Weekend Staycation

Grand Prairie Premium Outlets:

Our first stop was to the Grand Prairie Premium Outlets for an afternoon of shopping.  It was my first time at these outlets so here are a few points that really stuck out to me:

• Newest outlet mall to DFW.  The outlet pened in August 2012 under the name Paragon Outlets, but changed its name to Grand Prairie Premium Outlets in December 2012.  Everything here felt new, clean, and fresh!
• 110 stores!   Of course, this mall has the regulars like Gap, Banana Republic, J.Crew, and Michael Kors, but it also has unique stores like Bloomingdales The Outlet Stores, Kate Spade (!), Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th, Joe’s Jeans, and Love Culture that aren’t available at the Allen Premium Outlets (the other popular DFW area outlet).  I love the variety and wasn’t even halfway through my list of stores in the 4 hours that I was there!
• Centrally located. These outlets are located right in between Dallas and Fort Worth at the intersection of several large highways.  For someone who lives in the Uptown Dallas area, this outlet is actually a shorter driving distance than the Allen Premium Outlets.
• Covered walkways for shade and rain protection.   Unlike the Allen Premium Outlets where all the stores are facing the outdoor parking lot, the stores here are setup in a “race track” layout.  All store fronts face inside where there is a covered walkway.   Even shopping in near 100-degree heat wasn’t a problem as there is always shade. Similarly, the layout will provide nice cover from strong winds and rain in the colder months (weather can be a deal-breaker for me on Black Friday).

I also hadn’t been to the outlets since before Dylan was born and I was in shopping heaven this past Saturday!   I had a great time with fellow Dallas fashion bloggers Denise and Cris and we all left with a nice haul.

(left to right): Eddie and Rebecca – outlet marketing reps, Cris, Denise, me

The Grand Prairie Premium Outlets do not disappoint.  Given its convenient location, impressive brand lineup, and clean store layouts, I have a new favorite outlet mall that I’ll now be frequenting.

After shopping ’til I dropped, Adrian and Dylan met up with me as we checked into our hotel for the night.

The Sanford House

The Sanford House is a cute bed and breakfast just 15 minutes away from the Grand Prairie Premium Outlets (and walking distance of the Cowboys stadium!). It’s nestled right in the heart of historic Arlington and within walking distance of a great number of shops and restaurants. The last time I stayed in a bed & breakfast I was probably 8 years old and Adrian had never stayed at a B&B before. It was going to be a new experience for all of us!

• Quaint and adorable.  The ambience is set with antique decor, real hardwood floors, and elaborate chandeliers. Adrian and I stayed in the Riviera room, a private cottage suite that had living, dining, and bedroom areas.   The bathroom was absolutely breathtaking with its marble floors, walk-in showers, and double jacuzzi bathtub.  Dylan had his first jacuzzi bath and loved all the bubbles!
  

  Dylan couldn’t wait to get into the tub

• Family-friendly.  The Sanford House also provided a pack-n-play for us so that Dylan would have a place to sleep at night.  The pack-n-play looked super clean and virtually unused — in better condition than ours at home even!   I also really appreciated that there was a separate living room that could be closed off from the bedroom.  We were able to put Dylan to sleep early and not worry about waking him up while Adrian and I stayed up later.
• Fresh-cooked breakfast!   I was super excited for the breakfast.   I had read numerous stellar reviews of the food here and everyone said that the food was fresh, made-to-order, and absolutely delicious.  We didn’t make it for Sunday brunch, but supposedly it’s one of the best in Arlington.  Next time we’ll have to make sure Dylan gets the memo.
  

  I enjoyed the spinach, mushroom, tomato omelet with fruit.  Adrian had 2 eggs with bacon, sausage, and fruit.

  

   

• Beautiful Grand Courtyard.  With a cozy gazebo, trickling stone fountain, and a private Secret Garden, the courtyard of the Sanford House is romantic and allows you to instantly escape the hustle of city life.   It comes as no surprise that it has become a popular place for outdoor weddings.
  

  Top: LOFT Striped Puff Sleeve Tee (buy) // Shorts: Express (old) (similar – on sale!) // Belt: Ann Taylor (old) (similar) // Shoes: Nine West (old) (similar) // Necklace: Ily Couture (similar)

  

   

  

The weekend was a wonderful mini vacation for us, spent relaxing and sharing new experiences with my little family.   I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday.

P.S. In case you missed it:

• Peplum, Stripes, and a Statement Necklace – A casual Friday outfit.