empower youth by providing an innovative and holistic job training and life skills program. Refill Cafe will operate a vibrant restaurant and retail establishment with training stations to develop functional competencies and occupational skills for program participants. In addition, Refill will address the participants’ holistic development to ensure they are set up for success beyond the program." 

"Refill Cafe intends to offer social service support, educational support, mentoring, and employment services—all offered either directly through Refill Café or indirectly through a partner. The program will be a long-term anchor for participants as we help place them into internships and jobs around the City of Jackson. " 

​You can purchase the pass here.
Learn more about Refill Café and their incredible efforts to better the whole of the Jackson community here. 

"The Orphan Door launched its first Once Upon A Fairytale Mother Daughter Princess Tea in 2015. To us, this event is the perfect way to blend two communities: it allows people locally to love and impact the lives of an entirely separate community, all while having fun and building their mother-daughter relationship," smiles Jenny Blount of The Orphan Door. 
The Orphan Door is an active community impacting the lives of orphaned children, and they work specifically in Guatemala with Eagles Nest International Children's Home. In 2017, Once Upon A Fairytale Mother Daughter Princess Tea sold out in a  few days, and fully funded the education program for every school-aged child at Eagles Nest International. 

"This means that those children will receive a private, Christian education, a new uniform, and all of their school supplies for the entire year. Additionally, we will be able to fund the addition of new teachers to expand their school program to accommodate students who need learning accommodations. It is our desire to help raise up a new generation of Christian leaders in Guatemala, and we believe the start of that is a solid, Christian education," says Blount. 

This years spectacular event welcomed twelve princesses, Tinker Bell, Prince Charming, and the Fairy Godmother. Tiny gusts had their hair and makeup done prior to tea, and Ballet Magnificat! charmed guests with an incredibly beautiful performance. "Our Presenting Sponsor in 2017 was Exmark, and we are blessed to be supported by so many generous donors. Without them, none of this would be possible!" says Blount. 

Astoundingly, every single person involved with The Orphan Door is a volunteer. Over 90 volunteers helped make the Fairytale Princess Tea a memorable evening, and they pour countless hours into the organization daily. "The Orphan Door and the success of the Princess Tea is entirely because of the Lord," says Blount in awe. "We are proof that He will go to incredible lengths to care for those He loves, even if that means calling volunteers in Jackson together to host a Tea so that children He dearly loves in Guatemala will have the opportunity to go to school."

Event Venue: The South Warehouse (Jackson, MS) | Photography: Followell Photography | 
Hair Boutique: Tracy Branch Agency | Catering, Florals, Lighting, & Rentals: Fresh Cut Catering & Floral
Dancers: Ballet Magnificat!

For more information on this inspirational organization and how you can get involved to support their cause, please visit The Orphan Door's website 

It's around this time of year where you might be beginning to long for updated furniture and interiors in your own home. Maybe you've been thinking about redoing your living room for a while, or perhaps the time has finally come to put the finishing touches on your new home. Either way, we wanted to bring your attention to an awesome opportunity at BlairHaus in Tupelo. BlairHaus specializes in interior design and home staging, but they also have an incredible showroom for custom upholstery and linens. Now through the 26th of this month, BlairHaus is offering 15% off custom Norwalk Furniture custom upholstery orders. This is a fantastic opportunity to design a custom piece that will  complete the look of your home. 

Check out the BlairHaus website for more information on their selections. Blairhaus is open Monday by appointment only, Tuesday- Friday 11:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturday 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Located at 208 West Main Street
Tupelo, MS 38804. 

Imagine a cowgirl. A delightful young woman who is an educator, an ambassador, and a role model with a  passion for the great sport of rodeo. The Miss Rodeo Mississippi Foundation is an organization that annually produces the Miss Dixie National, Junior Miss Dixie National, Miss Dixie National Sweetheart, and Miss Rodeo Mississippi Pageants. Each year, bright young women flock to Jackson to compete for Dixie queen titles. 
"Whereas beauty pageants typically judge contestants on beauty and poise, rodeo queen pageant judge contestants on their ability to be a spokesperson for the sport. Contestants are judged on their personality, appearance, speaking ability, knowledge, and horsemanship," says Allison Coulton, President of the Miss Rodeo Mississippi Foundation Board of Directors. 
2018 marks the 53rd year of the beloved Dixie National Rodeo, and young fans will come to admire and meet the newly crowned Dixie queens. The Miss Dixie National Pageant, held at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds, was created to annually crown a young woman who would spend her year promoting the Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo. "The pageant later added the Junior Miss and Sweetheart divisions to provide younger girls with similar opportunities," says Coulton. 

{Swan Song} 
Emma Jumper was crowned Miss Rodeo Missisippi in 2017. As Miss Rodeo Missisippi, she represented Missisippi at all Professional Rodeo and Cowboy Association (PRCA) events statewide and several abroad. She also competed for the title of Miss Rodeo America in Las Vegas, Nevada. 
During her reign, Jumper made extraordinary connections with children across the state. She smiles, "I have exceeded my expectations for personal growth this year. This year teaches by painting the most vivid pictures of what it means to place others before myself. To place goodwill before my own emotions. Such was the nature of my visit to the Mississippi School for the Blind. Theses students read my title to me, Miss Rodeo Mississippi, by simply running their fingers along the leather of my chaps. Tears the students could not see filled my eyes and flooded my heart. 
Jumper has raced stick horses with precious patients at Batson Children's Hospital, mingled with Mississippi school children and spoken about the importance of agriculture. She sums up her year perfectly, "Becoming Miss Rodeo Mississippi won't define you, but it will grow you. Once the Lord shows you how rewarding it is to be HIs hands in the field, your life will never be the same." 

What an inspiration. For more information on the Miss Rodeo Mississippi Foundation, please visit their website.

Congratulations to Miss Rodeo 2018, Taylor McNair 

Post was adapted from an article by Mitchell Waters.

Allison Antici and Cody Britt met through mutual friends. "We were always at the same parties but never introduced to each other, although we knew who the other was," smiles Allison. "Cody and I were part of the wedding of our mutual friends, Kalynn and Tony Clay Marley. At an engagement party for them in February of 2013, we FINALLY spoke to each other. We were the only two at the bar ordering a drink when I looked over and simply said 'Hey Cody.' He claims he could not believe I even knew his name," laughs Allison. "We got a drink and he led me to the dance floor. This was the beginning of our happily ever after!"

{Inspiring Details}
The beautiful stained glass windows and wooden beams make the sanctuary of St. George's Episcopal Church in Clarksdale, MS easy to fall in love with! "We knew we wanted to get married in a church because we believe making Christ the center of our marriage from the beginning was important," says Allison. "I grew up, was baptized and confirmed in St. George's Episcopal Church and I always dreamed of walking down the aisle to my husband there. The reception was held at my parents' house.  I have dreamed of having an outdoor reception at my parents' house for years," smiles Allison.

"My favorite moment of our wedding day was after our first look, Cody and I sat down on a bench and read letters we wrote to each other for our wedding days, says Allison. "We let loose of our nerves and and anxiety and focused on the real reason for the day- the two of us to join as one in marriage. In the time we sat there, we were able to breathe and not worry about all of the details and if everything was going as planned," smiles Allison. "All that mattered was the two of us there in that moment. We loved having that special moment of the day!" 

Ceremony Venue: St. George's Episcopal Church (Clarksdale, MS) | Photography: Katelynn Anne Photography 
Reception Venue: Antici Residence | Dress: Elle James Bridal | Hair: Mary Kinchen Meredith 
Makeup: Anne Clayton O'Keefe | Bridesmaids Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids (Ridgeland, MS) 
Tuxes: Abraham's| Event Planner: Kendall Poole Event Planning| Videographer: Frameblender Films 
Catering: Fresh Cut Catering & Florals| Bar: Delta Beverage Services| Cakes: Chow Cakes 
​Florals & Lighting: Fresh Cut Catering & Florals| Rentals: Mississippi Tent Company 
Print Material: Copytime Clarksdale | Band: The Main Attraction | Car Service:  Southern Valet