Joanna Gaines's Latest Message May Inspire You to Get Back in the Kitchen

Magnolia Journal vis Meredith Publishing
Magnolia Journal vis Meredith Publishing

Chip and Joanna Gaines's fourth issue of Magnolia Journal centers around the theme of gratitude. In "a note from Jo," Joanna expresses her thankfulness for cooking. A small change in attitude enabled her to find joy in cooking, a chore she used to feel apprehensive about. If you can relate to avoiding your kitchen, Joanna's mealtime ritual may inspire you to cook:

"I used to dread meal planning, grocery shopping, and then cooking just to have to clean up the mess right after the meal. I felt like all of that prep took forever, and then the meal was over in flash with the subsequent work to be done. Over time, I tweaked my mindset and actually grew to love cooking, not merely tolerate it. It is an honor and privilege to serve my family in this way. I am so thankful for each of these bodies that I get to help nourish. That simple shift opened the door for me to view cooking as a creative opportunity to feed the ones I love. I started to get more adventurous and honed my skills. Meals started to provide a real sense of accomplishment, and the better I got, the more I enjoyed it. I also began to light a candle, turn on good music, and open the window by the sink. That little ritual set this time apart, and I began to look forward to it even more."

This issue has hit newsstands and contains many more toothsome tidbits, including Joanna's philosophy on gratitude, a very personal story from Chip about his ex-girlfriend, and more fresh lifestyle tips from our favorite fixer uppers.