Travel – jaime lyn

2021: My Travels + Living Life to the Fullest

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…

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

December 31, 2021 by Jaime Lyn | Comments Off

Interior Design, Lifestyle, Travel

All That’s New at the Silos at Magnolia!

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 coming back 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!

Blessings,

May 16, 2021 by Jaime Lyn | Comments Off

Interior Design, Lifestyle, Travel

Spring at the Magnolia Silos

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!

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…

My Stay at the Magnolia House… Read here!

My Visit to the Magnolia Table… Read here!

My Summer 18′ trip to Magnolia… Read here!

Thank you so much for visiting my Blog.. I truly love sharing with you here and hope you enjoy your time with me! Until next time friends…

Blessings,

April 30, 2021 by Jaime Lyn | Comments Off

Lifestyle, Travel

Magnolia Table

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!

March 27, 2021 by Jaime Lyn | Comments Off

Interior Design, Lifestyle, Travel

Our Stay at the Magnolia House

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!

Happy Travels, friends!

Blessings,

February 7, 2021 by Jaime Lyn | 0 comments

Lifestyle, Travel

My Trip to Cape Coral, FL

Hi friends, I am not sure about you, but I can not believe we are already through half of our first month of 2021! I hope the new year is treating you well and there are days of hope and happiness in your year ahead. I just got home to Michigan on Monday from our two-week vacation to Cape Coral, Florida so this last week has been busy catching up on life. Before I got too far into the new year though, I wanted to share with you about our trip to Cape Coral to celebrate the new year… It proved to be the perfect time for our family to escape to warmer weather for some rest and relaxation as we wrapped up 2020 and welcomed in 2021!

If you have never been to Cape Coral Florida, it is a beautiful area in southwest Florida near Fort Myers with over 400 miles of canals that lead to the big water, allowing for countless beautiful homes to be ‘water-front’ properties. We rented a gorgeous home via VRBO, and stayed for two full weeks, from the end of December thru the first week and a half of January. Our home was a 4 bedroom, 3 bath in a quiet neighborhood with the gorgeous canal to the back of the house, nestled among other beautiful homes in the area. Key features were the screened-in pool, outdoor living and kitchen patio area, game room, office, living, kitchen, dining, and laundry room, and came equipped with every amenity we could possibly need for our stay.

We rented two vehicles (we have quite the crew to cart around) and also a boat so we were able to enjoy traveling the endless canals, do some fishing, and take in some day trips by water to Captiva and Sanibel Island where we watched dolphins, walked the beaches, and collected sea shells.

Our home was actually located very close to the Cape Harbour Marina, Restaurants and Shops so this proved ideal to be in short walking distance to enjoy nice dinners, boutique shopping, and the festive feel of the active marina as boats came in and went. I’d definitely recommend Rumrunners there, Fathoms Restaurant, and The French Press. Cape Harbour also has two towers of condos, so if you are not looking to rent an entire home for your stay, this would be a very nice alternative to enjoy this beautiful area of Cape Coral.

Another condo rental area I would highly recommend is the Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village… this resort is gorgeous and equipped with restaurants and a spa. We enjoyed Pinchers, a lively and festive seafood dinner spot there at the Westin one evening, known for it’s fresh crab dishes… we devoured this appetizer (a whole meal literally!) to start our meal there.. everything was so delicious!

Other Restaurants besides Rumrunners, The French Press, Fathoms, and Pinchers we also dined at (or ordered in) were Duffy’s Sports Grill, Ford’s Garage, and Moretti’s Italian Grill.

I loved the location of Cape Coral, as it was far enough south that we could really embrace the warmest weather of the Florida climate, while nestled in a place that was a bit more low-key in terms of tourism, yet close enough to places like Sanibel and Captiva Islands to enjoy their beautiful waters and beaches, and also near Fort Myers’ busier, more touristy ocean-front appeal during our stay as well. Cape Coral was the perfect place for us to settle in and enjoy ‘life away from life’ for a couple of weeks, trading in our Michigan snow days for Florida’s palm trees, ocean views, and gorgeous sunsets.

Here’s a few more pictures from the home we stayed in and my family’s trip…

If you are thinking of visiting Cape Coral, or have questions on the particular home we rented…message me.. I’d be happy to give you more info, details, and insight!

I hope to share more of my 2021 travels with you on my blog this year…I already have a few more trips planned and I can’t wait! If you haven’t yet followed me on my social medias, or signed up for my newsletter…I’d love for you to do so today (links & sign-up here on my site) so we can stay in touch!

Happy Travels… & New Year, friends!

Xoxo, Jaime Lyn

January 17, 2021 by Jaime Lyn | Comments Off

Interior Design, Lifestyle, Travel

Charlevoix, Pt. 2: True North, The Salad Fork, & Cherry Republic

Happy Weekend! I’m happy many of you enjoyed my post earlier this week on my visit to That French Place and Bloom Floral Design in Charlevoix, MI. If you missed it, you can read it here. I had a few more places I visited up north last weekend that I wanted to share with you all before I move along to other blog topics… I hope you don’t mind! I love passing along great places to shop for your home; places in my local area and ones I find on my travels. Today I’m sharing about True North Interior Design and Antiques shop, The Salad Fork, and Cherry Republic, all in Charlevoix…and all on Van Pelt Alley…

True North Interior Design and Antiques

This husband and wife owned design & antique shop has been on my “go-to-boutique-places-to-shop” list (it’s kind of a quirk of mine that I keep such lists) all winter long! I couldn’t wait to get back up to Charlevoix this summer to visit this unique shop, and it was worth the wait! So many beautiful antique and new vintage-inspired treasures are found here in this inviting, cozy shop; one of those stores you just want to snuggle in at because it’s too pretty to leave. I gain a lot of inspiration for my Heirloom Grove Home Market when I visit shops like this… how they curate their space, stage pieces, and create a haven of beauty for their customers to enjoy. Take a little peek inside True North below… I get the feeling this shop is always changing things up, so I’ll be visiting every time I am in Charlevoix. They are open Monday – Saturday 10-5pm, and located at 108 Van Pelt Pl, Charlevoix, MI & be sure to give them a follow on Facebook here.

Honestly…. can I just move into this space and call it “HOME?”

I love their natural shiplap walls…
what a pretty backdrop to display all of their unique pieces.

Their back room houses more of their architectural pieces.. if you are looking for old doors, columns, banisters, windows, corbels…to add real architectural interest to your space, don’t miss this area of the shop.

Really enjoying Van Pelt Alley… Time for a snack at The Salad Fork…

The Salad Fork

Next stop we visited in Van Pelt Alley was The Salad Fork… my girls had to try their new Acai smoothie Bowls… and they were so yummy and the perfect afternoon snack for us while we shopped downtown Charlevoix. This little eatery makes made-to-order salads, avocado toast and new specialty acai bowls… that are so, so good you guys! They are housed at 217 Bridge Street, Suite B in Charlevoix (right down from True North, and next to Cherry Republic) and are open 9am-8pm Monday thru Saturday… if you visit Charlevoix this summer, check. them. out! & give them a Facebook follow here.

I have yet to try the Acacado Toast….but I’ll let you know on my
Instagram Stories how it is when I do!

Any shop that “hand letters” their menu is kind of a true sign that these are my people and a place I am going to enjoy eating at!

OMGoodness! So So good and you know you’re eating healthy so it makes it
*reall*y enjoyable too!

When you visit… grab one of these little fill-in menus…one for Salads, and one for Acai Bowls.. decide on your toppings and turn it in & they’ll whip it up for you within minutes.

We ate right here in the cute little tables outside The Salad Fork, in the alley.
This is the time of day during our shopping that we need to a little break…
the big girls are hungry,
and the little one begins to get tired..

Our final stop in Van Pelt Alley… Cherry Republic!

Cherry Republic

Okay… if you aren’t familiar with Cherry Republic, this will be a real treat for you… like if you were there, literally a real treat! Everything is cherry.. cherry candies, cherry jams, cherry salsa, cherry pop, beer… and wait for it..cherry wine!… I could stop right there, because cherry wine would have done it for me. It is amazing what they have to offer, and so nice that they have little samples set out everywhere (even a little tasting bar for the wines) so you can try out what you enjoy, before you buy. Cherry Republic is a favorite stop of my family’s as we stock up on all things we love when we visit, for our boat and home pantry. It is all sooo good! Northern Michigan is known for their cherries and you can find a Cherry Republic in not only Charlevoix, but also in Glen Arbor, Ann Arbor, Traverse City, Frankenmuth, and Holland.. all beautiful places to visit while in Michigan! Follow Cherry Republic on Facebook here and take a little closer look that I captured for you at their Charlevoix store…

These are wonderful gift ideas too… make an assortment basket of Cherry Republic items for an anniversary, wedding, or Christmas gifts and your recipients will enjoy everything!

On the boat enjoying my cherry wine and white chocolate covered cherries…
(Is it an accident that 1/2 of my photos of Cherry Republic include their cherry wine?….
no friends, that’s not an accident.. 😉

I hope you enjoyed a little sneak peek into a few more places I enjoy visiting while in Charlevoix. I’ll be sure to share more of these shopping and eating gems as I travel… and more of Charlevoix on Instagram as I am there visiting. There are some other great shops and places to dine there and their Venetian Festival in late July is a great time!… I’ll share more on Instagram Stories in the future!

I hope you have a great weekend…it’s rainy here in Michigan today, so even though I’d love to curl up with a good book, I have some weekend to-do list things that needs done!

What’s to Come on Jaime Lyn Life by Design…

I’m looking forward to carving out more time to devote to my blog this summer…I truly enjoy sharing with you here! I’ve been in a bit of a remodeling and redecorating phase in my home, and I’d like to share some of that journey with you, as well as other areas of my home, my travels, and more fun design and lifestyle things you might find inspiring. Please comment on what you’d love to see.. I’d love to hear!

Until next time, thank you so much for visiting my blog today, it means so much to me! Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and sign up for my Email updates so you never miss a post. I would love for you to check out my Heirloom Grove Home Market too here on the web!

Have a great day friends!

June 1, 2019 by Jaime Lyn | Comments Off

Interior Design, Lifestyle, Travel

Exploring Charlevoix MI – Pt. 1. That French Place & Bloom Floral Design

Hi everyone, I hope you enjoyed a nice few days of rest and relaxtion over the Memorial holiday. My family and I had a productive and restful weekend… Normally during this holiday my husband and son, and our farm crew are busy planting in the fields, but rain held those plans up, so instead we were able to tend to some outside projects around our home, open up our pool, and still have a little time to drive up north to Charlevoix to get our boat ready for Summer.

Last year was our first year docking our boat in Charlevoix and we just fell in love with this beautiful, quaint Michigan town situated between Lake Michigan and the western end of Lake Charlevoix. I love the relaxed coastal vibe during the summer months here; there’s always something festive going on in town, boats galore in the water, quaint boutiques to shop (my favorite kind of shops!), and so many great little places to eat…and the view?…the views are just breathtaking. Charlevoix has quickly become a very special place for my family… a summer destination for us to escape the hustle and bustle (and stress) of our everyday lives, to enjoy summer, and much needed peace and quality time together. I remind myself it’s one of those why’s we work so hard throughout the year.. to have the opportunity to enjoy these special moments in such a beautiful place in our own home state.

Memorial Day was a bit chilly and there was rain in the forecast, so instead of taking the boat out, we decided to head into town and visit a few of the shops and eateries. I thought it would be fun to share some of our stops on the blog today. I’ll be adding more of our shop visits later in the week (so this post isn’t too crazy long…) and more about Charlevoix and other neighboring MI towns in the future….but to start, let me tell you about That French Place and Bloom Floral Design in Van Pelt Alley…

That French Place

This is a must stop for my kids every weekend we visit Lake Charlevoix… That French Place has great coffee and lattes, and the tastiest french crepes we’ve found locally. My girls always opt for their go-to…banana and nutella crepe, while my son chose the apple & cinnamon, and my hubby and I shared an egg & cheese. So good! The decor is french and fabulous and we like to either take orders to go, or eat outside to enjoy the morning views of town.

I think That French Place is this child’s favorite spot in Charlevoix, honestly!

Van Pelt Alley

Bloom Floral Design – Flower Shop

Next up we did a little shopping down Van Pelt Alley and first, browsed around Bloom Floral Design Flower Shop… this is such a gorgeous shop filled with unique gifts and fresh flowers. My girls found a few pieces they couldn’t live without. We love the extra personal touches in shops like these, with their pretty packaging and special attention to detail. Take a peek at some of their treasures…

There’s a little glimpse at two of our stops this weekend in Charlevoix… I’ll be sharing more this week with a look at True North Interior Design & Antiques, The Salad Fork, and Cherry Republic… a few more great spots to visit while in Charlevoix, MI.

I hope you enjoyed today’s blog…Thank you so much for visiting! If you are a Michigander, put Charlevoix on your list of places to visit this Summer or Fall…or if you are from another state, definitely put Michigan & it’s beautiful lakefront towns on your bucket list’s travel plans! Happy Memorial Day!

And this gorgeous white barn…
Such a beauty & represented Memorial Day well in Charlevoix this weekend.

Thanks for visiting my blog, friends! Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook and Instagram and sign up for my Email list.. so you never miss a future post! Have a great week!

May 27, 2019 by Jaime Lyn | Comments Off

Interior Design, Lifestyle, Travel

My Trip to Magnolia Market at the Silos

Hey ya’ll, I’m back in Michigan from my trip to Waco, Texas visiting Chip & Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Table and Magnolia Market at the Silos. My husband and kids surprised me with this trip for my 40th birthday, and I’ll always remember this celebration as one of my best birthdays yet! I enjoyed an amazing breakfast at the Magnolia Table, shopped the Magnolia Market, had lunch at the Silos’ food trucks, toured the Seed and Supply Co. gardens, and made a birthday wish over one of Joanna Gaines’ famous cupcakes from the Silos Baking Co. It was a memorable way to ring in my 40’s and the perfect time for me to launch this new design Blog I’d been working on! I am so excited to tell you more about my trip, and share some helpful insight, tips, and sneak peeks of Magnolia!…

Magnolia Table

I started out at the Magnolia Table, Chip and Joanna’s famous Diner, and it was everything I expected it to be and more! Every. little. detail was thought out from the covered, outdoor seating area where guests can comfortably wait for their tables, to the adorable Take Away market for shopping or light snacks, to the outdoor bistro for enjoying an iced coffee while you wait…and that was all before we even went inside! There’s so much I want to share about the Magnolia Table and their amazing food (yes the biscuits are that good!)…and because the diner is in a separate location from the Silos, I think it deserves a post all in itself, so I’ll be doing another post just on the Magnolia Table, soon!..so watch for that! Until then, all I can say is, if you are anywhere near Waco, TX… take the time, wait the wait, and go! The Magnolia Table is located at 2132 S. Valley Mills Dr. | Waco TX and is open Monday thru Saturday from 6:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Magnolia Table | Chip & Joanna Gaines Diner

Magnolia Market at the Silos

When I first arrived near the Magnolia Market at the Silos, located at 601 Webster | Waco, Texas, I could see the Silos far in the distance… you can NOT miss them, and oh the excitement I had… my husband who is a farmer himself and owns silos, granaries and elevators looked at me as if I were nuts… we have these all over the place at home and I barely acknowledge them, but here I acted like I had just seen Elvis while driving up to these larger-than-life silos! Oh but you have to watch the show y’all to get it, right?

We arrived a little before noon on a Friday and Magnolia was busy.. but festive. Everyone I seen there was happy!…the guests, the staff, the birds… it’s just a happy, casual, welcoming place to enjoy time! So…let me take you inside!

Silos Baking Co.

The Silos Baking Co. is Joanna Gaines’ famous on-site bakery, located in the white building with black and white awning, at the corner of the Silos property. The bakery is adorable.. designed with white subway tiles, exposed beams, white marble, black accents, and the most adorable chalkboard-esk signage listing the baked items for sale. On busy days (disclaimer: I think every day there is busy) there is a covered area outside next to the bakery, where guests can wait their turn to enter inside. I was given a little menu card and pencil to decide what I wanted to order, so once inside there was hardly any wait. I got the Lemon Lavender, Shiplap (of course!), Strawberries n’ Cream, and The Classic cupcakes… and oh my goodness, they were good! Helpful Tip: Get your cupcakes on your way out, at the end of your day, as it is HOT in Texas, and the last thing you want to do is walk around with melting cupcakes, or stop in a bit early to enjoy a pastry at 7:30 am before The Market opens at 9 am (and the bigger crowds start rolling in.) The bakery is open Monday thru Saturday 7:30 am to 6 pm.

The Silos, The Lawn, & the Food Trucks

These areas of the Silos feel like a big family reunion with a community of people you don’t know, but visit with like you’ve been friends for years! The Lawn is a huge outdoor space right in the middle of the property for kids and adults alike to play yard games, lounge around, and relax in the sun. The Silos make the most unique backdrop, and if you come from an Ag background like we do, you can really appreciate the authenticity of how the Silos, and the elevator were untouched and left in their very original state, with the rest of the complex designed and developed around it. Lovely! There are picnic tables on the stage area in front of the silos, and also a large covered pavilion with fans and misters (next to the Lawn) to find shade and to cool off a bit while you enjoy an easy lunch from the many food trucks. The Food Trucks add to the festive flare of the Silos, like a small town festival has just rolled into town for guests to enjoy pizza, hot dogs, mac n cheese, Alabama sweet tea, and popcorn (and so much more!… what I like to call, happy food!) There’s even a Silos Baking Co. food truck with some of the bakery’s signature items, so if you don’t want to wait in the bakery’s line, that is another nice option. We really enjoyed this festive space, and had some good old-fashioned fun!

The Seed and Supply Co. and The Gardens

This space is located in the back corner of the grounds and is so peaceful and tranquil. The gardens are filled with flowers, herbs, and veggies, and is cared for beautifully. I got the feeling I was taking an afternoon stroll through a friend’s personal backyard garden. I loved the little chalkboard signs marking the various plantings, the wood planter boxes, brick paved paths, and the aroma from the plants. We ended at the Seed and Supply Co., a little garden shed of sorts with double doors, opening up to an intimate shopping experience filled with seeds, herbs, flower canisters, garden tools, candles, gardening books, and other outdoorsy decorative pieces. It’s a very pretty area of the Silos property and I wouldn’t miss seeing it when you go!

The Magnolia Market

The Magnolia Market is the mecca shopping experience for Fixer Upper, and Chip and Joanna Gaines fans. The minute you walk into The Market, it oozes the look and feel you get when you see one of their renovated Fixer Upper houses on the show…the textures, the colors, the smells, the natural and casual elements. The Market is open Monday thru Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm, and we went on a Friday and Saturday (Saturday being much busier.) I found candles, wreaths, florals, furniture, table linens, dishes, Jimmy Don signs (of course y’all!), and so much more! It’s so fun to just enjoy casual shopping in the setting of this beautiful and authentic granary, with high, open-structured ceilings, shiplap lining the walls, black wrought iron accents, and natural wood displays and open trusses throughout… I really felt I had stepped into a Magnolia home showcase! Helpful Tip: Bring an extra suitcase for your findings…or a U-haul! 😉 Really, though… I would recommend picking up what you can easily pack for those momento pieces you want to remember buying at The Market.. candles, mugs, even a small Jimmy Don sign.. and either ship the rest home (which they offer as a service at check-out) or shop those bigger items online and have them delivered to your home (which I’ve heard is less shipping expense, but make sure that piece you want in the store is available online, otherwise buy it/ship it from the store.)

Enjoying the beauty of the Magnolia Market

Recap

You can definitely see The Magnolia Market at the Silos in one day, but I would recommend two days, using the first day to really take it all in, and the second day, as time to go back and leisurely enjoy the parts you loved, and purchase the things you had your eyes on.
I was pleasantly surprised at the affordability of everything… from food to the merchandise, everything was very reasonably priced, and I felt very similar to what I would spend at a normal shopping day with my family in Michigan.
The staff is so super friendly and extremely helpful, and welcoming; anything you need…they are there ready to be of service!
I was impressed by how every.little.detail was thought out and the whole property was laid out and organized to be a welcoming place of leisure and fun… places for kids to run off energy, areas to get out of the sun, ways to get through lines quickly, and places to sit and just enjoy the scenery. It really was a pleasant couple of days of good, wholesome, old-fashioned fun for us… kind of what the soul needs more of in our busy, fast-paced lives.

My Travel Notes

We flew into Dallas Fort Worth airport (straight flight from Detroit to Dallas) and rented a car… note: the car rental place is a bus ride and a distance away, so especially for your return flight – allow at least an hour travel time for this.
There is parking all over the place at the Silos and even a trolley service for lots farther away. We parked at the lot across from the Baptist Church, right next to the Silos, paying $10 – what a financial blessing Magnolia must be for this church!…wonderful!
We stayed at The Hotel Indigo – nice!! and only 3 blocks about from The Silos. We had one of the best meals there too at the Brazos Bar & Bistro (if you go, I recommend you get their stuffed chicken avocado platter, their cheese platter, and for your entree, the spinach stuffed chicken…all heavenly!) Even if you don’t stay there, it’s a great place to stop (very close to the Silos) for a nice dinner on your way home. Location: 211 Clay Ave | Waco, TX.

Other Fun “Fixer Upper/ Magnolia” Things to Do while in Waco

The Original “Magnolia Store”:

Visit the original “Magnolia” Store – Joanna’s original store she had years ago, before her Fixer Upper fame, and now is their “Magnolia Warehouse Shop” – open Thursdays-Saturdays from 10am to 5pm, where they offer their last chance items & slightly damaged products at a discount. Located at: 3801 Bosque Blvd | Waco, TX

Fixer Upper Houses:

Drive by some of the Fixer Upper houses from the Show…. we were able to catch these two beauties below and I knew the minute we drove by they were one of Chip & Joanna’s Fixer Upper homes.. you can just tell by their signature style:

Gorman House, Located: Corner of 20th Street & Gorman Avenue | Waco TX

Beanstalk Bungalow, Located: Corner of 28th Street and Gorman Avenue | Waco, TX

Laverty’s Antiques:

Stop by Laverty’s – The Antique Shop Joanna hits up for many of her decorative pieces she uses to stage homes. When we dropped by, they were closed and it looks like they only re-open when they have enough merchandise to re-fill their showroom, but by the off chance they’re open, it would be fun to browse, or at least get a good photo op! Located at: 3520 600 North 18th Street | Waco, TX.

Harp Design Co:

Shop at Harp Design Co. – Clint Harp and his wife Kelly’s handmade wood furniture and home furnishings shop…if you watch Fixer Upper, you’ll know Clint as the craftsman who made some of Joanna’s beautiful furniture pieces she used in her Fixer Upper homes. Clint and Kelly also have a spin-off show of their own called Wood Work, just in it’s first season on the DIY Network. Location of Harp Design Co.: 808 N 15th Street | Waco TX

Spice Village Collection of Shops:

And if you desire to do more shopping while in Waco, I suggest you visit the boutiques at Spice Village – This is a major hub for boutique shopping with over 60 boutiques under one roof. You’ll find home decor, clothing, accessories, gifts, stationary…anything gift and boutique-esk (is that a word?), they have it! There’s also some nice restaurants near there as well. Location: 213 Mary Ave | Waco, TX

And that’s my wrap-up of my 40th birthday trip to Magnolia in Waco, Texas! What a fun trip! The designer, mom, and entrepreneur in me left Magnolia feeling so inspired and I can’t wait to visit again! If you love this leisurely type of getaway, and are a Fixer Upper or Chip and Joanna Gaines fan like myself, I would definitely recommend going for a destination trip. And even if you’ve never watched the show but are anywhere near the Waco, TX area for travel, make sure to take a little time to stop by the Magnolia Silos or eat at the Magnolia Diner; you won’t regret you did!

Jaime Lyn Life by Design “Magnolia Giveaway!”

Before you go…. I’m offering a super fun GIVEAWAY on my “Jaime Lyn Life by Design” Facebook Page! I’m giving away: 1 Magnolia “Greenhouse Candle”, 1 Magnolia Silos Tote Bag, 2 Magnolia Table Coffee Mugs, and a 1 Year Subscription to Joanna Gaines’ “The Magnolia Journal” magazine (4 quarterly issues!)

To Enter: Like and Follow my Facebook PAGE, and Share my Giveaway Post (pinned at the top of my Facebook page.) For Bonus Entries, Tag a Friend (1 bonus entry for each friend you tag) and for another BONUS entry, sign up for my Newsletter right here at jaimelynlife.com! I’ll announce a WINNER once I have 1000 Facebook Followers!

Jaime Lyn Life by Design Magnolia Giveaway

I hope you enjoyed this Magnolia Post – share away, if you did! I look forward to sharing much more interior design, lifestyle, and travel inspiration with you here at Jaime Lyn Life by Design! Lots more to come! Thank you so much for reading! & to SHOP more FarmHouse styles I love, Click here!

Have a beautiful weekend, friends! ~ Jaime Lyn

July 22, 2018 by Jaime Lyn | 0 comments