Day Trippin' with the Sister 

to add to my 45 things!

I told you I would get out of order (date wise).  This goes back to November 7, 2015.  My sister, Donna, decided to spend the day and take a road trip to The Magnolia.  For those that may not know this place, it's Chip and Joanna's (from HGTV) store.  I'm not gonna lie - I had no idea.  I am not a huge HGTV watcher - not that I don't don't like it if I stumble upon it, but most of my TV watching these days comes from my DVR.  Ok - I am digressing--- back to the road trip.  We left early on a misty, muggy morning (thus the lack of big hair).  We headed down I-35.  We couldn't resist my regular stop in West.  Although I couldn't believe that she had never stopped.  That was just crazy to me!

My friend, Mindy always tells me to stop here and not the "other side" of the highway!

We continue on our "day trippin' with the sisters". We made it to the new location at the Silos.  #19 of 45!We were there pretty early so there was a small crowd but we were able to walk right in.

 The store had a lot of great things at a variety of prices.  At this time there wasn't anything that I felt like I couldn't live without but I loved looking around.  My sister couldn't live without the candle below.  It really did smell great!

We walked around the garden area and it was early so the food trucks weren't open in the courtyard area yet.  Literally they had just opened the week-end prior so pictures I see now look quite different around the area of the shop itself.  By the time we left there was a line forming, a charter bus was letting folks off, and we were glad we got in and out when we did.  It was getting crazy!  

While we were checking out, we saw this map of some of Joanna's favorite places in Waco.  We were ready for brunch so we decided on the Homestead Cafe.  We knew nothing about it.  It was off the beaten path and we were ready for a Mimosa with brunch!  (If you have been there, don't laugh at us here!)

(well, I thought I rotated it)

So we head out to the Homestead Cafe - #20 of 45 new things!

We drive in and see a cheese factory with a sign that says you can WATCH cheese being made.  I was pretty excited about that.  There was a general store and then a little market.  We keep driving and see more signs that indicate this is a very conservative, Christian environment - and I say that to say this is the moment we realized that we wouldn't be seeing Mimosas on the brunch menu.  It's all good though.  

Brunch was really good.  Donna got the most amazing omelet ever.  Everything was so fresh.  I got the biscuits and gravy.  It was a little town in itself on this farm.  There was a gift shop and places that you could watch everything being made.  It was really interesting.  It was stepping back in time a little bit.  

It was starting to rain on us but we didn't care - we had to have a record of our visit!

This is the map of the farm area.  The nicest woman was in the gift shop and told us all about it.

We went back to the entrance but they had already made the cheese for the day, but they told us the process and we tasted some various types.  We hit the general store and the market.  Once we left there, we headed back home by way of Arlington to hit the Christmas store which is #21 of 45!!

OH MY-LANTA!  I have NEVER seen so much Christmas decor in one place.  It's almost hard to walk around.  There were themes all around (reminds me of an Annelle line from Steel Magnolias here). We got a few things and then we just had to get out.  Too many people, a lot of stuff, and not enough space.  It's definitely worth going.  Of course we were cracking ourselves up the entire time and everyone was looking at us like we were crazy, but hey, we are used to that.

We headed home and once again stopped in West!  It was a good snack and restroom break kind of place!  We were tired when we got home but it was just one of the best days.  It really doesn't matter what we do-- when we are together, fun WILL be had!  My sister rocks!!!  The only thing that would have made it complete is if our OTHER sister (she will get that inside joke), Janet, could have gone with us.  The life of a military wife!

UPDATE on 31 DAYS of NO SPENDING!  WHAT????? ---Okay so it's day 3 (Sunday).  I'm not even going to lie - today was hard passing up Starbucks on my way to church this morning, but I did it.  I was dying a little bit and even more so when I realized it was JUST day 3.  I can do this.... I can do this!  Day 3 assignment was to plan your meals.  This is something I have been doing for a long time so this was easy, breezy.  I do the bulk of my cooking on Sunday afternoons (after my nap, of course) so that things will be easy to make when I get home from work - starving!  Usually it will take about 20 minutes to finish up a planned meal.  This is doable for me and makes me resist the drive-thru windows so much easier.  Ruth S. even lists some easy recipes with basic staple items that most kitchens already have.  I will be checking those out next week since I already planned this week's meals even prior to the challenge - go me!  Tomorrow starts the journey back to work and being around friends will be the hardest not to go grab something with them!  Keep me in your thoughts.  I got this!!