Simply Magnolia Market

January 4th just happens to be the best day of the year...my birthday! But this birthday was extra special because I had already asked my husband not to get me anything. In other words, I’m not a stuff lover. I didn’t need any more things in my house to collect dust. He was surprised by my response and nonchalantly said, "Sorry, I already got it through Amazon Prime. You have to open it.” So begrudgingly, I began opening this heavy box which could not be anything good, right? Inside, I noticed a huge ream of paper with a file folder on top. I looked up at him with a small inquisitive smile that said,”What in the world have you done?” He just grinned back, reminding me of a little boy who had done something mischievous. Inside the file folder was a dream come true! He had secretly planned an ENTIRE TRIP  to Waco, TX! Even going as far as planning out the itinerary for the weekend. My mouth hit the floor in utter amazement when I realized he was taking me to MAGNOLIA SILOS! Joanna Gaines style for home décor is everything I strive for in my own home. So to get the opportunity to see her business was magical. As you can imagine, I gave him the biggest hug and kiss ever. A couple weeks later, we were flying high in the sky...

Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Psalm 36:5

Every cloud in the sky seemed to blanket the Earth and reminded me of a verse in Psalms.

He turned in all his frequent flyer miles so we could go. One of the few benefits from a job that requires my husband to travel. 

Aw, nothing starts the morning off right then a favorite drink in hand. That may or may not be just orange juice. I'm not telling ;)

After flying into Dallas we drove the two hours to Waco!

Perfectly happy to do life with him. We made it to Magnolia Market at The Silos!

601 Webster Avenue

Waco, Texas 76706

Want to write an old fashioned letter to someone? You can here! It was neat to see people taking the time to write a note to someone special.

Magnolia Gardens, nothing blooming in February but the garden store was very cute.

The Magnolia Bakery, where all your cupcake dreams come true.

About to enter the store!

Just beautiful! So many sights to take in. I wanted to VERY SLOWLY walk around noticing everything.

It was a crowded day but everyone was kind, probably because we were all so excited to be there!

Food Trucks, Food Trucks and more Food Trucks! We chose Captain Billy's Whizzbang's Hamburgers. Mmmhhh with the bacon crushed inside the hamburger patty.

After some time at the Silos, we decided to venture out and get a cup of coffee. What better place than Common Grounds featured in the Fixer Upper episode, "A Craftsman Remodel for Coffeehouse Owners." We loved the laidback college atmosphere and Cowboy Coffee.

1123 S.8th Street

Waco, Texas 76706

Next was a stop to Harp Design Co. where you all will be very familiar with Clint Harp's work. Of course, I had to buy two candlesticks from his store.

808 N. 15th Street

Waco, Texas 76707

Next door to Harp Design Co. is the Harp House. You may remember this being Clint Harp's home that Chip and Joanna remodeled. It's now used as Bed and Breakfast.

After the two hour drive back to Dallas, we ate at a Southeast Asian Restaurant called Lava 10. Can you tell we LOVE sushi! SO GOOD!

On Day 2, we wanted to go back to Waco and look at a few homes Chip and Joanna remodeled as well as drive by their home. I was beyond excited!

Even though it was a dreary day, my enthusiasm to see their home was like sunshine.

 

And then it was off to JDH Iron Designs, not too far from Chip and Joanna's home. You may recall that Jimmy Don's Iron Designs was featured in Fixer Upper for his unique metal signs.

9685 N Lone Star Pkwy, Valley Mills, TX 76689

We looked around his store and the viewing room. Of course we had to buy a sign. I so hoped we would get to meet Jimmy Don but after much waiting it didn't look like that would happen. So as we walked out the door talking about the sign we had just ordered, a man came around the corner and says, "Hi, there." I was in celebrity shock! All I could think to say was, "Are you Jimmy Don?"

   It was! Jimmy Don talked to us about how he chose his metals and the blessing it was to have been featured on Fixer Upper. He seemed like such a happy guy who truly loved his work. Our day was made!

                  

This is the sign we ordered. Isn't it great?

In the final hours of our day, we decided to play detective and locate some of the Fixer Upper Homes.

I've shared the addresses incase you'd like to see them too!

Beanstalk Bungalow

28th Street and Gorman Avenue

The Gorman Story

20th Street and Gorman Avenue

 

The Original Magnolia Store

3801 Bosque Blvd, Waco Texas

I hope you enjoyed reading my Magnolia blog. This is only Part One of our Texas adventure. I have a whole other blog dedicated to Southfork Ranch coming soon! Yes, I said that correctly. Along with being a Fixer Upper Fan, I am also a Dallas fan. Stay tuned for our final Sunday adventure.

~Kim

Are You Part of Our Unsocial Social Media Culture?

I still believe in an old fashioned phone call, don't you!  You probably remember them if you lived in the 90's or before. You know, the one where the phone would ring and you'd excitedly run to grab the phone off the wall, yank the curly cord as far as you could go, and then proceed with the customary greeting, "Hello, how are you?" Yes, that one!

As a teen, I used to spend an hour on the phone with friends and I'm sure you did too. When dating, my now husband, starting at 9 o'clock we would spend an hour on the phone with each other every night. Our relationship was first built on communication. It forced us to listen to each other and work on our conversational skills.

I have to admit though, in today's society hardly anyone calls anymore. And yes, I'm including myself when talking about today's society. Sometimes it's much easier to just text someone quickly or comment on someone's photos on Facebook. But does that truly mean you understand and KNOW that person. Absolutely not!

Too often than not, people will see me in passing and say, "Oh I loved that picture you posted."

"Oh really, thanks!" I'd say. But really in my head, I was wondering how come our relationship only goes as far as a Facebook Like.

The problem with today's society is that social media is killing our social skills. For me personally, I really try to make an effort to see people at least monthly or call my dear friends weekly. It's that deep communication my soul longs for and really misses. Have you felt like that too?

I know that I can't rely on people to fulfill my life...God does that. But humans were created to be social. And not social in the "sit behind your computer and troll on your friends' pictures." Social as in, intentionally scheduling time together, whether that be a phone date or meet up.

But here's the kicker. I have discovered that some people like to keep their friends at a distance. And that's okay as long as the other party isn't affected. Because of that,  I can only make a relationship go as far as the other person wants to take it. And because I may be an odd ball and truly enjoy other's company (sarcasm there), the only thing I have control of is myself. So like water rolling off a ducks' back I must let the relationship just be.

My encouragement to you and words of advice for me would be to build connections with the people who want you in their life. Don't get so bogged down with busyness and forget to call your closest friends and family. And like my grandmother would say, "Like water rolling off a duck's back, let it go."

P.S. Mamow Mary Lou, I'm calling you tomorrow!

To Give It Up or Keep It Going?

So I've been wrestling with the idea of giving up the blog. For one, when I started the blog a little over a year ago, my main goal was to be a positive example in the world for moms. I really wanted to be authentic and not sugar coat things. And I believe that it has worked-for the most part. Part of the issue with me putting my life out there is being willing to take the judgment and criticism of others. I know I've got to grow a tougher skin when it comes to family and friends passing unnecessary judgments. But I have to admit, it still bothers me. Am I really willing to put it all out there!?

 

And the blog has grown significantly in the last year-averaging about 150 views per post with steady followers in India, Canada and Russia. I feel like it has been helpful to some women because I do get emails from others saying that, "They too, have been in similar situations and are glad they're not alone." But the issue of privacy has come up a lot. My goal was not for people to blog stalk me but to get something out of it and respond with comments. And right now, hardly anyone comments although I know they are reading thanks to Google Analytics. And not saying it's a bad thing to just read people's posts (I do it too). But it would be encouraging if people responded more...at least I wouldn't think they were just trying to be a "fly on my wall."

 

So what should I do? I'm praying about it. Toying with the idea of making it a private blog...or leaving it the same? I feel called to put myself out there. To explain the truth as an introspective woman sees it. To openly discuss my thoughts about God and relationships. I want to blog for a purpose. Is this really what God intends for me to do?

 

 

To Move or Not To Move? That is the Question No One Seems to Answer.



Baby Girl with her brand new cousin. She loves to give her kisses and fist pumps. Haha!

It has been such a long time since I've had the desire to blog. Don't get me wrong, I would love to blog everyday but so much has been happening that when I finally get a break, all I want to do is take a nap...

 

Third trimester has hit hard and I am almost positive Baby Boy is going to be a BIG BABY! Let's hope he's average but every night The Hubs puts his hand on my stomach and says, "What is that!? Kim, are you sure he's not a big baby?" And I say, "I KNOW! He has got to be huge." I never felt Baby Girl's feet or shoulders while pregnant but it seems like this baby could possibly give one big stretch and pop out of my belly...and I'm only 33 weeks. That, my friends, is the scary part. LOL! There is officially no more room in the inn, so to speak. The doctor says she would like to do an ultrasound at 36 weeks pregnant. So we will know more info then.

 

Trying to kiss the baby at 28 weeks pregnant : )

But other pregnancy symptoms that I feel has started early are loss of appetite (no place in my stomach for large meals), waddling and constant heartburn. The heartburn I can handle but the waddling and backache are the toughest. Why?!!!! Because it appears we may FINALLY be getting the opportunity to move!

 

Don't you just love how the Lord's timing isn't our timing. I suppose that's because He is an everlasting God and time to Him means something completely different than time to us. So the bank that owns the short sale finally okayed our offer. We had originally hoped to close 6 weeks before Baby Boy arrived.

 

I would sarcastically say to people, "Yep, did you hear the bank finally agreed to let us move into the house...6 weeks before Baby Boy gets here?" And they'd just stare at me bug eyed. I could see the wheels turning in their head and I knew they were thinking, "Girl, you don't know what you're in for. Moving, an almost two year old and a newborn...you have got to be CRA-ZY!"

 

But then another stepping stone popped up in our path that made the original plan seem heavenly. We had proactively locked in a three month loan rate thinking we'd have everything ready to go when the bank finally agreed. But about two days after we found out we got the house, our loan guy said that our loan rate had expired. Can you believe it! Errrr we were so frustrated. So the loan is back in underwriting (again).

 

Our NEW PROJECTED CLOSE DATE IS...4 weeks before Baby Boy enters the world! I'm still in shock over this. I'll be 36 weeks pregnant when we move! Just reading that outloud makes me want to shake my head furiously in hopes that this is only my imagination. NO PEOPLE...this is the ultimate CRA-ZY! So could you all continue to pray for us that our loan people don't piddle around and actually okay the loan say...SOON!

 

Nevertheless, all this "stuff" has created even more patience in me that I didn't know I had. Our God  sees the bigger picture and because of that, He wants us to focus on how big HE is instead of how BIG the problem is. Isaiah 40:27-31 says,

"Why do you complain, Jacob?
Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord;
my cause is disregarded by my God”?

Just like this verse says, so many times I have asked of the Lord, "Don't you hear my problem. Don't you see that I'm trying to make the best choice. Why haven't You blessed me.

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.

 

But our Lord is everlasting and He sees and knows all even before it happens. So why worry over this simple problem when He created this very Earth that we live on?

He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint."

 

So because of this I have learned that my God is in control. Any problem I face will be met with a renewed strength and it will be as if I'm running a race and I never grow tired. My Lord will give me all the power I need to move and unpack and DELIVER A BABY. All in His Good Timing.

 

 

 

 



Baby Boy's furniture is here but it's sitting in the dining room ready to move. We have no room set up for him yet...another pregnant momma's worst nightmares. 33 weeks pregnant here : )

Momma Drama

Have you ever had a MOMMA DRAMA DAY? You know, the kind where as soon as you wake up nothing seems to go right. Well, my day was TODAY. I should have known that today was the day when Baby Girl woke up at 6:30 am wanting to play “Doggie.” I missed my quiet time this morning : (  But I thought, “This is okay. I can handle this.” WRONG!

By 8:00 am, she locked herself in the bathroom and I couldn’t find one single key to unlock the door. So I called The Hubs and he tells me to go outside and find the allen rench (spelling?) in the garage. So here I run, like a bolt of lightning outside, in my UGLIEST purple and blue fleece polka dot pj’s ever with crazy wild hair (because I slept on it wet last night) for all of 25+neighbors to see.  I know every single one of them thought I was insane because I was yelling at the top of my lungs, “What the heck is an allen rench?!!!!!”

Finally, 20 some minutes later, I open the door and find my baby girl lying on her belly sobbing and looking through the crack at the bottom of the door. I scoop her up and see all the snot on my floor and think, “I want to call my momma and cry too, Baby Girl.”

So by this time, I’ve had it and decide I have to get out of this house- right now! So I fix my hair ; ) and take Baby Girl to the post office. Have you ever taken a 20 month old to the post office? Here’s a secret for you….DON’T DO IT! Here is a tidbit of our conversation… “Hi-eeeeeee!” says Baby Girl as she runs up to every single person in this huge post office. “No, don’t touch the floor! No, don’t pull the boxes off the shelf and step all over them. No, those newspapers are not yours-you don’t need 20 of them laying on the floor!” Finally I resorted to bribery and said, “If you’re good, I’ll give you a sticker.”

We left the post office and I thought, “Im hungry, Im tired, Baby Boy is smashing his head against my bladder and…IM NOT COOKING LUNCH. Baby Girl, we’re going to eat at OLIVE GARDEN!”

“Eat!” she says excitedly and off we go.

The staff were so wonderful to us. They gave us a back booth to eat at and chocolate milk, broccoli and grapes for Baby Girl. I sat and colored with her, all while listening to her chatter, “Mmmm boccli.” Towards the end of the meal, she looked at me and opened her arms wide and said, “Hug.” And it was the best feeling ever. She made my crazy wacky day suddenly turn beautiful. And I thought, “I don’t feel guilty about this at all. I never raised my voice at her. I maintained patience all while wanting to cry inside and I’m enjoying myself. I love my little girl and know she loves me back.

People may not give stay at home momma’s the credit they deserve and sometimes say mean things like, “Wish I could stay at home all day too.” (Yes this has happened to me.) But I just want all my stay at home momma friends to know, “You are loved. You are doing a great job. We may not get paid a monetary salary for all this hard work, but what amount of money could actually equate to the hugs and love we get from our kids? Give yourself credit. We are all doing a great job.”

Soldier T and the ELECTRIC Flyswat!

 

 

 

My brother-dare devil, rock climber, hard core fitness fanatic, soldier and one of my best friends. For short, we will call him "Soldier T." You get the picture...he's rough and definitely tough... until it comes to Baby Girl. And that's probably the only soft spot he has : )

 

Soldier T taking an electric flyswat to his tongue for a grand total of $5.00

 

 

 

My Secret Plan

Last week Baby Girl and I were folding laundry together. Hold up! Let me paraphrase...I was folding laundry in the living room floor and Baby Girl was taking everything out of the basket, just to see what 40 pieces of laundry looked like on the floor ; ) Afterwards, I took the laundry to the bedroom and bent over to pick up a book that had fallen on the floor and my back felt like something popped. Immediately, excruciating pain went through my back and down my leg. It was so bad, I could barely move! So I had to call The Hubs and ask him to come home early. He obliged and when he got home, he found me a crying mess on the couch. Poor Guy had to help me do everything...including going to the bathroom, running my bath for me and even cooking dinner. Baby Girl couldn't understand what all the fuss was about. Why was Daddy helping Momma? She tried to get me to pick her up and brokenheartedly, I had to tell her that, "Momma can't pick you up Baby Girl." She literally ran crying out of the bedroom. It breaks my heart to even think about the confusion that must have been going through her mind! Well, The Hubs took over and calmed Baby Girl down. He had so much patience! And he did it all without complaint. That's what a Godly man does. He loves his wife the same way he loves Christ. But boy was I overwhelmed with his love for Baby Girl and I.



This is the picture text I sent my sister and brother.

I was trying to make a joke out of my back problems and

asked them to pray for me. The dinner is what The Hubs

 cooked for me that night.



So as I sat in bed  alone, thinking about how sometimes the Lord literally renders  you unmovable so that you, so to say "stop and smell the roses," I realized how much this man truly loves me. I began to think about how I needed to be a better wife to him. Sometimes The Hubs has to work late and I become a terrible grouch. It's just like the Bible says, "It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman." Proverbs 21:19.

So I concocted a plan that I wanted to secretly announce on my blog. Why "secretly" on my blog? 1) Because The Hubs doesn't read my blog unless I ask him too. This way he'll be surprised. 2) Because this blog holds me accountable and 3) I think other wives' marriages could benefit by agreeing to....NO NAGGING, GROUCHING, SNARLING THE LIP, OR FOR LACK OF A BETTER PHRASE MAKING YOUR HUSBAND MISERABLE!

So for one week, I am going to bite my tongue, zip my lip and throw away the key. Ladies and Gentlemen, I am going where no wife has gone before...I am giving up nagging for ONE WHOLE WEEK!

I will be sure to let you know how my week with The Hubs went and answer these curious questions...

1) Where you able to successfully zip your lip for one week?

2) If so, did it improve your marriage?

3) What stood out to you the most about yourself?

4) What stood out to you the most about your husband?

My Little Sicky Paints for the First Time...

Baby Girl has come in contact with a virus recently and her temp went through the roof! So instead of going out and infecting other little kiddies we chose to stay inside and learn to paint!



Since we've had a Sicky in the house, I got her "My First Color Wonder" to fingerpaint with...

Painting wasn't her thing.

So much more fun to crumple the paper and throw it behind her head!

Okay Momma! I'm bored of this and 'bout ready to meltdown! Better think of something quick!

No more painting! No more painting!

NO MORE PAINTING NOW!

Words can't describe the face she's making ; )

 So I improvised and got out some food coloring and flour. I layed down some blankets and towels (something I learned to do from the last time we tried this). I put some food coloring in a measuring cup and filled it up with water from another cup. "Whoa!" says Baby Girl. "It's magic,"  I replied.

Trying to eat the flour. No Baby Girl. Nasty. Yuck!



Then we had a screaming contest. Her verses me. Who could scream the loudest. She won, of course.

Eating the zebra's head.

I tried to introduce the words "Red" and "Blue" to her. She said, "Red" once!

Baby Girl pretending with her zebra!



Having too much fun : )

Her favorite "Whoa" face.



Baby Girl played so hard she took a second nap that day!

 

Love that smile!