Create a Breezy Boho Patio Oasis for Summer Your Guide to Relaxed Outdoor Living with Wicker, Peach, and Coastal Grays
Summer is finally here, and there’s no better time to refresh your patio into a relaxing, boho-inspired oasis. Whether you’re hosting backyard get-togethers or savoring quiet mornings with coffee and a breeze, the right outdoor decor makes all the difference.
This season, I’m loving the effortless charm of wicker accents, light gray and tan neutrals, and sun-washed tones of peach and white. These tones give your space that breezy, barefoot-in-the-garden kind of feel — casual, warm, and inviting.
Here’s how to style your patio with a summer boho vibe, just in time for Memorial Weekend sales:
1. Light Wicker Furniture
Think natural textures that age beautifully in the sun. Awicker lounge setor bistro chairsadds earthy dimension while keeping things open and airy. Choose light finishes in driftwood or blonde rattan to keep the space looking fresh and relaxed.
2. Layer in Breezy Textiles
To soften and cozy up your patio, layer with throw pillows and cushions and patio rugs in warm peaches, soft whites, and muted tans. Go for textures like linen, macramé, and light canvas. Bonus points for tassels and subtle tribal or floral prints that nod to the boho aesthetic.
3. Add Ambient Glow with Lanterns & String Lights
Create that golden-hour magic with wicker lanterns, candles, orstring lights overhead. It’s the easiest way to make your space feel dreamy at dusk. Cluster lanterns at varying heights or drape lights across your pergola or umbrella.
4. Mix in Greenery
No boho patio is complete without a touch of nature. Think potted palms, grasses, or even dried pampas in floor vases. For a low-maintenance touch, go faux — just make sure to choose quality pieces with a natural look.
5. Accessorize with Personality
Layer in simple, curated pieces: a fringe-trimmed throw, a woven tray with fresh fruit or lemonade, or a neutral pouf for extra seating that adds more charm.
Memorial Weekend Steals
Good news: many of my favorite Summer finds areon sale this Memorial Weekend, so it’s the perfect time to refresh your space affordably. From patio sets to rugs and exterior decor, I’ve rounded up my favorite pieces that bring this look to life — linked below!
As so many of you prepare for Spring break travels, I wanted to share some of my favorite packing pieces. These items make packing so easy and efficient, making a place for all the things. I love all of these items, but my favorites by far are the packing cubes and the makeup case. If you’ve never used packing cubes, get them – it makes packing so nice to pre-prep your daily outfits, or organize by clothing type such as sweaters in one cube, pants in another, swimsuits, pjs, etc… makes living out of a suitcase so convenient. And my other favorite is the lighted mirror makeup case that stores makeup and skincare so beautifully, and is so functional in saving time as multiple people try to get ready while sharing (fighting over) one bathroom – take your shower, then grab your case and go anywhere in the hotel or condo and do your skincare and makeup for the day, while opening up the bathroom for the next person to use. I enjoy the extra functional pieces too like a luggage scale, steaming iron, and multi-outlet cubes are so nice too (I mean there are never enough outlets in a hotel room it seems!) Shop all these items here in my Amazon shop and let me know what you like most. Happy travels, friends!
by Jaime Lyn | Comments Off on Travel EssentialsLifestyle, Travel
I knew going into 2021, it was going to be another unpredictable year with the pandemic still a big part of all of our lives, but as much as that loomed over us when we rang in the new year, I remember making a very conscious decision that I would not allow that unpredictability to become the trajectory for our year. Rather, I would do everything I could to keep myself and my family healthy and safe, while also living our lives to the very fullest… and for me, that meant loving my family deeply, fulfilling my aspirations professionally and personally, and traveling to capture new, real, memorable, experiences of this life with those I love. Life is short and unpredictable.. if this pandemic has given us any solid perspective, it has been that… and I wasn’t going to waste a day, an opportunity, or an entire year, not living life to it’s fullest. So here is my year of review of some of what I enjoyed and experienced in 2021… followed by what I aspire for in 2022…
Cape Coral Florida – January
My year started out ringing in the 2021 New Year in Cape Coral, Florida, surrounded by my family in a beautiful vacation home we rented for 2 weeks… I remember watching the ball drop from our outdoor patio while the kids swam into the early morning hours. We loved Cape Coral, with the many miles of winding canals leading out to the ocean, while enjoying the tranquil home we stayed in, our evening boat rides, and exploring the peaceful destination town that began to feel like home to us. It was a perfect way to peacefully bring in 2021. You can read more about my trip here in my post…My Trip to Cape Coral Florida.
Magnolia, Waco TX – February
Next up in February, my hubby and I traveled back to our…well my... favorite place, Magnolia in Waco TX! I’d visited once before, but this trip we stayed in Chip and Joanna Gaines’ iconic Magnolia House and it was one of the highlights of my entire year (life!) You can see more about my trip to Magnolia in these four posts recapturing our entire trip… Our Stay at the Magnolia House, Magnolia Table,Spring at the Magnolia Silos,All That’s New at the Silos at Magnolia… If you ever get the opportunity to visit Magnolia, I can not recommend this traveling homebody’s happy place more… go enjoy it and see it all for yourself!
Nashville, TN – March/ April
At the end of March, early April, we took our family on Spring Break to Nashville, TN. What.A.Riot! Warm weather, live music, great food, cowboy boots, and family time all wrapped in one and we had an absolute blast! Hands down, best part of our trip was our time at The Grand Ole Opry seeing new artists, and old including Steve Earle singing Copperhead Road and The Oak Ridge Boys singing Alvira!… it’s those bucket list experiences that never dissapoint and the Opry lived up to all the hype of it’s musical legacy…
Charlevoix, MI – May
In May we stayed in our own beautiful home state of Michigan and visited my favorite place here, Charlevoix. There is something about this Lake Michigan town that resinates with me as I am in love the atmosphere, the dining, shops, views, culture, and the people! We have spent many of our recent summers vacationing here and it was a treat to spend Memorial weekend here kicking off our Summer. You can read more about Charlevoix in my posts…Charlevoix Part 1 and Charlevoix Part 2…
Beautiful Marinas and Boats everywhere!
Lake Michigan Lighthouse
My hubby & I enjoying the boat life
Out West Trip – Colorado & Wyoming – June
In June we ventured Out West for a memorable family trip and loved every minute of our travels. Our kids are now at the age that we can get a little more adventurous in our experiences. We enjoyed the Hot Springs of Colorado, the towns of Jacksonhole CO and, Cody Wy, it’s world-renowned famous Cody Rodeo, White water rafting down the Snake River, all of the glory of Yellowstone and the Grand Teton National Parks, and miles upon miles of the most beautiful, breathtaking country we’d ever experienced. We stayed in some pretty cool, (high in the sky…eek) cabins and had a family trip of a lifetime! We will definitely be going back.. again and again!
Chicago – July
Then in July was a Birthday surprise I won’t soon forget, when my hubby and kids surprised me with a private flight to Chicago for my birthday night! We shopped the Magnificent Mile before heading to dinner at the Chicago Cut Steakhouse for a delicious birthday dinner and dessert on the water… we drove back to the airport in a limo and got home late that night.. it wasn’t a long trip, but it was one of the most memorable birthdays I will probably ever have! I have the best hubby and kids who treat me so good… & I can’t wait to see how they top my birthday next year.. 😉
Heirloom Grove – August & September
August and September we stayed close to home as we were very busy for my Heirloom Grove business and school starting for my kids. Heirloom Grove is my specialty farm in Central Michigan where in 2021, we planted over 100 fruit trees, 200 blueberry bushes, 6 acres of sunflowers, 2 acres of hemp, redid an old red barn, bought an old 49′ chevy truck, and put in hours upon hours of hard work, while having a lot of fun! Heirloom Grove is also our homegrown CBD brand that we made great progress in this year as well!… and I have so much planned for 2022!
Napa Valley, CA – October
In October, my hubby and I were able to sneak away for a memorable 20th Anniversary trip to Napa Valley, California! What beautiful country and the wine… yummy! Miles upon miles of rolling hills of vineyards, amazing restaurants, great wines, and we stayed at the breathtaking Carneros Resort and Spa… It was a special and wonderful way to celebrate our 20 years of marriage!…& many more to come!
Washington DC – November
And then in November my hubby and I snuck away again, this time to Washington DC for a work trip… but we always enjoy a little fun everywhere we go, taking in the sites of our country’s capital too. We stayed at the Omni Shoreham hotel and had a fabulous time for our last trip of the year!
Home for the Holidays – December
And to wrap up the year, we’ve stayed close to home, celebrating the holidays. We decorated, shopped, wrapped, celebrated, celebrated some more… and I feel like I am closing out the year with a very happy, fulfilled heart.
2021… I had a goal to LIVE this year… even amongst all the unknowns, the unpredictables, the fears… I chose to LIVE … and we did it fully, whole heartedly, and together. It was a year I will not soon forget, one that captured so many wonderful experiences and times shared… the big ones shown on this post for sure, but also the smaller, quieter moments of being at home, of being outside on our farm, of supporting our kids at their activities, of our days at work, and our moments of simply, being together… living. I am deeply thankful for 2021 and all it brought to me and my family.
2022… I am eager and excited for another new year, another opportunity here on this blessed planet to LIVE and see what it has in store.. even amongst the unknowns that are always reality, I am ready again, to live the year to the fullest. I hope to continue nurturing our relationships, to experience even more new things together, and this year to celebrate one another…my kids have their 18th, sweet 16, 13th, and double-digits #10 – birthdays this year.. and my first born graduates.. so big celebrations! I hope for another year of making long, lasting memories with the ones I love. And I truly hope that for all of you too!
Happy New Year, here’s to 2022 being a healthy, happy, living-life-to-the-fullest year!
New Year Blessings, Jaime Lyn
by Jaime Lyn | Comments Off on My Travels + Living Life to the FullestInterior Design, Lifestyle
TGIF! and welcome to the weekend, friends! Today I wanted to share one of the cutest boutique shops I have visited in quite some time… The Red Lantern in Edmore, MI. This shop is located only a few towns away from where I live, but I had never visited before until a few weeks ago… what a treat! My girls and I enjoyed shopping this mother-daughter duo-owned shop, filled to the brim with home decor, gifts, clothing, and accessories… our favorite kind of place to shop!
We spent about an hour browsing every inch of this pretty shop… I snagged some home decor pieces (shocker I know!) and a pretty summer dress, while my girls found some cute things for their rooms, earrings, and a few clothing pieces for their summer wardrobes too.
What I love most about shopping these kinds of stores, is the moments spent there feels more like a relaxing hobby than a stressful shopping trip, as you may feel in a larger store… items are displayed in a creative way, and there is just enough to choose from to have a good selection, without feeling overwhelmed.
Take a peek at a more of their summer displays…soo many cute things!
And here is a sneak peek at one of their Fall displays, and will be part of their Fall Open House this weekend… today and Saturday, August 13th & 14th!… a great time to visit if you’ve never been.. or visit again even if you have!
The Red Lantern – Fall Open House! – August 13th + 14th!
Photo Credit: The Red Lantern (via Facebook)
The Red Lantern is located at 504 E. Main St., Edmore MI, open 10-6pm Tuesday thru Friday, 10-3 on Saturdays, and closed Sundays and Mondays. If you go – tell the ladies I sent ya! 🙂
…. OH and before I wrap… make sure you also visit another quaint shop in Edmore while you are in town, just down the street from The Red Lantern… Gypsy Soul Boutique… loved this shop so much as well!
Happy Friday friends… and remember to support your local, small shops when you can! Thanks again to The Red Lantern for a fun afternoon this Summer, shopping with my girls!
Wishing you a blessed weekend, friends! Until next time…
Well friends, I am back with more Magnolia!… because who can ever get too much Magnolia?… Not this girl! If you’ve been keeping up with my blog posts or my Instagram in recent months, I have been sharing a lot about my February trip to Magnolia; My Stay at the Magnolia House, all the yumminess at the Magnolia Table, the beauty of Spring at the Silos… and today my friends, I am sharing all about what is NEW at Magnolia Silos!
I visited Magnolia once before in the Summer of 2018 and had the time of my life!… but just like with every new Disney attraction that keeps families coming back to Orlando time and time again, Magnolia’s new additions are bringing middle-aged women like me, from all over the country, either there for the first time, or comingback for more!
What can I say… So much has been added! Not only were the original grounds still there in all their beautiful glory… You can see all about these areas of the Magnolia Market, Silos, Magnolia Seed + Supply, the Silos Baking Co, Food Trucks, and more in my Posts: Spring at the Silos and My 2018 Trip to Magnolia Market at the Silos… but today, let’s talk about all that is brand NEW at the Silos at Magnolia!…
The Magnolia Press
The Magnolia Press is the new coffee shop on Magnolia’s grounds… I wish I lived closer because I would vedge out here in this place all the time…it has such a chill vibe and smells delicious! They make any kind of latte you could think of and has such a cozy, peaceful feel… visitors could stay for hours!
The Old Church
This beautiful church was originally built in 1894 in Waco, and the Gaines’ decided to purchase, relocate and restore it for the Magnolia site. They discovered the church was not structurally sound enough to move it in it’s entirety, so they built a new foundation and frame, then relocated piece by piece of what was original to the church, including the interior flooring, wainscoting, corbels, beams, trimwork, pews, exterior siding and lattice work. What they revived is a breathtaking site on the new Magnolia grounds…
The Shops at Magnolia
This area of the Silos is such a treat! A set of 6 cottages were built to house a variety of small shops…everything from books + paper in one shop, to jewelry and bags in another shop, to men’s items, women’s clothing, bath + body, and kids + baby in the other shops… it was such a joy to stroll from shop to shop, taking in a more intimate shopping experience at the Silos…
Magnolia Home
Magnolia Home is the furniture store of all furniture stores… this is where visitors can shop all the larger, Magnolia pieces – staged in real-life living settings, visitors can shop for sofas, dining room sets, area rugs, decor, and more… I could have ordered one of everything, I loved it all so much… all the signature Fixer Upper styles in one place, with helpful staff ready to help you create your own Magnolia style for your home…
The Ball Park
This area is just the coolest! A place for kids and kids-at-heart to relax, run, play and enjoy on this creatively crafted wiffle ball field that connects the original and new areas of Magnolia… just the coolest addition!
So much to see and enjoy at Magnolia in Waco, Texas. If you have not yet went, go!… if you have been there before but have not yet seen all of the new areas, go again! Magnolia is such a great place to experience, I’ve enjoyed every visit so much!
I hope you enjoyed this latest post on Magnolia! Stay tuned as I still have 2 more posts to complete my Magnolia Trip Series… Next up is my post all about The Carriage House, another of Magnolia’s bed & breakfast homes – I didn’t stay there but had a spontaneous opportunity to tour it!! such a treat!… and another post to come is all my Travel Tips to Waco, Texas… where to stay, eat, and shop.. other than Magnolia of course! Stay tuned friends!
Hello friends! Happy weekend… and Happy Spring! I have never been more excited for Spring than this year after what has seemed like a really long winter. It feels so good to finally get outside, breath in some fresh air, and be witness to the promises of new beginnings as proven with every new tulip that blooms…
I kicked off my Spring fever in February when I visited Magnolia in Waco, TX and took in all the Spring vibes that Magnolia had on display at the Silos. Even though this was not my first visit to Magnolia, as I visited once before in the Summer of 2018 for my 40th Birthday (my hubby surprised me!.. you can see more of that trip here in this post) I still experienced new firsts.. for one, I stayed at the Magnolia House (see all about that beautiful experience here!)…
I also experienced all of the new, expanded areas of Magnolia that Chip and Joanna Gaines just recently developed (the Shops at Magnolia, Magnolia Press, the new (old) Church, Magnolia Home… there was so much more new to take in!….my next post will include all about these new additions at the Silos, but for the sake of this post becoming too long-winded, let’s focus on the beauty of the original areas and Spring at the Silos!…
Magnolia’s design team always does a spectacular job welcoming in each new season as they transform the Magnolia Market with inventive displays, and share fresh design inspiration and insightful, thought-provoking life perspective. This season, their design theme focused on the definition of time... “believing that it isn’t something to lose, but rather something we get to choose… not a burden, but a gift”…this theme was also carried out in their Spring issue of the Magnolia Journal... believe me, these pages truly came to life as I walked the grounds of Magnolia, and entered the doors of their iconic and beautiful Magnolia Market…
The Magnolia Market is a beautiful shop… I am always taken back by not only what is all uniquely for sale in the market, but how it is all uniquely displayed!… just gorgeous! This season, the market was designed with large (human-size) tulips that welcome guests, along with fresh aromas of Magnolia-scented candles in the air, and a bountiful of Spring florals and fresh, farmhouse-feel pieces adorning every area of the shop… the Magnolia Market is not just a place to shop, it is truly an experience!
I could have shared hundreds of images with you from my visit, but I selected some of my favorites. Keep scrolling to see more of the original areas of the Magnolia Market at the Silos…and I promise, in my next post, I will include all the NEW areas that I so enjoyed! (I mean how long can one post be?!)… So, come along with me!
Another of my favorite areas of the Silos is the gardens at Magnolia Seed + Supply… I love admiring all that is growing and on display in this beautiful area of Magnolia…
And… of course I could not resist the Silos Baking Co! YUM! I was greeted with gourmet cupcakes from the Silos Baking Co. upon my stay at the Magnolia House…I devoured more of these sweet treats than I should probably admit to, but they are just sooo good!
Silos Baking Co.Silos Baking Co.
The Magnolia grounds are complete with open areas to enjoy with your traveling companions… a large grassy area for kids to run and play, multiple gourmet food trucks to enjoy for lunch and snacking (get the sweet tea!), awning-covered picnic tables, a large pavilion, and more… the entire place makes you want to slow down time, and enjoy an easy day of browsing, shopping, and experiencing all that is Magnolia…
If you ever get a chance to visit Magnolia.. please just GO, and see for yourself how amazing it all is… whether that is in the Winter, Fall, or Spring and Summer seasons as I experienced, it is so worth the trip! I hope this post has given you some insight into the beauty that is Magnolia Market at the Silos, and some Spring inspiration too! More of my visit, including ALL I experienced and seen at the NEW areas of Magnolia, coming to my blog soon! And before you go… Take a peek at my other Posts from my visits to Magnolia in Waco, TX if you missed these before…
Hello all! It has been a minute since I was in Waco, TX staying at the Magnolia House (you can see that post here) and visited all there is to do at Magnolia Market at The Silos (that post coming soon!) but I still have even more to share with you from my trip! Today, let me take you back to my visit to the Magnolia Table!
If you do not yet know the story behind the Magnolia Table, Chip and Joanna Gaines purchased this vacated property previously known as the Elite, an iconic generations-old diner in Waco, and renovated and reopened it as their own in 2018, calling it the Magnolia Table. Chip and Joanna documented the revival of this iconic location’s renovation in one of their Fixer Upper episodes (you can watch here.)
The Magnolia Table has a feel-good, come-on-in-for-breakfast-y’all-feel, designed with the Gaines’ signature farmhouse style of shiplap, subway tile, black accents, farmhouse tables and chairs, and other welcoming touches… and all of this before you even see the menu…
And then onto the menu and the the food.. oh my gawd….. the food is so good! We started out our breakfast with a slider of juices, then we ordered up their lemon sugar doughnut holes.. melt in your mouth good, followed by our breakfast entrees. Both my husband and I’s meals were delicious, generously proportioned, and sooo full(filling!) When you visit, make sure you order some of Joanna’s biscuits.. so delicious covered with sausage gravy or spread with their homemade flavored, whipped butters. Just yum!!
I would recommend making a reservation ahead of time, because especially during their busy months, you may have to wait a bit for a table. The Magnolia Table serves from 7am to 3pm Monday thru Saturday. When you arrive, after putting your name on the wait list or checking in for your reservation, you can enjoy the covered outdoor patio area, and order up a coffee or pastry to enjoy while you wait. For our visit, we stayed at the Magnolia House, so the property manager had already pre-reserved us a 10:00 am reservation so we had our table within minutes (another great perk to staying in one of their properties) but the patio area is so festive and fun, even if you do have to wait, it is a memorable and enjoyable experience.
Before you leave, make sure to visit the Take Away market, a quaint little to-go shop attached right next to the diner.. grab lunch to go, a beverage for the road, or any Magnolia Table merchandise for your memories.
You must include the Magnolia Table in your trip plans when you visit Waco for the full Magnolia experience. They are located at 2132 S. Valley Mills Dr, in Waco… about a 10 minute drive from the Silos. Start your day out here before heading to Magnolia Market, as you’ll need a full belly of food and energy to take in all there is to see and shop at the Silos!
I hope you enjoyed my recap of The Magnolia Table! See more of my trip, first with my stay at the iconic Magnolia House here, and more of my Magnolia trip that I’ll be sharing to my Blog soon!..so keep a look out for those posts!
by Jaime Lyn | Comments Off on Magnolia TableLifestyle
Recently my daughters and I had the opportunity to visit the most quaint shop in downtown Clare, Michigan calledAlmost Up North. This unique shop is filled with local Michigan made products, unique jewelry, home decor, gifts, gourmet goods, fresh succulents, high quality clothing and accessories, and embroidered merchandise created by it’s own sister store located right next door, Stitches for Britches.
Almost Up North opened it’s doors only a couple years ago when owner Stephanie Boudour and her daughter, Shelby, expanded their embroidery and screen printing shop. They renovated the adjacent space next door to create their unique boutique of Michigan made treasures, and other timeless pieces for guests to shop while visiting Clare or just passing through town on their way to further northbound destinations.
Almost Up North has a timeless, welcoming vibe, filled with feel-good items that shoppers can not resist. My daughters ended up snagging some adorable pieces…a couple signature Almost Up North beenie hats, craft made soaps, two adorable potted succulents (they now consider themselves “plant moms”) and I grabbed some gourmet goods… the blueberry salsa is Amazing! We were excited too, to see our very own Michigan-made brand of body and wellness products on display, as Almost Up North is now a new Retailer for our Heirloom Grove CBD brand!
Almost Up North is located at 120 W. 4th St in Clare MI, and is open Monday thru Friday from 9:00am-5:30pm, and on Saturdays from 10:00am to 2:00pm. You can visit and shop their website and learn more about their store & unique story on their website here. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram too, to see all they are currently carrying.
Owner, Shelby of Almost Up North
I recommend you stop by and give this quaint shop and small business owners some love… especially this weekend for the Irish Festival… there may be a little less celebration in town this year, but that doesn’t mean visitors can’t still stop in and support some of these local small businesses who thrive and survive on their annual festival weekends. The Irish Festival runs from March 11 thru March 17th this year, 2021 and you can learn more about this year’s events here.
We just loved our visit to this shop, and made a girls afternoon of it…There are also other desirable boutique shops in town and nice places to eat for lunch or dinner too… Make a day of it and enjoy all there is to offer in Clare! A big thank you to Almost Up North for their hospitality and memorable visit!
Until next time, friends!
by Jaime Lyn | Comments Off on Almost Up North, Clare MILifestyle
After all of the crazy winter weather our country has been experiencing from Texas to all corners of the US, I think it’s safe to say we are ALL ready for the Spring season! It is this time of year in Michigan when the days seem to be getting a little longer, and the sun is trying so hard to peek out, that I really begin craving Spring… to see the snow begin to melt away, the trees start to bud, and the tulips unearth into to their full glory… Spring will be here before we know it, I can just feel it! In that spirit, I am sharing some pretty Spring items in my Jaime Lyn Amazon Shoptoday… everything from Spring and Easter home decor, to Spring inspired fashion and accessories, to gardening tools, to other fabulous pretty pastel pieces… all for you to enjoy in this next season. Shop ALL of these items and more at my Amazon Shop, under “Think Spring”…I’m always adding to my shop, so make sure you follow me there on Amazon, so you can always see the latest products I’ve prepared for you to browse and shop…
To easily Shop each item above individually, use the links below…
I hope you found some pretty Spring pieces to help your spirit ‘spring’ into the new season! Make sure you are signed up for my Email list here on my website, so you always see my new posts!
And before you go… did you see my last post about my stay at the Magnolia House in Waco, Texas?!… if not, you can read it here.
Also, have you followed me on Instagram?… I share more daily inspiration from my own home, life & style there.. I’d love for you to follow me!
Hi all, I hope everyone is staying well and healthy! I am back home to cold and blustery Michigan from my quick trip to Magnolia in Waco, Texas this last week. My husband and I went out because I happened to come across availability at The Magnolia House in McGregor, TX… one of Chip & Joanna Gaines’ bed & breakfast homes they filmed on Fixer Upper… they have 3 of these vacation rentals available for guests to stay in, but the Magnolia House has always been by far, my favorite! so when I came upon the 2 nights available in the first week of February, I jumped on it. I had been wanting to go back to Magnolia since my first trip in 2018, to see all the new & recent additions they have built at the Silos, but I knew I wanted to wait until I had the opportunity to stay at The Magnolia House when I went again.. so all worked out perfectly and it was fate! 😉 Once my trip was booked, I also scheduled a few business meetings for my Heirloom Grove business, so my trip ended up being a little work & a little play vaca!
We arrived to Waco and the house was not quite ready yet, so we drove around and found where Chip and Joanna and their family live, and also where President George W. Bush is retired, which was not too far away… obviously we could not get too close to either of their homesteads, but it was really fun to see where they each call ‘home.’
When we were finally able to check into the Magnolia House, I was just a little excited…(if you follow me on my Instagram, you can see my reaction in my highlight stories when I walked in the door…) The best way I can describe my experience, is the equivalent if I had told my 8 year old daughter she could sleep in Cinderella’s castle in Disney World for two nights.. this was my Disney World y’all!
Yes, I am a Fixer Upper fan… it comes from my shared love of their cozy, farmhouse, family-oriented, timeless style they bring to their redo’s, and the relate-ability I feel watching their husband/ wife dynamic of not only living and raising a family together, but also working together day in and day out on their shared passions and business. I am always so inspired by their work ethic, creativity, and values, and feel even more inspired when I visit Magnolia!
So… let’s get into the details of this beautiful Magnolia House… first, how do you go about booking it? I booked right on their Magnolia website… it shows availability and all of the varied rates (weekday, weekends) and the specifics of each of their three vacation homes – how many bathrooms, how many the houses sleep, etc… The whole house was furnished with everything we could possibly need.. from washing machine to coffee creamer and everything in between. We had a property manager who was an absolute gem to work with… she emailed me a few times before our stay, and texted me throughout our stay, making sure we were accommodated with everything we needed… such hospitality!
I would love to describe the house in detail, and hopefully you’ve all seen the episode when they fix this house up on the show, and their folks all come over for a holiday dinner… if you haven’t seen that episode, you can download & watch it here (I watched it again, while IN the house….and talk about surreal!!) Instead of describing the house room by room, in detail, I know pictures are worth a thousand words, and so I literally walked the house for over an hour and took so many pictures for you all… I will just say this quickly to describe the house…. shiplap, shiplap, & more shiplap, natural wood floors, black iron, subway tile, cement countertops, architectural corbels, antique furnishings & light fixtures, textiles, and the most layered compfy bedding you’ll ever sleep in… for the rest, take a look for yourself and oooh and ahhh as you scroll along…
The house was an absolute joy to stay in… so homey, and I just felt like I should pinch myself the entire time I was there to make sure I was really staying there. The house had a porch on every side of the house, and the whole property was cared for immaculately. The house is actually in McGregor, a quiet little town, which is about 25 minutes from Waco.. and actually, one of the other vacation homes they own and rent out, The Carriage House, is a stone’s throw away from the Magnolia House, in it’s backyard… we lucked out royally when the group of ladies who were staying for the same 2 days as us in The Carriage House, happened to arrive at the same time as we did…. so of course, we swapped houses for a half hour or so, so we could each tour both houses.. I will share my glimpse into The Carriage House in a future post… but it was such a sweet surprise to get the chance to see inside The Carriage House as well, what a dream!
You can see The Carriage House in the back…
Our first night, my husband and I were whipped from traveling and I couldn’t bring myself to leave the house, so we went to the local grocery store and picked up some appetizer finger foods and some great wine and made ourselves an easy dinner at home… let me just say, preparing food in Joanna’s kitchen was an experience in and of itself… I think I giggled the whole time… we then snuggled up in the living room and watched a few episodes of Fixer Upper (because it just seemed appropriate and all their episodes happened to be organized and stored in a digital DVR folder they provide for their guests…seriously, they think of everything!)
The next day my hubby and I did venture out for the day, starting first at Magnolia Table for a 10 am reservation they provide their house guests (the ‘breakfast’ portion of their bed & breakfast) and then we hit the Silos to check out the Magnolia Market at the Silos, Silos Baking Co, Magnolia Seed & Supply Co., the iconic food trucks, and all that is new at Magnolia… the Shops at Magnolia, the beautiful church, woofle ball field, Magnolia Press Coffee Shop, and the Magnolia Home furniture store (which I completely forgot was new there too… so that was a welcome surprise!) I will blog about all of these areas to experience at the Silos, in a near future blog post… so stay tuned for that. I had been to Magnolia before in 2018, so I’d already seen half of the complex… but if you are going for the first time I’d give yourself 2 days at Magnolia so you can really relax and take it all in without feeling rushed… and another day or two as well to take in all else there is to shop and see in Waco.. if I had had another day of my trip, I would have spent an entire day just relaxing at home in the house! I’ll share about all the places to shop, dine, and stay in Waco too, in a future post… soon!
I hope you enjoyed this post about my stay at the Magnolia House, a bucket list experience for me, for sure!! If you are interested in staying here, or any of their other Magnolia-owned Fixer Upper vacation rentals… check out their booking informations here, and plan your trip!…. a romantic getaway, or split the cost with a group of friends or family for a fun girls trip or couples getaway!!… you will be so glad you did!
I’ll be in touch with more about Magnolia at the Silos, and other things to do in Waco, and my sneak peek at The Carriage House.. all in future posts…so make sure you are signed up for my Email list so you don’t miss any of my new posts! …. oh 😉 and I am going to be doing some Magnolia Giveaways soon – on my Instagram, and one special one just for my Email list followers! Stay tuned! Until then, message me or comment below if you have any questions about the Magnolia House or my trip.. I’d be so happy to help you as you plan your fun trip to Waco!
