This past week I got to check a huge dream destination off my bucket list - Magnolia Market in Waco, TX! For those of you who aren't familiar - this is the dreamland of HGTV star couple Chip and Joanna Gaines from Fixer Upper.
Unfortunately our visit to Magnolia was not under the best of circumstances. On Sunday of last week, we got word that Ryan's sweet Granny had passed away unexpectedly. Less than 24 hours after receiving the call, we were making our way to the airport to catch a 5:30am flight to Dallas. This is the third time we've been to Dallas in the past three months - two of the occasions being for funerals. It hasn't been easy - but thankfully God has bless all of our trips with safety, good travel weather, and good health. He is faithful even in the midst of sadness and trials and I am so thankful.
This little side detour to Magnolia on our way back from Granny R's funeral would not have been possible if it weren't for the fun-loving nature of my husband and the kind willingness to accommodate any blog venture of mine from my mother-in-law. So thank you to them for making this little trip possible!
magnolia store
Are you a fan of the show Fixer Upper? I'm obsessed with it. Seriously - Joanna Gaines is my style sister. Every room and thing she touches makes me swoon! I tried my best not to geek out/fangirl in front of Ryan and his mom too much - but I'm sure my through-the-roof level of excitement was evident!
Walking through the Magnolia Store is definitely surreal - it feels as if you are walking through an actual home that Chip and Joanna have renovated. Joanna's personal style is evident even down to the smallest nook and cranny on the Magnolia property. There is so much inspiration here that my brain was on overdrive! At least I have the pictures to help jog my memory, right???
The Magnolia Store is made up of two separate buildings - the original store and then the new barn that was raised by the Waco community during a recent episode of Fixer Upper, Season 4. In the barn section you can find a dude-friendly corner curated by Chip Gaines himself, as well as a selection larger iron and shiplap wall pieces. There's a lovely display of Joanna's paint line and some pieces from her children's clothing line collab with Matilda Jane in the barn as well. Rumor on the street is that one of the silos is being renovated into a hardware store that will open in a year or so - they are constantly adding new things to this property!
silos bakery
Ahhhhh the Silos' bakery. This is the manifestation of Joanna's sweet tooth and cupcake fettish. Yummy things are happening here! This bakery is full of Instagram-worthy confections with nostalgic names that nod to various terms that any die-hard Fixer Upper fan will be familiar with!
Ryan and chose to split a cupcake and cookie - we got my favorite cupcake flavor; red velvet, and he chose a classic chocolate chip cookie. The cookies at the bakery are thick and sturdy, yet soft and flavorful. They are the perfect kind to dunk in milk or coffee without it falling apart! The cupcake was super-moist and had a great texture/flavor. My only complaint was that it had WAY too much frosting - probably ½ cup swirled on top - but I get that it takes that much to make it aesthetically appealing. All the bakery items are big enough to split!
the lawn
The lawn at Magnolia is place for the family to just hang out and relax in the midst of shopping and eating. There are lawn games here, benches, swings, picnic tables and more! Definitely plan to eat a meal here or enjoy an afternoon sweet outside. The food truck selection around the lawn is fantastic (crepes!!!) and the atmosphere is SO so charming.
the garden
The garden at the Silos is another fun little place to explore and practice your plant ID skills. I love the little set up they had with the raised beds! Ryan and I are in the midst of observing where/how long the sun shines in our backyard in hopes that we can do something similar. Here at the garden you can buy seed packets, vintage-inspired gardening tools, and some of the cutest clay pots and planters.
planning a visit
We were lucky enough to visit Magnolia on a "slow" day for them - a Wednesday in the middle of February. Although there was a steady flow of people everywhere, it was by no means crowded and we were able to roam around and enjoy everything at our own pace. I'd certainly recommend going during the week and morning-lunch time hours. Plan to easily spend 2-3 hours here, especially if you are going to take advantage of the delicious food offerings from trucks and the bakery! The Sillos has a great webpage with hours, directions, and a map of the free trolley you can take to get there from downtown Waco (although it's just a 5-6 block walk).
shop magnolia style
If you can't make it to Magnolia any time soon but want to add a few touches of Fixer Upper style to your home, below are some pieces that have either been designed by Joanna herself or that match the vibes very closely!
