Magnolia

presence MY FAVORITE MOMENTS OF THANKSGIVING happen right before the meal, when sounds of family arriving ring throughout the house and scents of pumpkin and clove fill the kitchen. And when, out of the corner of my eye, I see the first dishes hit the table as the kids and their cousins place linens and forks and our special-occasion glasses. Any one of these moments separately could happen any other day. But together, they tell me it’s Thanksgiving. And for me, it’s official: The holiday season is here. This issue’s theme of presence is one I was drawn to from the start. The idea of active stillness is something I’ve pursued these past few years as I found that it’s more than big moments that make a splash. I was longing…

The Holidays at Magnolia Whether it’s experiencing a bit of holiday magic here in Waco, Texas, stumbling upon a great gift online, or simply savoring the presence of one another, we’re ready to soak up all the goodness we can—and we hope you’ll join us. shop at the market + online Our Winter Collection Let this be the year you put a tree in every room, cherish each day with an Advent calendar, and find an ornament that marks your year. Our holiday collection is stocked with care and includes a gift guide to help you find just the thing for everyone you love. Shop at magnolia.com. Jo’s New Book, Coming November 8 Imagine if all the worn-out, untrue, painful chapters of our lives started to quiet, and the beautiful, unique pieces of who we are were…

Sometimes we catch it out of the corner of our eye: a flash of light, a glow in the distance, a spark we feel compelled to follow. It stirs something deep in us, so we turn ourselves toward it. We want to see where it’s coming from, where it might lead, what promise it holds. We started this year by following a few flashes of light—four magazine themes that felt like a promise of something more. We held ourselves open to those themes to see where they would lead, like a constellation of new perspectives to wonder about and consider. Now we’re pulling those themes back together to look at where we’ve been … and what we’re carrying forward. spring NURTURE Putting our hands into the soil of the day. Pulling up weeds and…

Anticipation is powerful. It’s an antidote to our doldrums and daily ruts. It means we have something to hope for, lean into, talk about. Anticipation has a way of putting wind in our sails, even if the plans or moments we’re looking forward to are quite small in the grand scheme of things—personal or long-awaited. Creating a certain holiday menu that immerses you in memory. Taking a road trip to pick a Christmas tree then roping it on top of a car, like you always imagined you’d do. Inviting a childhood friend to go ice-skating. Shaking out sweaters and hanging coats on hooks by the door. Swapping out football cleats for court shoes. Building a fire on the first night it gets cold enough. Planning a reunion that crosses an…

PEPPERMINT FUDGE PREP: 10 minutes COOK: 10 minutes CHILL: 4 hours MAKES: 45 squares Butter, softened4 cups sugar1 12-oz. can evaporated milk¾ cup butter12 oz. semisweet chocolate chips12 oz. bittersweet chocolate chips1 7-oz. jar marshmallow creme½ tsp. peppermint extract1 cup crushed peppermint candies 1. Line a 13×9-inch pan with foil, allowing foil to hang over edges of pan. Butter foil with softened butter. Combine sugar, milk, and the ¾ cup butter in a large heavy saucepan. Cook and stir over medium-high until boiling; reduce heat to medium. Continue cooking and stirring 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Add chocolate chips, marshmallow creme, and peppermint extract, stirring until melted and smooth. Beat by hand 1 minute. 2. Pour fudge into prepared pan. Sprinkle with crushed candies. Cover and chill at least 4 hours. Use foil to lift fudge from…

In a time when emails and texts so heavily populate our days, holiday cards can offer extra meaning—opening the envelope and seeing the photo, written words, or artwork so intentionally created tells us we have been thought of in a special way. This year, let’s send the card that lifts spirits and prompts smiles. That tells them of the year we’ve lived. That thanks them for playing a part. Whether you send the same type of card every year or are searching for a new way to connect with your people, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate a collection of unique ways holiday cards can bring us together. Let’s think outside the card box and have some fun. Let’s dig back through pictures that show our happiest times—when we were…