Magnolia in Waco
My phone vibrates. It's a text from my friend Dawn ...
"I have a potentially crazy idea. Would you want to go Magnolia Silos with me in May over a long weekend."
I type, "Umm....YES!"
I don't recall exactly when I started tuning into Fixer Upper, but it was pretty early on. I remember watching and thinking to myself, this show is different than other HGTV programs ... it is something special. I obviously wasn't the only one to think so. Five years later, the couple behind, Fixer Upper, Chip and Joanna Gaines, have become household names. They have built a lifestyle empire that includes paint, rug, wallpaper and furniture lines, a real estate company, a quarterly magazine, a retail product-line at Target, a vacation rental, a new restaurant, best-selling books, and, of course, the retail compound of the Magnolia Market at the Silos, which includes a home store, bakery, and garden center in their hometown of Waco, Texas. Whew! No wonder they decided to step away from Fixer Upper.
If you know me, I'm not much of a trend-following person. I want to like something because I like it, not because it is considered "desirable" by others' standards. However, when it comes to Chip and Jo, I couldn't help but jump on the bandwagon. I subscribe to the Magnolia Journal, I read their blog posts, follow their Instagram accounts and buy products from their retail site. How did I get sucked in?!
Well, here's a summary of the top five reasons I find myself to be a fan — and a big enough one — to travel all the way to Texas to see the Magnolia brand firsthand.
Chip and Joanna are real. Authentic. Genuine. No, I don't know them personally but I believe it is widely known that who they appear to be on TV is who they really are in real life.
They have created a brand, Magnolia, that people love. As a branding nerd, I am beyond impressed. The brand's logo, look and manifesto are well done, but I truly think the heart of the brand was built on their beliefs, passions and goals in life. The brand is thoughtful, intentional and, best of all, entirely "them".
Joanna has crazy good design skills. As a (graphic) designer myself, I respect her work and praise her ability to incorporate both beauty and function into her designs. Designers aim to achieve a perfect blend of contrast, balance, texture, repetition and space. And she nails it, time and time again.
Two words ... farmhouse style. Who doesn't love it? I have always had an obsession with rustic and primitive objects. And Joanna has shown ways to elevate this approach to decorating. I love that the Gaines also live the farm life. I mean they are no Ladd and Ree Drummond (my other TV personality loves) but they do own animals, maintain gardens and enjoy the simple joys of farm life.
CHIP! You wouldn't think I'd forget about Chip, did you? Gosh, there's something so down-to-earth, funny and honest about this guy. Add that to the fact that he reminds me of my own husband, and I'm a total fan! Both of them are bold, outgoing and spontaneous people. The perfect match for introverted people like Joanna and myself.
Now, enough with the words and onto the visuals! Here's some photos from our trip down south to Waco. We traveled with Dawn's sisters, Melissa, Tara and Pam, and my mom. We also made a quick trip into Dallas to visit The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza before we departed for home.
