jillivictorio@gmail.com /

A couple of weeks ago during Jonah’s spring break, we took a family road trip down to Waco for the annual Spring At The Silos event.  This was my very first time attending Spring At The Silos and I knew I couldn’t miss it this year, especially since it featured the release of Joanna Gaines’ new children’s book ‘We Are The Gardeners’. When I first heard of Joanna’s book launch in January, I bought my ticket right away and counted down the days until Spring At The Silos. After all, it was the garden at the Silos that inspired our family garden we started last year.

Spring At The Silos is an annual event in celebration of the arrival of spring, and features a free vendor fair, additional food trucks, and no shortage of florals! Vendors from across the country were featured at this year’s vendor fair. The artisans and craftsmen are handpicked to come share their art, wares, and products, and is the highlight of the event. Everything from jewelry and home decor to dresses and hats and more.

Spring Displays

As always, the visual team at Magnolia does an amazing job with the seasonal displays and their floral displays were some of my favorites I’ve seen.  There were spring flowers everywhere with a mix of fresh flowers and paper flowers that surrounded the grounds.

 

Garden

The garden team is just as amazing in planning and cultivating an inspiring landscape. The tulips and daffodils bloomed in time for the weekend festival setting the scene. Oh how I wish I could afford to have a dedicated garden team in my own garden who carefully and meticulously tend to the garden 24/7. For now, I’m totally content with my little helpers that tend to our veggie and flower beds, and John to do the dirty work! 🙂

The giant teepee in the garden is still one of my favorite features as kids love it was much as grownups do. A beautiful climbing vine wraps around the teepee covered in yellow flowers. I would love to  (have John) build a structure like this in our backyard.

SILOS LAWN

Despite the crowds which we were prepared for, the experience during Spring At The Silos is still refreshing and inspiring. To see the gardens come to life is truly one of the highlights. The kids also enjoyed hanging out on the lawn playing games. We enjoyed a picnic lunch on the lawn while people watching and taking it all in.

We Are The Gardeners Book Launch Event

While the kids played in the garden, I ventured off to grab my wristband and signed book before the evening’s launch event.  I’m so happy the staff distributed books early for those who could not stay for the actual book launch event in the evening, and there was NO LINE for early book pickups!  As we were leaving Spring At The Silos, there was already a huge line beginning to form for the book launch event immediately after.  Our kids are early sleepers and early risers, so any event past 7:00pm that includes long lines of waiting, plus a long drive home after would not have been fun.  Along with a signed book by Joanna Gaines, we were gifted a cute terra-cotta plant pot and a packet of carrot seeds – perfect to plant in our family garden!

After picking up my signed book, as if the day couldn’t get any better, I ran in to Joanna’s mom, Mrs. Stevens!  I introduced myself and asked to take a photo with her. She was so sweet and totally happy to stop and chat for a photo. Mrs. Stevens is known to regularly help out and work at Magnolia Market.

I can’t wait to dive into the book with the kids! I’ll be sharing my review on the book in a future gardening post so stay tuned!

Vendor Fair

On the way out, we stopped and visited with some of the vendors and checked out the additional food trucks. We were on the hunt for The Hyppo for quite some time as Jonah is my ice pop fanatic.

 

 

We couldn’t have asked for a more blessed day at our first Spring At The Silos. The weather was perfect to wear spring styles and for enjoying the outdoors. I definitely plan to return next spring and hopefully find some artisan treasures to bring home.

Outfit Details: Knit Duster: Wild Fable  Jumpsuit: ANewDay , Sandals  Blush (also comes in White), Hat:  Brixton

Tips for Your Visit:

Here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind for your visit:

  • Go early: We visited on a Thursday afternoon on the first day of the 4-day event. It was already super crowded for a weekday, but keep in mind, the event is also held during Spring Break.
  • Avoid Weekends: If you’re not a fan of big crowds and long lines, avoid Saturdays if you can.
  • Come hungry: Plan to buy from the food trucks and grab a spot at a picnic table or the lawn. Pack snacks and drinks for the kids!
  • Snap photos: There are so many beautiful photo opps throughout the grounds. Take your time and take it all in.
  • Parking: The parking lot cost $10 but if you drive around the blocks, you should be able to find several parking spots for free. There is also a free trolly if you have park further from the venue.
  • Research Vendors In Advance: This will give you a idea of what wares and products the vendors will be selling during Spring At The Silos.

 

Have you visited Spring At The Silos? I’d love to hear about your favorite vendors!

jillivictorio@gmail.com /

Image courtesy of PaperCity

 

 

Since moving to Fort Worth TX, John and I, along with our kids have been making time on the weekends to explore our new town, city, region, and state. Recently we had the opportunity to head south to San Antonio to explore the San Antonio’s Historic Pearl and The Missions. We absolutely loved it and wanted to share our discoveries and photos of the area with you!

Stay

AIRBNB

This trip’s Airbnb was an amazing historic mission building, Casa De Alamo, built in 1868 that has been fully restored with modern décor and luxe touches, kid friendly amenities, and had everything we needed for a comfortable stay.  The scenic drive to the home was a highlight in itself passing through winding roads and views of Texas Hill Country.

Absolutely loved this welcoming front porch.

The stoney walls continue throughout the interior…

Cute farmhouse style kitchen

The kids’ bedroom

 

Master Bedroom…

Complete with the perfect selfie mirror for capturing the perfect #ootds

Outfit Details: Coat: H&M, Pants and Top old, Platform Sandals  Blush (also available in white)

The back deck, fully fenced, and just beyond the grass is a creek

 See

The Pearl

The Pearl is a great example of the revitalization along the Riverwalk. Originally a brewery founded in 1881, this property has seen a renaissance in the last decade. Buildings have undergone complete renovation and restoration and now house the Culinary Institute of America, 15+ food venues, a weekend farmer’s market, a luxury hotel and apartments, 13+ retail venues, a yoga studio, and the new Bottling Department, San Antonio’s first food hall, opened in 2017.

The turf lawn outside the Bottling Department Food Hall is the perfect spot for kids to run around and play and people watch.

 

Hotel Emma

Located in the hip Pearl District of San Antonio, Hotel Emma was originally Pearl’s Brewhouse built in 1894 and a San Antonio landmark ever since. It brings an eclectic, high style vibe to a city known for its intermingling of the multicultural and historical. Opened in 2015, Hotel Emma was designed by the award-winning firm Roman and Williams in the historic Pearl Brewery bulding, whose IG I’ve been following for years for their stunning designs in all the cool places. I could spend an entire blog post on just the Hotel Emma itself, but for now I’ll just share some of our favorite features we had time to enjoy.

Lobby

The Roman and Williams team created an original hacienda-chic style that feels one part South Texas ranch, one part Old World extravagance, and one part Jules Verne steampunk.

The front of the building welcomes guests and visitors to a beautiful courtyard that has a romantic Old World feel, with string lights hung, terracotta tiles, a water feature created from tanks salvaged from the original brewery, and a sitting area in front of a beautiful large wood burning fireplace.

Courtyard and wood burning fireplace

Can we take a moment and talk about this impressive kitchen? The Exhibition Kitchen at Hotel Emma sitting smack dab exposed in the middle of a hallway hosts events and classes throughout the year offered to guests. When not in use, the kitchen is definitely a show stopper and conversation starter.

Edible garden landscape outside Supper

 

Outfit Details: Blazer Cape (from 2016): Similar here, Jumpsuit: ANewDay , Sandals  Blush (also comes in White), Fanny Pack: Who What Wear (no longer available)  similar here

 

The Missions

Preserved by the National Historic Parks, San Antonio’s four historic missions are not only architecturally alluring, but also offer some of the area’s most interesting attractions. Sadly, many people have never even heard of these missions – overshadowed as they are by the famous Alamo. Here are some of San Antonio’s most beautiful missions to get your family-friendly, cultural adventure off to a great start.

A fun family day out, The Missions are very kid friendly and best of all, a free attraction for the entire family to enjoy. Kids can run and play inside their stone walls, explore garrisons that guarded residents from raiding Apaches and Comanches, see how native peoples lived 250+ years ago, and learn how ancient settlers grew crops and carried water along an ancient aqueduct.

Mission San Jose

Mission San Juan

Mission Espada

 

Eat and Shop

San Antonio Historic Market Square

We followed the upbeat music and came upon a square dating back to the 1820s, which locals dub “El Mercado,” full of vendor stalls, indoor shops and patio-equipped Latin eateries sitting underneath colorful strings of flags.

The boys and I had our first authentic Gordita! As surprising as that sounds and as much as I love Mexican food, I’ve just been comfortable ordering my usual street style tacos al pastor or carne asada. The boys loved them so much so I’m going to have to learn to make these gorditas at home!

The indoor market had the most beautiful artisan wares. I need to go back for some Saltillo tiles and other art objects.

 

Brunch at Ocho

Ocho is arguably one of the most instagrammable spots in San Antonio no matter the time of day and weather conditions. I knew I had to visit here after seeing photos of their conservatory attached to the Hotel Havana which serves as the Ocho restaurant/bar. I mean the place practically had all of my favorite things in life: windows, plants, marble, turquoise, and brunch!

Upon entering, you are greeted by the largest and tallest Fiddle Leaf Fig you’ll ever see.

 

Southtown

We spent our last day in San Antonio in the Southtown neighborhood, which we stumbled upon by accident searching for the nearest Steelcity Pops per Jonah’s request. After a bit of walking we found Steelcity Pops around the backside of a block located in another industrial building with a big grass lawn in front. I could see this being a popular spot for families during the warmer months.

We also found The Friendly Spot while driving through Southtown. What we first saw was the big children’s play structure out front with tons of kids playing and having fun. In the background was what appeared to be a bar. To our surprise, this said bar had the perfect solution for parents with kids to be able to enjoy some adult beverages while their kids safely played. Let’s just say the rest of our plans for the day got scratched after we found The Friendly Spot.

 

Finally, no trip to San Antonio would be complete without stopping in an H-E-B for market goods. For South Texans, H-E-B is the spot for locally sourced and specialty food items. It’s corporate headquarters is based San Antonio with retail stores located primarily in South Texas and 8 locations in the Southwest part of the DFW Metroplex – we feel lucky to have one in Granbury!  We decided to stop at the H-E-B near our Airbnb in Helotes where we were staying, and to our delight, it was Happy Hour at South Flo Pizza!  South Flo Pizza is a new concept at select H-E-B stores featuring fresh made-to-order artisan pizzas. Happy Hour is from 4-7pm and includes a 16″ large pizza and a choice of draft beers and wine… all for only $10.00!!

Clearly, the wine and beer made our day. The pizza was delicious too! The best I’ve had in Texas.

San Antonio has so much more that we want to see and will have to do on our next visit. I’m already booking a hotel stay for just hubby and me at Hotel Emma for our 11thanniversary this summer!  Three things still on my bucket list in San Antonio:  The Riverwalk, The Luxury, and La Villitia Historic Arts Village.

For those who have travelled to San Antonio, what are your favorite places to check out?

jillivictorio@gmail.com /

We recently got back from a Colorado Winter Vacation to Breckenridge and it was a great experience to travel to Colorado and the Rocky Mountains for the first time.  The kids haven’t seen snow since we moved to Texas from the PNW and snow was one of their wishes for Christmas. We loaded up the truck, kids and snow gear, and we were off on our first long road trip. 13+ hours to be exact.  Needless to say, I was beyond excited for snow, a cozy cabin, fires, and winter mountain vibes.

This trip, we headed to the ski town of Breckenridge, located at the base of the Tenmile Range, with an elevation of about 9,600 ft above sea level. Breckenridge is an authentic mountain town with tons of charm and attractions on Main St. which we were lucky enough to experience during Christmas.

 

Airbnb Cabin

We arrived to our Airbnb, and our cabin was just as charming and lovely as the pictures shown in the listing. The Swiss Chalet style a-frame cabin tucked high above the mountains has a spectacular view of Peak 8. The cabin was cozy, warm, inviting and decorated in vintage ski decor.

It was so nice to have a warm and cozy cabin with all the amenities to come back to after a day on the slopes. We enjoyed cooking some of our meals in the cabin’s fully stocked kitchen, and the kids enjoyed baking cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve night in anticipation of Santa’s arrival on Christmas morning.

View of Peak 8 from the deck

Breckenridge Nordic Center

On Christmas morning we went on a family snowshoe hike at the Breckenridge Nordic Center. The trails offer magnificent scenery of the Ten Mile Range and Breckenridge Ski Resort surrounded by beautiful spruce forests and spectacular views.  The Nordic Chalet at the trailhead area houses equipment rentals, retail, snacks, drinks, and a wood burning fireplace that is the perfect spot to warm up with a beverage after your snowshoe adventure.

John and I have loved snowshoeing since our first snowshoe adventure date in the Olympic National Park in 2006 and we’ve tried to continue snowshoe hikes every year as our schedules would allow. We wanted to share this snowshoeing experience with our family too and found it to be a great Christmas Day activity to enjoy the great outdoors and exercise.

Children’s igloo at the start of the trails

 

 

 

 

At the end of our hike, ready for a hot drink!

 

Peak views from Breckenridge Overlook

Outfit Details: Beanie: Rossignol, Jacket: SAM, Base layer and Pants: TopShop Sno, Boots: Danner from 2016
Get The Look: Ski Weekend Style Inspo

Breckenridge Ski Resort

The gondola ride was a highlight for the kids. You can ride up to Peaks 7 and 8 to dine at the restaurants and take in the mountain and town views.  Unfortunately Baron got altitude sickness halfway up on the Gondola after the photo above was taken. Mom tip: carry barf bags and extra wipes!

Ski School

Jonah had his first snowboard lesson here at Breckenridge Ski School. The staff were incredibly helpful, so friendly and passionate about what they do, and it shows!  The check-in process for ski school was smooth and well-organized. There are two places you can choose to have lessons – The Village and Peak 8. We chose Peak 8 since the location was convenient for us and we knew we would be dining on Peak 8 later in the day.

Jonah, happy and tired after a full day of learning and riding!

With this being our first time to Breckenridge, we had no idea just how huge and majestic this ski resort was. Breckenridge has 5 peaks, 187 trails, 2,908 acres and the highest lift-served terrain in North America – WOW!
The mountain stats are so impressive that they even have a new trail map created by trail map artist James Niehues.

Photo courtesy of Breckenridge Ski Resort

Dinner at Robbie’s Tavern

After a long day on the slopes or in the cold, there’s nothing better than hot comfort food. Robbie’s Tavern is conveniently located slope side on Peak 8 just a few minutes walk from Jonah’s snowboard lessons. The restaurant has a cool outdoor patio with heatlamps and fire pits for apres ski and drinks.  It started to snow so we opted to sit inside and after a full day or riding, Jonah did not want to be outdoors any longer.
I ordered the lamb gyro and it was perfect.
John got the chili cheese fries
I wish I would have gotten the hot chocolate! They look like this:

Photo by Robbie’s Tavern

Description: Robbie’s Peppermint Patty is a delicious beverage mixed with Peppermint Schnapps and a rich hot chocolate mix.  It’s topped with a mountain of whipped cream and a sprinkle of crushed peppermint candy.

 Main Street

Downtown Breckenridge’s Main Street is the quintessential mountain town filled with charming boutiques, shops and restaurants, with all the Christmas feels, like a scene from a Hallmark movie 😉

Main Street at night is like no other. Every single Victorian building home and business is beautifully lit in Christmas lights. This one was my favorite you can spot from miles away.

A family trip wouldn’t be complete if someone didn’t get sick.

Travel Tips: (for Colorado first-timers combatting altitude sickness)

  1. If you’re from a low-land region like us in Texas, you’ll need time to adjust to the altitude. We didn’t take the time to adjust and just went straight to 10,000+ ft above sea level and half of our family got altitude sickness during our trip. Don’t do it.
  2. Pack and drink a ton of water. More water than you normally drink at home.
  3. Eat lots of carbs. This helps with preventing altitude sickness and improves overall wellness.  This is the one time when you can eat carbs to your hearts desire and it is highly encouraged! Lots of carbs like kettle chips, bread, bagels, fries.
  4. Pack mini oxygen tanks.

 

Leaving Breck

Overall, despite the temporary altitude sickness, we enjoyed our winter vacation with our family and our kids had the most fun and made some amazing memories on our first visit to Colorado during Christmas. We would love to come back to this beautiful state and experience more ski towns and see the many other family-friendly ski resorts. What are your favorite family-friendly ski resorts you recommend in Colorado?

jillivictorio@gmail.com /

With my in-laws in town for the week and my mother-in-law being a huge Fixer Upper fan (who isn’t?!), it was the perfect opportunity to take a day trip to Waco to try the new Magnolia Table restaurant, then show them around at the Silos.

Recently opened this year, April 2018, the Gaines’ first restaurant, Magnolia Table combines Waco history with Chip and Joanna’s signature Magnolia touch.

Photo courtesy of Magnolia

Magnolia Table restaurant was once the Elite Cafe and the Gaines’ have renovated and restored the entire building while preserving so much of the rich architectural details, while seamlessly incorporating new and creative design elements and staying true to the building’s original features.

 

1. Have an Early Breakfast at Magnolia Table Restaurant.

Breakfast is the focus on Magnolia Table’s menu, and since the restaurant does not take reservations, consider dining early or on a weekday when there is a less likely chance you’ll get stuck in a long line.

The stars were aligned on our first visit to Magnolia Table restaurant, we arrived mid-morning on a Saturday, we found parking right away and there was no line! We still had to put our name down to receive a text when our table was ready, which we were told about an hour and half wait time.  Don’t let the wait time discourage you as there is so much to do while you wait for your table.  We hung out on the beautiful patio where you can order coffee/pastries/juice, take in all the gorgeous architectural details, and bonus points – there is a kids outdoor play area adjacent to the patio.

Convenient walk-up coffee bar on the patio. The Lavender Latte is a must!

 

The Patio with outdoor seating, a kids play area, and where you can order coffee, pastries, and get a head start on the restaurant menu while waiting for your table.

 

Beautiful and intentional exterior landscaping design

2. Expect excellent customer service by Magnolia Table Staff.

For the restaurant being open for only 6 months, the staff really has it down with customer service, restaurant flow, operations, etc. It was refreshing to be greeted and served by such friendly and welcoming folks working at Magnolia Table.

Outfit Details: Top:  Wild Fable | Mules: Nic + Zoe on sale!| Scarf: Missoni

3. Prepare to Enter Magnolia Biscuit Heaven

Even though biscuits are not a staple in my regular daily diet, I knew I had to try the country-style biscuits made with the recipe Joanna worked so hard for a year to perfect. They are definitely worth ordering! Joanna highly recommends pairing them with strawberry butter as an answer to a lot of life’s problems…YUM!

I ordered the Farm Breakfast which included one of Joanna’s biscuits, along with eggs, thick cut bacon, and hand rolled tater tots.

Farm Breakfast

My hubby got the Breakfast Tacos which is probably the best value on the menu – only $2.50 per taco and they are huge.

Breakfast Tacos

The kids portions are also the perfect amount for smaller appetites and feature breakfast staples such as eggs, sausage, bacon and pancakes with real maple syrup.

Kids Breakfast

4. The Restaurant Has a Rich History.

Magnolia Table has been renovated and was once Waco’s historic Elite Cafe.

“It had been a Waco icon for nearly 100 years,” Joanna said about the old cafe. “We couldn’t let a place with such a rich history be forgotten. I’m convinced that this place holds at least one memory for nearly everyone in Waco, Texas.” (via People magazine)

The building is a Historical Landmark.

 

5. Savor Homegrown Ingredients from Joanna’s own garden at Magnolia Farms.

Magnolia Table specializes in fresh, homegrown ingredients and good old fashioned homestyle cooking. There is something on their menu for everyone, including children, vegetarians, vegans, and gluten free options.

Select produce used in dishes at Magnolia Table are grown locally at Joanna’s farm garden, and many of their eggs come from her chickens. The restaurant also partners with local vendors for menu staples such as grass fed hamburger patties.

 

6. You Can Skip the Lines and Still Enjoy Deliciousness.

There’s a takeaway area and market at Magnolia Table serving baked goods and a gift shop.

A few Magnolia Table favorites are available for take away. These items are already prepackaged and ready for you to take out. You can also order coffee and espresso, and purchase an assortment of gifts such as shirts, hats, mugs, olive oil and jams.

Another great design strategy to keep the crowds at bay – a designated take away area

7. Allow the Decor to Inspire your Decorating Schemes!

There are so many great decor ideas to get inspired from Magnolia Table’s interiors.

If you love modern farmhouse decor and the designs you see from Joanna Gaines on Fixer Upper, you’ll love the design here. Vaulted Ceilings, wood beams, black and white floor tiles, white subway tile, black trim, barn style lighting, huge windows which allow abundant natural light, simple clean lines, natural wood surfaces, fresh greenery, and vintage style accents.

The painted white brick is a gorgeous backdrop to compliment those beautiful white quartz countertops!

 

Original lobby floor tiles

Even the bathroom has inspiring details. Here’s a peek from my visit.

The prettiest casual restaurant bathroom you’ll ever take a bathroom selfie in – floor to ceiling subway tiles, black metal doors and details, black and white floor tiles – perfection!

 

Next Stop: Magnolia Market Silos, about 2.5 miles (a 6-minute drive from the restaurant)

 

After a fun breakfast experience, we headed to the Magnolia Market Silos to check out the new holiday installations. This was our second visit to the Silos and the seasonal design installations and changes are fun to see. Our first visit to Magnolia was in February this year before the restaurant opened, so this time felt like a new experience all over again.  Mom was equally excited as this was her first time to travel to Waco and experience all things Fixer Upper.

New Holiday Installation in the Market

We also got to see Santa at his first visit of the holiday season in the Garden at the Magnolia Seed & Supply.

Santa In The Garden, Magnolia Seed & Supply

 

Have you visited the new Magnolia Table restaurant? If so, what are your favorite items on the menu we need to try next time? Tell us in the comments!

jillivictorio@gmail.com /

Kapolei Hawaii June 2018

One of my favorite holiday traditions is writing and sending out Christmas cards to our family and friends. I pick a favorite photo and memory from the year to preserve and use on our Christmas card. This year, I chose a photo from our family vacation to Hawaii in June where John and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary and had a vow renewal on the beach. I’ve used TinyPrints every year for their premium quality luxe paper, amazing picture quality, and beautiful designs.  Check out their new luxe holiday cards here.

A gift from me to you as a thank you for reading and visiting my blog: Enjoy 40% your order using code: MDLT-EJWM-K3C8-UNSX42 (while supplies last)!

 

xo,

Jilli