Magnolia Dreams

This past weekend my sweet boyfriend came to Texas. His mom also lives in Texas, so we split time with my family and his. His mom wanted all of us to go do something fun on Saturday, and suggested making the trip to Waco to see Magnolia Market. 

If you've never seen the HGTV show Fixer Upper 1) you should go watch it...like right now, 2) the show features the life and business of Texas husband and wife duo, Chip and Joanna Gaines. Their business, Magnolia Homes, specializes in renovating old homes in the Waco, Texas area. Their business and their show has become so popular that they have grown from a small boutique to a market that takes up an entire block. The Gaines are the sweetest, most genuine people. It is impossible to not love them.

Mike and I are huge fans of the show, so we were totally up for going to see the heart of their business.

Joanna is known for her bright, farmhouse decorating style, and the Market is so representative of that. Everything is decorated to a t. Workers are even walking around to straighten up constantly and make sure that nothing is out of place. Right when you walk in, you are greeted by a beautiful display of kites and perfectly arranged books. 

On the other side of the door, right next to the tulips pictured below, was a guest book where visitors could sign and leave a message for Chip and Jo. It really made the experience feel more personal.

If you've seen the show, then you'll probably recognize these custom metal signs that are frequently seen in some of their designs.

The front of the market leads into a small silo that serves as a continuation of the shop, with even more home decor and souvenirs, as well as storage for extra stock of the items in the store.

 While I didn't end up getting anything (this time), there were more than a few things I would have liked to pick up, like the candles you see in the picture below. They smelled ah-mazing!

 There was even a whole corner devoted to Jo's favorite paper products. If there is anything you need to know about me, it is that I have a serious weakness for pretty paper, cards, planners, notebooks, you name it. Magnolia Market sells a few gorgeous notebooks I had to resist buying, since I have too many already. The next time I go, I'll probably end up picking up at least one.

Outside of the shop, there is a huge open area where people could play games like cornhole. Saturday happened to be an extraordinarily hot day (the heat index was 104 degrees!!!), so most people were choosing to hang out in the shade next to the silos or under the antique barn that serves as a pavilion on the property. They even had a gourmet popsicle stand to help visitors beat the Texas heat.

Joanna Gaines has not let a single detail be forgotten at the market. Obviously anticipating how many people would want to take pictures on their visit, one worker is stationed out by the entrance to serve as a photographer for anyone who wants one. She took these photos of Mike and I. 

If you count from Clemson, we "traveled" 947 #milestomagnolia.

I definitely recommend going to visit the Magnolia Market in Waco, especially if you are a Fixer Upper fan. My only tip is to go on a weekday when it will be less crowded, and maybe not in the summertime if you aren't ready to withstand the Texas heat.