I am an ever-so faithful Gaines family fan and a lover of their former HGTV show, "Fixer Upper". I watch it religiously. Chip and Joanna Gaines, proud Waco, Texans are probably one of the most well known interior design couples across America. Joanna just came out with her new "Homebody" interiors book and I have just recently finished their autobiography, "The Magnolia Story," about their backgrounds and creation of their, now famous, Magnolia brand.
Today I wanted to talk about Joanna Gaines's collaboration with Target and her Hearth and Hand collection she came out with last year. I always gravitate towards her display whenever I walk into the place. The collection includes a wide range of home decor pieces, kitchenware, officeware, and home improvement items like paint and tools. It's evident that these products reflect Joanna's sleek, modern, and rustic style. She also continues to keep up to date on seasons and rotates product specifically catered to holidays and specific color palettes.
What I really appreciate is the fact that all of her items are affordable. I've read all of her blogs and clicked on all of the links to furniture and decor items that she's used in homes and they're just outstandingly expensive and ridiculously priced rugs or vases. So, it's refreshing and really nice that a college student like me can add a touch of Joanna into my space without having to break the bank. A lot of the decor probably ranges from $15-$50. Something a young person obsessed with interior design and decor can manage.
I haven't purchased a lot from her collection, though. My two items that I bought was this sage colored Storage Box and this Padfolio folder and notepad. Both of which I enjoy a lot. Coincidentally, both of them were on sale because they were rotating to the fall collection items and I happened to stroll upon them at perfect timing. This sage color is probably my favorite shade of green and the box was only like six bucks. It's perfect for storing anything and everything, while making your desk or shelf space look neat and put together.
My favorite item of all the things she has in her office collection is this little padfolio guy. I was looking for a more professional looking folder anyway to keep all of my important school documents, business cards, and notes in. It also comes in a bigger size! It was on clearance for only seven dollars and I had to have my hands on it—get it Hearth and Hand. Sorry, I just got excited over a folder. It's been great though. I take it to important meetings and it makes you feel professional when you pull this bad boy out.
Joanna has just launched the Christmas holiday collection and there are variances of texture with woods, metals, and warm fabrics. Flannel inspired stockings, lots of greens and earthy tones, and an overall feeling of "home" that makes her collection so inviting.
One thing I do have to say is that with her very eclectic range of items, there are many items that I think probably shouldn't have been added to collection. Obviously, ranges like these have certain items people really love and people don't care for as much. I noticed that a lot of the same product in multiple Targets were being marked down such as some of the small decorative candle holders and vases and goat statues and relics—also known as "crap". I know that Joanna put a lot of personality into the project, so I applaud her for staying authetic to her farm roots, but I don't think many people really cared for the metal goat bookends. At least I didn't.
However, many of her items are fully functional: the plates, dishes, towels, baking tools, paint, books, folders, lamps, and everything else is pretty much designed with intended usage. I mean, that's one of Joanna's motto when creating spaces anyway—keeping spaces tasteful and functional. So, I'm sure her intention behind the products were geared towards families like her own that just want a place that emulates the personality and coziness of home. I get the goats, alright.
She also competes with other Target interior decor brands that I've also purchased items from like Threshold and Project 62. Threhold has more of a traditional style and Project 62 is modern. So, Joanna's line definitely stands out with the farmhouse chic, industrial vibe. She's not afraid to mix patterns, texture, metals, foliage, but keeps her brand cohesive and individual from the rest I've seen at Target.
My support and devoted admiration for her comes from her value of family, as well as, establishing her own personality through a brand. She is fearless when it comes to design making decisions and that's what inspires me the most about her. I also adore her work ethic, creative intentions, authenticity, and realness when it comes to her idea of simply living and thriving at a place you can call home. Also, I'm in love with her cute family. I'm definitely a "Homebody" and I know you are, too.
I would say that I have definitely added some new members to my skincare routine and I am really loving them all more than I ever have with skincare products I've tried in the past. The air is starting to get crisp and I've noticed that my face is drier than ever. Yes, I am using many products towards my acne prone skin, so that is important to consider with the amount of dryness I have.
I'm not so adventurous when it comes to types of skincare products: cleanser, moisturizer, makeup remover, eye cream, lip balm, and lotion about sums it up. However, I've come to realize that my skin benefits from quality ingredients in products and lack of harsh chemicals and all that bad juju.
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser- This is just a classic unscented cleanser and I have been using it for about six months now. It honestly has proven to be the most gentle on my sensitive and acne prone skin. I also have the acne and oily skin cleanser that they have. A little goes a long way and my face feels so fresh and never dried out.
Kiehl's Lip Balm #1- I love this lip balm out of all the others I use, haha. I'll admit imma chapstick hoarder, but what can I say, I love smooth lips. Especially during the colder months, I feel like this is just a classic comforting lip balm to have with you.
Glossier Coconut Balm Dotcom- To mix it up and add some flavor, I've already raved about Glossier and their Balm Dotcom range. The coconut one brings me back to summer, but it's a great scent nonetheless.
Honey House Naturals Mango Lip Butter- Another lip balm I reach for is this mango lip butter which is much thicker than the two lip balms I mentioned before. It's almost like beeswax to the extreme. If you've tried Burt's Bees, it's a bit similar, but it is richer and is super moisturizing.
Keihl's Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Mask- The winner of all my current skincare products is this little guy I received in a sample box. I've tried numerous moisturizers and this one, which is a mask, revitalizes dry skin as you sleep! How cool is that? I was hesitant about having a product being left on my face without it really being rubbed in, but it's proved to work wonders on my dry patches below my nose and on my chin.
Clinique All About Eyes- I definitely can't go to bed with dry eyes. That's a big no-no. Dryness everywhere just hurts and burns. So, using this has really helped with not only red eyes and bags but softening up my under eyes a ton.
Clinique Take The Day Off Remover- Finally, I've needed a very gentle remover that wouldn't freak my eyes out. Normally, I use micellar waters and cleansers in the morning, but when I have dramatic eye makeup (rarely) it really gets the job done.
It can be difficult adjusting to the drastic change in seasons, especially when your skin doesn't know how to react. I've been loving these products lately and was wondering what you guys were too and if you feel the same way when it comes to winter skincare. All I know is that I need warm and soft skin! Also, I will be taking a week off in the spirit of finals week as I push through and get a lot of work done. I'll see you all in the next two weeks!
I know the holiday season is nearing us—or is basically already here according to Target and many other chain businesses that just can't calm the f*ck down for a bit until they put out Christmas lights and decorations. Just this past weekend I put up lights on my neighbor's tree! What a quick goodbye to Halloween. I'm not even sure people are even concerned about Thanksgiving this year. Anyway, time is going by and everything seems to be closer than we thought.
You know, something as simple as an "okay," can be taken in so many different ways in so many different contexts. I won't go into examples, but it's definitely true. Our definitions of it vary so much. However, I want to make sure that everybody understands that whatever they're currently going through, good or bad, is going to be okay.
I've talked so much about my mental health and it in general because self-care is pivotal in all of our wellbeings; we have to make sure that we can allow ourselves to feel good, sad, mad, stressed, overwhelmed, confused, and everything else your brain may throw at you. We need to also understand that we are all human and sometimes life can seem like a living hell, but that's okay.
I want this post to feel light-hearted because I could go into a lot of deep topics about not being okay, and the message is short and simple—you are going to get through it. I may not know how, the circumstances, the reasons, or the context, but I feel like a lot of people never take a step back to breathe. Talk it out, think it out, and know that you can do anything you put your mind to.
You will fail and struggle, but a positive and a persistent mindset conquers all. You get to decide what holds you back and you get to decide what drives you forward. People are there to support you and praise you. Wake up every day knowing that you get a chance to start over.
One of my good friends, Isaac, and I sat for about three hours in a Starbucks chatting all things life: our current happenings, future goals, our social lives, and everything else to catch up with because we haven't seen each other in about a year. However, he's one of those friends you could not see in a year and then meet up and feel like you saw them yesterday. Both of us got to talking about where we were and wanted to be, it was crazy just how ambitious both of us have become since high school and all we've achieved.
We still couldn't believe we have been friends for about four years, and I learned that one of the strongest assets to a long-living relationship with someone is not worried about where you're gonna be in two, three, or four years from when you meet. I think this just applies to everything, but I remember being so stressed in high school about college and now I'm at my number one dream school and I have no clue how I'm already a sophomore—it still awes me. It just kind of worked out.
I think the desire to be "okay" directly comes from your outlook on the situation you're in because honestly, a lot of times I feel like I could be somewhere entirely different. Cut all the comparisons, doubts, or regrets, because where you are in your life should only matter to you and it is your job to find purpose in the present moment. Stop dwelling on what happened or what could happen—when all you are doing is the best you can today in time, you are going to be just fine.
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