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My little family and I have lived in Texas for almost 6 months now! We still can’t believe it, but we’ve been making the most of our new lives here and embracing all the amazing opportunities and fun adventures that have come our way.

On my bucket of things to do, see, and try in Texas has been a trip to Magnolia Market and Silos in Waco. As most of my family and friends know, I’m a huge fan of the hit show Fixer Upper and all things Magnolia and Chip and Joanna Gaines. Their brand and vision is such an inspiration to me through their creativity, humility, kindness, and hospitality, not to mention Joanna makes everything beautiful!

Luckily for us, Waco is only an hour and a half away from Granbury. Why haven’t we gone sooner?! Now that the weather is no longer in extreme freezing temps or extreme scorching 100+ degree temps, and the madness of the holidays are over, we took advantage of a quiet leisurely weekend in February to visit Magnolia. Note: Magnolia is usually closed on Sundays. They hosted a private event this weekend to celebrate the spring issues of Darling Magazine and Magnolia Journal, and we had the opportunity to capture some photos of the exterior grounds, the vegetable gardens, and plaza features which are amazing and really the highlight of the entire venue.

Upon arriving, Joanna Gaines’ design presence is immediately felt. There are details that you can pin point and recall from specific episodes on Fixer Upper when they first started the Silos project in 2015/16 and the bakery addition in 2016 such as the wooden flower boxes outside the bakery windows.  The exterior building is a beautifully painted brick white with her signature black shutters, black window trim and black door. In an older Fixer Upper episode before they demo’d space which would become the bakery, Joanna said her vision for the bakery would have an old world charm feel to it, and she achieved just that.  The Silos is located in an industrial part of Waco taking up no more than a few blocks. I can see how crazy and packed this place can get on a typical Saturday, which I recommend to try to avoid if your schedule and situation allows. Coming here on a Sunday really allowed us to enjoy every design element and landscape feature of the space.

Black metal planters never looks so good!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Magnolia Seed and Supply feature is beautiful as it is functional. It features raised garden beds that have been meticulously maintained.  One of my projects for the backyard this spring is to install similar raised garden beds to grow vegetables and herbs, and a little place for the kids to help grow and tend to their own veggies and fruits of their choice. I love the protective awnings that double as filters for the produce and protection from critters!

The main open pavilion space is dotted with adorable picnic tables and benches with stylish black and white stripe awnings. These awnings for shade are so needed during Texas’ harsh sun and heat in the summer and fall months. They look great year round and also come in handy if it rains. I love how the Magnolia team installed faux grass or turf on one side to accommodate lawn games or folks that just want to relax on a blanket and have a picnic and people watch.  I also love the contrast of keeping the other half of the grounds raw with gravel.

My favorite feature has to be all the magnolia trees that have been planted along the sidewalks of Magnolia Market and Silos. There are also a cluster of magnolia trees strategically planted against a trellis wall that serves as a backdrop, perfect for those instagram shots! The grounds are going to look even more gorgeous in the spring when all those magnolia trees bloom! We can’t wait to go back.

The boys also had fun wandering the grounds.

 

Obligatory bakery photo

 

A funny story I shared on my Instagram post:  a couple eagerly approached us and said they saw us from the road, pulled over to try to get an autograph thinking I was Joanna Gaines. I literally lol’d, thanked them and apologized to have disappointment as I wasn’t THE Joanna Gaines.  I don’t think we look anything alike but I’ll take a Joanna Gaines reference any day! Haha. Our styles may be similar, we have long dark hair, and our ethnic backgrounds are of Asian decent, but that’s about it.

 

It was a great visit and provided a backdrop for inspiration.  We can’t wait to return when the flowers are in bloom and when their new restaurant Magnolia Table opens!

While in Waco, we also took some fun photos in front of the floral wall mural by Tyler Kay, then ended with a picnic at Cameron park and let the boys play and run off their energy at the playground.

 

Tips for visiting Magnolia Market and Waco:

  • Come early! Arriving before opening is ideal, or even on a Sunday when it’s closed to the public if you want to take some great landscape photos without people in the way.
  • Start at the bakery and visit the rest of the market and silos after.
  • On busier days, you can park your car and take the free trolley that drops you off at the front entrance.
  • Save money by packing a picnic lunch or some snacks to enjoy in the pavilion.
  • Enjoy the little details that makes the space so beautiful and charming.
  • Visit during the different seasons as the landscape and gardens will look different throughout the year.
  • Take lots of photos and have fun!

What are some of your favorite things to do or places to check out while in Waco?

jillivictorio@gmail.com /

We visited Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose TX and had quite the adventure. It’s such an amazing and beautiful place to bring kids, explore outdoors, learn about dinosaur history, and have a picnic!

The park itself is over 1100 acres with abundant wildlife, trails, and a turquoise river. It surprises me how much natural beauty there is in Texas as you don’t often see it in your daily commute or surroundings. You have to go out and seek it.

We started our trek at the Main Track Site where you cross the shallow river stepping on large rocks as your path leading to the Ozark Site. Here you’ll find sauropod tracks that once roamed the earth.  Jonah was amazed by the size of these massive fossils. As we made our way across the river and over the rock formations, a short and relatively easy hiking trail awaits. The views of the river were a spectacular sight as I’ve never seen a river so turquoise before; beaches and oceans yes, but rivers no.

First sauropod tracks in the world discovered by R.T. Bird

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The trail leads up to an Overlook which was the perfect spot to stop for a picnic lunch and take in the valley views from the top.  The top of the Overlook can be a little dangerous if you have little ones full of energy as there are cliffs. But if you take caution and hang on to your wild ones, the views from the top are rewarding and worth the climb.

View of the Paluxy River Valley from the Overlook

 

After lunch, we made our way back down the trail and took the kids to the children’s play area. This was the perfect outlet to let the little ones run free and play without the dangers of high cliffs or falling.

Dinosaur Valley State Park has many points of interest and so many more trails. You can easily spend an entire day here exploring. For our first visit here, we spent the the right amount of time exploring to keep both kids’ interest and to tire them out before Baron’s nap time. We definitely plan to come back to explore the rest of the trails.

Travel Tips for visiting Dinosaur Valley State Park:

  • Come early in the morning as soon as the park opens and visit before March before the crowds come. Crowds start to visit later in the spring and the park gets busier.
  • Pack a lunch and enjoy a picnic at one of the many scenic areas.
  • Crossing the river is a highlight – be prepared to get your feet wet then explore where the first sauropod track was discovered.
  • Check out the larger than life size dinosaur models at the entrance or on your way out. Great for photo opps.
  • Visit the gift shop where you’ll find dinosaur-related gift items. All proceeds benefit the park and provide free educational programs.

 

 

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It has been four months since we sold our house, left Washington and moved to Texas. I’ve been reluctant on writing this post because I just didn’t feel like I was ready to express all the emotions that come with a move/relocation, a new city, new state, new town, new life, new everything. As the end of 2017 nears, I’ve had a few months to reflect and am ready to share my thoughts on our recent move.  It has been both exciting, liberating and joyful, yet there are times I feel sad and miss the place I was so familiar and comfortable with. Being a Seattle native, I’ve only lived away from Seattle to go to college in Pullman and to study abroad in London England for a semester. At age 32, the biggest move for ME at the time was moving from Seattle to the Eastside (Issaquah to be exact).  It was the first time in my adult life that I’ve felt such passion and connection about a place and a home before.  I felt more content than I ever had before. It wasn’t until my husband, children and I did life there that I discovered a new found appreciation for everything about it. I loved the natural beauty surrounded by mountains and trees, the lake nearby, the landscape, the proximity to Seattle and Bellevue, the charming small town feel, the craftsman architecture, the neighborhoods and the excellent schools. I loved how we had access to everything outside our front door and could walk to the park, playground, community center, library, market, shops, and hiking trails.

 

 

With the real estate market up and more equity built up in our home, we knew we wanted to sell to buy and design/build our next dream home and stay in Issaquah.  What we didn’t know was how quickly our home would sell. We listed the last weekend of June and by the second week of July, we accepted an offer and went into contract.  This gave us very little time to go with the plan to build a new home in Issaquah and we hadn’t found any listings that we loved.  The same week that we accepted an offer on our house, John got a call from his employer about a position in Fort Worth and if he was interested, he could start in August.  As in next month August. Freaking out, with no plans or leads for any Issaquah homes, we jumped online to check out potential Dallas/Fort Worth real estate listings. We were surprised by what we saw, especially for the price point. You get a lot of house and land in Texas for half the price of what you would pay in the Seattle/Eastside areas, allowing us to increase and save our net proceeds, and invest in another project.

After discussing the opportunity and weighing our options, whether to stay or move, I wholeheartedly agreed and supported John’s decision to relocate our family for his job.  After all, John has supported my career choices during our entire relationship, going along with my career plans and changes.  It was time to return the favor and encourage his career decision.

As John and I began discussing and comparing our wish lists and requirements in a new home, we compromised and agreed on a ranch style home on half an acre in a country setting about 35 minutes outside of Fort Worth. We worked with a virtual agent who was so helpful in touring and video recording properties for us all over DFW. She wrote up the offer and within days we had mutual acceptance, an inspection date and tentative closing date.

Everything happened so fast that we didn’t have an opportunity to see all of our friends and family that we would have liked to or for a proper farewell. Packing seemed like it was never ending, but we managed to get it done in two weekends and all the hours during the week in between. The task of packing in such a short window gave us the opportunity to purge a lot of unnecessary “things and stuff” that we kept and collected for no reason over the years. I applied some elements of the KonMari Method during the purge and it felt so good to get rid of stuff that we didn’t need or that didn’t spark joy.  I also had fun selling a lot of stuff quickly on OfferUp, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace.

Moving day came and I found it feeling similar to how I felt first going off to college. There’s excitement and fear of the unknown. I remember those college days well… I was homesick at first, yet I knew it was time for that next chapter.  I had no choice but to go forward.  Looking back, those were some of the best years of my life. I never learned so about myself and what I was capable of doing.  It’s a different time now and it’s not just about me anymore – I have a husband and two children now.  I need to show them that life here can be and will be great. It already is great in many ways if we open our eyes and look for it.  It’s also an incredible opportunity, a chance to try new things, explore more of the world, make new traditions, celebrate life and grow.

No matter how much I miss my old life, there’s no better time to move forward – for my husband, our sons, and for myself.  The timing of it all just fell into place organically as if there was a bigger plan for us just waiting to unfold but it was up to us to put in the work and make it happen.  We feel truly blessed.

Closing Day August 28, 2017

So here we are, in our new home and new state. The boys have adjusted so well, better than I expected. I know it’s their age that has helped make the transition easier. Jonah at age 7 going on 8 at the time of our move, loves his new school and hasn’t looked back. Baron at age 2 during the move is just enjoying everyday. We like to look at photos together on fb and Instagram of our friends and relatives from back home and the kids do remember the fun memories we had.  We love our new home and are happy with our decision on where and what we purchased. I have plans to make some updates to the house in stages, but for now, I am finding joy in making this house our home through projects such as decorating, repurposing, and styling a whole new blank canvas. (House tour pics coming soon).  Frequent trips to Target (Super Targets in Texas) have been therapeutic and have helped me ease into my new environment here, while discovering new places to eat, shop, play and explore have made it an exciting adventure for the entire family.  There are also Drybar‘s here in Dallas and Fort Worth, hallelujah! I just need to find a new hairstylist and I’ll be good to go.  Speaking of shopping, Dallas is the place to be if you love to shop. John has found his outdoor gun range, and the kids have a cute little park, beach and lake nearby.  At the end of each day, we find tranquility in our new country surroundings.

We appreciate the close friends and relatives who have been supportive and those who have rooted for us (you know who you are) in our decision to move. It really means a lot to know that it is your true friends that have your back no matter what, and uplift and encourage you to live your best life. I’m all about #goodvibesonly. Designing the life you want involves risk, challenges, uncertainty and figuring some things out as you go. There will be voices and negative nellies that tell you “It’s too hard” or “It just doesn’t make sense.”  In fact, our brains are scientifically wired to prevent us from doing things that are uncomfortable, uncertain or scary in order to protect us and survive. But at the risk of sounding cliché, I believe sacrificing a life inside a comfort zone for the sake of living a better, richer and fuller story is the best kind of life worth living.

 

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Paved walking paths lined with pumpkins leading all the way to the Pumpkin Village

One of the great things about visiting/moving to a new city if the chance to discover and explore new places. I’ve had the Dallas Arboretum on my bucket list and with great timing, September through November is also when they host their annual Autumn At The Arboretum festival. There are family events throughout the season, but Autumn at the Arboretum is their most elaborate production. The Autumn Festival has been named one of the best pumpkin festivals in the country, and it is right here in North Texas.

When we arrived my jaw dropped. The Dallas Arboretum is absolutely stunning. There is beauty in every direction you look with bursts of color everywhere. The flowers, trees, native plants and wetlands are beautifully landscaped and maintained. Compared to the arboretums and botanical gardens in Washington, this one is massive in size.  I’ve never seen anything like it. I could come here every day to bask in all the natural beauty and feel like it’s a new experience each time.

Autumn at the Dallas Arboretum has a “Wizard of Oz” theme this year. You follow a yellow brick road to the Emerald City house built out of pumpkins, making your way to the Witch’s house and an enchanted forest where you come upon the Tinman and the Lion. This also isn’t your typical pumpkin patch — it’s a pumpkin village, using more than 90,000 pumpkins, gourds, and squashes to complete the display.

 

Taking a break from crowds at the DeGoyler House. Designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, the DeGolyer Estate is available for private events. I’d love to host a dinner here one day.

 

Outfit details: Sweater: Who What Wear | Loafers: A New Day for Target | Cropped flares: Levis

Jonah and Baron’s Outfits: Tops: Cat and Jack (similar here) | Pants: Cat and Jack |

Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden

There is a dedicated and separate children’s garden on 8 acres overlooking the beautiful White Rock Lake. We could have easily spent the entire day here just in the children’s garden.  There is so much to do, see and explore here.  The boys especially loved the maze and the STEM learning area. It was hard to pull them away but we let them roam and explore their surroundings. What I love most at the children’s garden is how it was designed with children in mind connecting them nature where education is the focus.

The Arboretum’s version of a bounce house in the air, a 32-foot fabricated tree lends itself to ‘sky-walking’ suspended over the trail below. Photo credit: Dallasarboretum.org

What I’m most excited about and look forward to on our next visit is the newest feature that just opened this month at the arboretum, A Tasteful Place.  Coming from a foodie town, I am excited to see the sustainable food movement make its way to parts of Texas.  According to recent media, A Tasteful Place is a productive working garden that is also visually beautiful, influenced by European gardening principals and artful arrangement. The Pavilion is a 3,600-square-foot building with 180 degree views of the garden, lagoon and walkways, with event space and teaching kitchen to showcase chefs who will demonstrate preparation of garden-to-table cuisine. It’s also a site for cooking classes, educational programs and special events.
We definitely want to visit the Dallas Arboretum regularly and are considering becoming members. In reviewing membership benefits, a few visits would pay for a family membership in itself. Aside from value and cost savings, there are also special members-only events and experiences throughout the year. If it’s this beautiful in the Fall, I can’t wait to see what the Dallas Arboretum looks in the spring!
jillivictorio@gmail.com /

This past weekend I celebrated my 38th birthday in Dallas and I am so thankful to John for planning the most amazing birthday weekend.  It was my first birthday being away from my friends and family, but he went above and beyond to make the day feel just as special.

 

We started my celebration with a beautiful and delicious afternoon tea and champagne service at ‘Tea At Taschen’ at the Joule Hotel.  The Joule Hotel’s own Taschen library and bookstore closes off for a few hours on select days exclusively for their tea time with only one reservation time seating for an intimate group.  I’ve been a longtime enthusiast of tea service mostly of the English varieties, and this afternoon tea with champagne service was the most stylish and unique tea experience I have ever had.  

The setting is absolutely stunning with books and art all around and an intimate communal table beautifully set up with colorful china, pretty tableware and towers of exquisite looking bites.  Our host was very helpful in explaining each tea and food pairing and everything tasted as amazing as it looked.  Guests also have the opportunity to purchase books or art at 10% during your tea service.

Bodysuit Top: Voom by Joy Han | Shoes: Zara, similar here |

After tea and champagne service, I had a shopping appointment with an associate at the Chanel boutique at Neiman Marcus Downtown and picked up my newest baby to add to my collection. I got to try it on before deciding on a style and color and before it was gift-wrapped. I couldn’t wait to wear it as it went perfectly with my birthday dress, so why wait to enjoy such a beautiful gift?

 

Pappardelle with braised rabbit, pancetta, Swiss chard, thyme

 

We ended the night with a yummy dinner at Gemma, a restaurant I visited in 2014 during a work trip where I had the most amazing braised rabbit ragu pappardelle dish ever. Long, flat ribbons of fresh pappardelle tossed with juicy, tender braised rabbit, salty pancetta, fresh Swiss chard and woodsy thyme. Who knew three years laters I’d be living here with access to this restaurant and this life-changing dish?! It really is that good. To my surprise, the dish is still on the menu three years later and it tasted just as amazing as I remember and have longed for since.

Dress: Keepsake | Shoes: similar here | Bag: Chanel

Birthday sliders grilled by hubby complete with candles placed by the kids

On my actual birthday, we hung out at home, lounged by the pool, grilled some sliders and ate cupcakes with the kids. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. As I reflect on what feels like just another day but another year older, I have a lot to be grateful for, still more to learn, and a lot more to give. As I enter the final two years in my 30s, I will continue to live the life I’ve designed for myself and my family – a life that is organized but spontaneous, full of laughter and smiles and the practice of making moments matter.  I look forward to the journey ahead as I know 38 is and will be great.