I’m a dork.
I got silly excited when my package from Magnolia Market landed on my front porch. Like giddy silly. Like my heart skipped a beat silly …
I told you, total dork.
And when I opened that package to unearth my new cotton stems amongst a sea of Styrofoam peanuts, I envisioned Joanna carefully wrapping and packing them up for me.
I know, I know, Jo is much to busy to actually pack my box.
But a girl can dream …
I also envisioned Chip stacking up all those orders and tossing them into the back of his pick-up and driving them to the post office for posting …
I know, I know, Chip is much to busy to take my package to the post office.
But a girl can dream …
can’t she?
I, like millions of others (which I’m guessing also includes you, my friends), fell in love with Fixer Upper with that very first reveal …
Since then, I’ve turned into a crazy, dorky fan girl. I think I would be struck dumb if I ever met them for real …
which is truly saying something.
In my former career in public relations, I’ve met my fair share of celebrities. Michael J. Fox. Jenny Garth. Melissa Gilbert. Jasmine Guy. Barbara Eden. Mickey Dolenz (you know, from The Monkeys). The actress who played Andrea on the original 90210 (she was lovely!). I chatted up Kris Kardashian (long before anyone wanted to keep up her and her family) and Bruce Jenner (long before he painted his fingernails red) during a satellite media tour. And the biggest of the big …
of the big …
I sat across from Lauren Bacall on a stage in Carnegie Hall and went over the words I wrote for her(!) to speak in a public service announcement.
And all those times in the face of … and face-to-face with …. celebrities, I maintained my cool. Held my composure. Remained professional.
But I’m pretty sure I would lose it with Chip & Jo …
I would stand there open-mouthed. Dumb-founded. Become a babbling idiot.
Sigh.
I’m such a dork!
Linda
P.S. My daughter and I want to move to Waco just so Chip & Joanna could fix us up a Fixer Upper! And I even suggested to my husband that we move to Waco when we retire …
Pretty sure you’re not a dork. I don’t know Chip and Jo, but I’m about to go check them out since you gave such a glowing report on them.
Yep.I told Mike I wanted to move to Waco for the same reason. But we wouldn’t wait till retirement. But then I thought long and hard about living in the political climate in Texas… And it’s really hot there. Really hot.
What a revelation! I live 80 miles from Waco & am over there often. Never knew about Magnolia Market….., it’s definitely a destination on my next trip! I’ll be looking for their show, as well.
Please tell them I sent you! And ask them if they would consider fixing up my Chicago fixer upper of a house!!! 🙂
I will definitely do that! Thinking my odds might be better than your, though, and my odds aren’t very good…..!
I too have become a fan of Chip and Jo…being from Texas and most of my family from Waco and West I keep hoping maybe we’re related!…one can hope…
I’m so jealous of your proximity to Waco! I’ve never really thought about living in Texas until their show started airing … 🙂
I LOVE Fixer Upper too! I’m from Texas and I’m so proud of them and the success of their show. I keep telling my husband, “let’s move to Waco”, to which he replies, “what would I do for a living?” Oh, there’s that! Well yes, a girl can dream!
Maybe if we all go to Waco the jobs will follow us! Ha! 🙂
I bet the Waco tourism has increased since their show began. They should have a map with a tour of all their fixed up homes!
As I do with many of your posts, I started out grinning…..then giggled, “oh, I can totally relate, as a completely goofy groupie” of the Gaines’ & the show. But I am now in awe of Y.O.U! You are pretty big time yourself, missy! You don’t land those clients without some mad skills. But, the talent that has amazed & enchanted me is your cotton boll vignette! I’ve spent a lot of time visiting in-laws in ‘the land of cotton’ , & I have NEVER seen a northern girl display this symbol of the south with such perfection! Your vignette is beautiful & Midwest shops need to have you arrange/display it! Y’all are multi-talented, girl!
Merri Jo – thank you for putting a HUGE grin on my face with your lovely words and compliments. I’m blushing! And I love the idea of spreading some soft cottony cheer her in the Midwest! 🙂 Linda
when i first saw the cotton on those stems, my first feeling was one of sadness. i think of slavery and injustice. i could not imagine people actually using those stems as a form of decoration. Slap in the face. Being in Texas is even worst because Texas was one of the few that continued slavery even though it was against the law in the United States.
Love Chip and Joann’s show Fixer Upper. She has such a great style. Those two are dynamo’s together. Ha ha I told my hubby I want to move to Waco too to find a fixer upper for them to make over for us too. I would love to meet both of them too.
Kris
I think Waco is going to feel a huge population boom soon!!! 🙂
Did you see them on the Today show on Monday? They truly are so good at what they do, and we absolutely love their show. I hope they stay as genuine as they seem right now. I also love their farmhouse and farmette!
I’m kicking myself for missing them! I’m a GMA watcher these days. I’m hoping Ellen has them on some day. That would be fun! 🙂
If you are a dork over the Gaines then I’m one with you! Don’t downplay your own skills either! You mentioned a couple of celebrities that would be fun to meet, but none that would render me speechless (ok…maybe Lauren Bacall). I love following Fixer Upper not only for their renovations, but because they seem to be a loving couple & family with a great deal of respect for each other. Wish they’d come to Connecticut!
Also, the cotton stems are beautiful in their white containers. Another thing to file away in my brain!
I’m so happy to have another Gaines-loving-dork with me! And I agree that they truly are a loving family — and that adds so much to their appeal!
🙂 Linda
I too have ordered cotton stems, but when they arrived they were so brittle and half broken that I just cried. Of course I probably didn’t order where you did, but I was so disappointed. I watch “Fixer Upper” on HGTV but I was not aware that Joann and Chip have an order business, Do they?
They do have a store. Joanna had that first before the show. If you follow the link in the article (click on Magnolia Market) it will bring you to the store! She has beautiful things!
🙂 Linda
No. Not YOU ARE…..we are all dorks!!!! I read KariAnne who got in on a sale at the store ( first I knew there was a store linked to Joanna’s stuff) so I clicked on the link and was enthralled—bought ALL my Bunco prizes. Yes I went over a tad but I mean they are from Joanna and Chip’s store!!!!
I ordered again and waited. They drop your cart nightly. And what I’d viewed was sold out!!! But I do have part of my first order shipping. Oh please let it have a tag that says Magnolia. I scour the reveal for how she uses her stuff. Now I want the cake stand!!! We grow cotton around here so I’m guessing I know someone who’d let me glean a couple branches!!!
Your post will again increase their sales. They should let you meet them in person as one of their spokespersons bringing in sales
I am in love with Fixer Upper as well. I just noticed Jo mention her store on the last episode I watched. They were moving their supplies into a new storage house on the farm. My goodness they are both so talented. I love to watch them work and their personalities are perfect for what they do. So I;m a dork too.
I’m a groupie too, let’s all move to Waco 🙂
Mickey Dolenz!!!!!!! I’m fainting. I’m not a dork, I’m Waco.
I asked my husband to drive me to their store for Valentine’s Day. Waco is “only” a short 2 hour drive from Houston, sounds like the perfect way to spend Valentine’s Day right?
Happy to be a part of the dork club 🙂
I love that in place of flowers and chocolates you want to go to Jo’s store in Waco!!! We should probably come up with a dork club secret handshake …
😉 Linda
How many stems did you order? I want to order, but wasn’t sure how much in order to make my vase look full. Yours turned out great!
It’s just one order of the small cotton stems. I was surprise at how many there were!
Calm yourself and breathe
Lol……? Me too! Just said the same thing to my husband last night! Happy to know I am not the only dork that would move to Waco!!
Just followed you here from a pin on Pinterest. Love the pic, and your comments about Fixer Upper and the Gaines… I’m right there with ya, girl! A few weeks ago, I received my first order (of cotton stems) from the Magnolia Market (from their September sale! GREAT price and free shipping!). Upon opening the box, I felt and thought the EXACT same way you did! Too funny! I also received some beautiful black and white striped tissue paper in my box. LOVELY touch!
I’m going to peruse your site now! (Did you paint these pitchers, or are they ‘real’?)
I was just Googling to find out when the new season of Fixer Upper will air – I need a new fix of new makeovers!!! And the pitchers are real. I think I found them at T.J. Maxx.
Yep, I’m very much looking forward to the new season. I think I’ve seen the last 3 seasons at least 3 times over. Tuesday nite marathons! Hah!
TJ Maxx and Marshall’s are great for those items. I ESPECIALLY like HomeGoods… that place is scary for me to enter! Love it when a shower or wedding is happening, so I have an excuse to go AND buy! 😉
How many stems are in your photo???
I think it was two or three stems.
i truly don’t understand how those stems does not make you think of slavery. when i saw them in the store i nearly lost it and walked outside to my car and left because i was so upset.
As a white woman whose family has many past generations living in Mississippi’s low country, I, as well as Mel, am amazed and even appalled at the ability of so many to completely ignore the symbols of the “old South”. There seems to be not even a nod of recognition for the horrors endured by so many at the hands of a few, with the passive acceptance by a sizable majority. Perhaps we could celebrate an emerging enlightenment in the “new South” were we to, at the very least, acknowledge the old while dedicating these symbols of the South to the new. Until then, there will be no magnolia wreath on my door and no cotton bolls on my mantle. Please think about this, y’all.