5 things to know before you visit Magnolia Market

Until last month, I had never been to the great state of Texas. My oldest son has applied for college in five different states, Texas being one of them. The draw of being thousands of miles away from home with a warmer climate while the rest of us are dripping with rain seems appealing to him, so with applications sent, and an acceptance letter in hand, we set off to Texas to tour three universities. 

One of those colleges is Baylor University in Waco, Texas. What I have known in the past of Waco is David Koresh. Of course now, with HGTV's hit show Fixer Upper, Chip and Joanna Gaines are leading the way to making Waco known for much more than the town with a crazy religious sect.

Our main objective while we were in Waco wasn't to tour Magnolia Market, though I was dying to step onto the grounds of those silos, it was to get a good feel of Baylor and see if it could be my son's next home away from home. In the meantime, I had to keep reminding myself that we were here for a college tour and if we had time, we would pop in before the market closed.

Glory of glories we had time! Plenty of fabulous time, so I was able to come to you with 5 things you should know before you visit Magnolia Market. You know, in case you find yourself in Waco touring colleges, or if you are a die hard fan making a trip with the soul purpose of visiting the market.

1. The market is closed on Sunday.

We had a tight schedule, so had the market been open on Sunday, it would have been ideal for our schedule, but it isn't, so a quick drive after dinner was all that we could accomplish the day we arrived. The market is open from 10-6 Monday-Thursday, 9-6 Friday and Saturday.  There is a large fence surrounding the silos, so there isn't any after hours exploring.

I've seen pictures and heard stories that people line up to get in the doors when it opens. There was no line and no real crowds when we arrived on a beautiful Monday afternoon around 3 pm.

2. Fuel up first at the original Common Grounds

If you are chomping at the bit to get a Fixer Upper fix in, Common Grounds, the coffee shop made famous in season 1 opens at 7 am. While we were in Waco to get a tour of Baylor University, you can't stop in a college town and not make your way to the campus. College campuses are by far one of my favorite places on earth.  Baylor's does not disappoint!

This quaint little coffee shop has a secret sauce they call Cowboy Coffee. I ordered a no bull hot and it was probably the best coffee I've had in forever. I hear the Arnold Palmer is pretty delicious too.

3. There is more than just shopping at Magnolia Market

While the shop is a large draw to the Magnolia Market, it's so much more than that.

This red truck is becoming an iconic feature in Waco and you are sure to find plenty more opportunities for photo ops around the grounds.

The large artificial turf field was the perfect place to run and play. We kicked around the soccer ball with a few toddlers before we settled in for a championship game of corn hole.

You will also find a half a dozen food trucks lining the outside area with plenty of seating. I would suggest if you are planning on purchasing any items in the market, that you visit the food trucks last. The woman in line in front of me received a discount coupon for one of the trucks when she made a purchase and she was disappointed that she couldn't use it since she already ate.

4. Joanna's style is felt every where

I must admit, while I love the show Fixer Upper, I haven't seen most of the episodes. We don't have cable and Netflix only has the first season, but I have seen her blog and follow all of the Fixer Upper social media accounts. Joanna's style is consistent and you can feel it in the shop.

This front display had me swooning from the moment I walked in the door. I hear that the displays change quite often so you are always in for a new treat if you visit frequently.

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I didn't know where to start, so I just started around the sides and worked my way around the shop in a circle.

There are so many different beautiful displays. While I would love to say that all of the items that were available seemed unique to the Magnolia Market, they really aren't much different than some you might find at a local boutique home store near you. This may be disappointing for some if you are making a special trip just to visit the store. So please keep that in mind.

I was impressed at all of the design details every where you looked. This light above the elevator was stunning. Even the outdoor bathrooms had subway tile and were fabulous!

There are unique items that you can find in the market.  These signs have been made by Joanna's favorite metal artist Jimmy Don.

You can even pick up a Magnolia Farms tray or other design elements that you are sure to have seen in some of the Fixer Upper episodes or in Joanna's own home.

We all know Joanna's love of shiplap. These coffee mugs are brand spankin' new and aren't available on-line. So if you visit, you may just find some items that are exclusive to the store.

5. The prices aren't cheap, but you can find some affordable deals

I'm not one to spend $26 on a candle, but I didn't think that some of the items were unreasonable. The pricing is competitive with items you would find at Home Goods and some items are more in the Pottery Barn range.

I drool over this purse every time I see it and even more so in person. Though it's one of those items that is a bit more expensive in the shop and I am not the kind of person that spends $200 on a handbag even though it shows up in my dreams and was softly begging for me to take it home.

That said, there were plenty of deals to be had! I'm a super shopper, so of course every single item I purchased was on sale. The signature Magnolia Market letters were all on sale for 50% off. I sure wish I had had room in my suitcase, but I did not. You could have scored a letter for as cheap as $2! I felt like this product was reasonably priced because I've seen prices much more expensive at other shops. Even not on sale, they were a good deal.

I also found several after Christmas items that weren't necessarily Christmas items for 75% off.  I picked up 3 small eucalyptus wreaths for $3.50 each.

I also scored a beautiful leather wrap bracelet for 25% off. Many of the items I noticed on sale were only on sale in the market and were still listed at full price on the website.

It's a beautiful shop, well worth the stop if you find yourself near Waco.  You will have to use your own judgement to decide if it's worth it for you to make a special trip just to see the store.

Before you go, make sure you stop in the Common Grounds coffee truck and pick up one of those cowboy coffees iced this time. It sure made the hour and a half drive back to Austin much more enjoyable!

If you can't seem to get enough of Fixer Upper and all things Chip and Joanna Gaines, I have you covered! 

Stay tuned for an exclusive interview with a season 3 Fixer Upper client and get the inside scoop on what that process was like, insider details and pictures of what their home looks like now eight months after the show. You aren't going to want to miss it. Take this chance to subscribe to my newsletter so that you can be the first to see the post delivered straight to your in-box.

**update** Fixer Upper fans will love these inside exclusives. 

What is it really like to be a client on the show Fixer Upper? Here's an exclusive interview with Jaime from season 3!

All that furniture on reveal day doesn't stay. Shocking? Maybe. Find out what a client's home looks like six months after the big reveal. 

Want to get the Fixer Upper look for less? I've got you covered.

For the home

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Did you know you can buy glasses on line?

Four eyes. Spectator. Specacsaurus. Sir Specs-A-Lot. Goolysses S. Grant. Clark Kent. Lady Ga-goggles.  Call us what you will, three of the five of us in our family wear glasses.  My oldest son and I prefer to wear contacts the majority of the time, but even contact wearers need back up pairs of glasses.

I wear my glasses every night after I take out my contacts.  I also give my eyes a break on occasion and wear my glasses during the day.  And sometimes there are just days when you have eye issues and you can't wear contacts.  It's sort of inconvenient if you can't see, so it's nice to have glasses to fall back on.  

Especially glasses that you like to wear.  My oldest son is still growing, which means his eyes are still changing.  He recently got a new {stronger} prescription for glasses and with our busy schedule making it hard to shop around together {I'm the walking money dispenser} we tried Firmoo. 

We were able to use the virtual try on system to find a frame that my son liked and with a few clicks, the eyeglasses were ordered.  The prices are the lowest I have seen anywhere!

As a bonus, new customers get their first pair free!

If you are looking for good quality glasses without the extra price, give Firmoo a shot. 

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Craft store shopping on-line. You can thank me later.

I am busy this year!

Like busier than I have ever been-busy.

For the first time in 16 years, I have started working outside of the house as a substitute teacher,

I am trying to keep up with my blog, my family and my household, and wow, it's a lot!

Instead of getting rid of activities in my life, I seem to just be adding them, 

so something has to give.

I'm finding less and less time to run to the store, 

so shopping on-line has become really convenient for me.

I am preparing for two upcoming craft bazaars and it seems like there is always some item I'm missing from my stash at home.

I recently found consumercrafts.com

The prices are cheap and they have everything my local craft stores have, except at a discount.

Plus, I can order during my lunch hour and have it come to my door just a few days later.

Last week, I showed you my little vintage bottle brush tree experiment.

In order for you to be able to bleach the trees, they have to be made of sisal.

I found a pack of 4 for .77 at Consumer Crafts.

I ordered a few for my holiday decorating.

Want to know what else I picked up?

I got this Mod Podge photo transfer medium, 

Not only is it a great price, check out that little play button underneath the product.

That my friend, is a video tutorial on how to use the product and several ideas on projects that you can make.

Where has this site been all my life?!

Because I can't keep anything a secret,

{especially something I love,} 

you should probably take your pretty little self on over and check out this amazing site for yourself.

{feel free to shop in your pajamas}

I know you can find something you need.

You can use this link to find the catalog.

You can thank me later!disclaimer: this is a sponsored post but all opinions are 100% my own.  I promise I wouldn't tell you about something I didn't love.

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Fill up your closet for next to nothing!

It's no secret that I love to save a buck!

I like to dress on trend but not break the bank.

I recently discovered a website called Sammy Dress.

I couldn't believe the prices!

Some of our local thrift shops are selling used clothes for more than the price of new fashion forward clothes on Sammy Dress.

Sammy Dress offered me my selection of one item and I must say, 

it was difficult to choose.

I finally settled on this abstract batwing cardigan

The price?

$13.36!

At first I was skeptical.

You get what you pay for right?

I thought it would be cheaply made.

I was shocked!

It looked great right out of the package!

O.k., so if I put it through the washer it will probably fall apart and fade.

Nope.

I actually washed the sweater and it still looks great.

Not a stray piece of yard unraveled!

I'm sold!

Seriously, go visit Sammydress.com right now and see what you can find.

There are even 266 {gorgeous} wedding dresses under $100.

I'm not kidding.

You need to go see for yourself!

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What's in my cart at The Dollar Store

It's been awhile since I did a What's in my cart at The Dollar Store post.

I know you have all been dying to know what I have been buying while I have been shopping there.

Oh, you haven't?  

Well, that's too bad!

My son's Boy Scout troop recently had a cake auction fundraiser.

I bought a plastic platter and was quite pleased with how easy it was to use.

Many scouts cut up foam board or a box as a base for their cakes, 

I spent $1 and none of my time and provided the winning bidder a reusable platter.  

Double win!

I still love my silver plate chalkboard sign I made last year.

I picked up a few so that I could make more.

I have never been a fabric softener user.

Ever.

But there is something about having growing {stinky} children and a dog, that creates a need to eliminate odors.  I've been mixing half water, half liquid fabric softener to create my own febreeze in a squirt bottle.

It works.

Occasionally I add it to the laundry and my daughter gushes over how much she loves the smell.

We don't get out much.

I don't buy a lot of food at the dollar store, but occasionally there are deals to be had.

For instance, these marshmallows.

I used them as a topping on the aforementioned Boy Scout cake auction s'mores bars that my son and I made.  And only because when we first made the recipe and toasted the marshmallows in the broiler, they caught on fire {like blow it out before it burns the house down fire}.  We had to scrape off the burnt marshmallows {that I paid $1.49 for the bag for at Target} and ran to the Dollar Store hoping they would come through.  

Spoiler alert. They did.

I seemed to have misplaced all of my microfiber cleaning towels so when I wandered down the cleaning aisle, I picked up this 2 pack of white towels.

A typical trip for me to the dollar store requires wandering down every.single.aisle, so while I was going down the automotive aisle, I saw these much larger microfiber cleaning towels.

If you think I still got the smaller white kitchen towels, you would be wrong.

I did not.

My teenage son would be shocked to know that the underwear that he is currently wearing came from the dollar store.

I guess it's better than coming used from a garage sale.

I snatched up a few pairs of these Starter brand boxer briefs and the jury is still out 

{I keep forgetting to ask him about his skives}

so I don't know if they are worth the buy or not.

The pickings were slim though.

You had your choice of small or 2XL.

I found myself in need of a bandana

{don't we all every so often?}

and I am glad I held out to see what the dollar store's selection was.

Hobby Lobby had 1 bandana for $1, but the dollar store had 3 for $1.

I needed a nail file.

I bought a 4 pack.

That is all.

And finally, my last purchase was a stock up of Styrofoam balls and cones.

I use these for crafts all the time and they can get quite expensive at a "normal" craft store.

I used the cones last year to make twine wrapped carrots

and I used the balls to make snowmen.

Stock up, it's a great price and worth adding to your stash of craft supplies.

That's what was in my cart

Have you snatched up any winners at the dollar store lately?

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