Sometimes B and I want to getaway but we run into a few roadblocks — money, schedules or sometimes it’s Friday and we just want to have something fun to do for the weekend. (That is, something that doesn’t involve our couch and wine. You know, we like to mix it up.) B and I were talking and he suggested a little mini-staycation; not even for the whole weekend just for an overnight stay. I’ve never been one to turn down a vacation, even small, so I was in.

The thing about a staycation where we live is that Dallas is sprawling, to say the least, and there are many, many options. We live north of Dallas in a suburb, so we don’t always get to enjoy the best parts of Dallas. Dallas also has a lot of different neighborhoods and areas, so when we were deciding last minute what to check out and where we landed on Bishop Arts District, a  few blocks or so in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas . (If you are new to Dallas or want to visit, this area is adorable. Visit downtown McKinney first — former and hopefully future home of bloom — and then Bishop Arts.)

We headed down Saturday around noon  in time for brunch at Oddfellows. And by brunch I might mean mimosas and whatever else happened to be on the table at the time. You will notice that I spared you photos of me eating because it’s just not cute. Some people are attractive while eating, I’m like a baby rhinoceros. If you do visit the area, Oddfellows, Cafe Brazil and Hattie’s are the best places for brunch. In fact, I’d try to do some iteration of all three if I were you.

From there we just took it slowly and went from patio to patio (We were lucky it was overcast and pretty outside) and saved the shopping for the next day.

(Pro tip: a neon yellow dress + light pink lips make you look as tan as a Real Housewife.)
One of the main reasons I love this area is because it reminds me a bit of Austin, Texas’ darling city. I think it’s the old houses that still surround the area and the old restored buildings, that I love the most about the area. It’s small, but you can stick around all day and find things to do, eat or look at. We ended up at Bolsa for dinner. It’s one of my favorite restaurant in Dallas. It’s a little bit off of the block that most of the shops and restaurants are on, but it’s a nice little pre and post dinner stroll. From there we walked back down to grab a slice of pie at Emporium Pies.  I highly recommend you come here at some point in your life. Bucket list material here, people. Honorable mention for lunch: Eno’s Pizza. I’m not saying we ate 4 meals that day, but I’m also not saying that we didn’t. 
The next morning we grabbed another brunch at Gloria’s (if you are sensing a stay-cation theme here and it’s called ‘eating’, you are correct.) We then just wandered around all afternoon, in and out of shops. It was so nice and relaxing. As first time stay-cationers, we kind of forgot that we were just a few miles from home. And as a shopgirl, it’s nice to get out and see what other shopkeeper’s are doing and what else is going on. There was this one store that I’m still obsessed with called Dirt. It’s a shop with amazing succulent and floral arrangements, some that were too amazing for me to afford. But such great inspiration. Neighborhood store was also an amazing place. There was a few things for the home in there that I’m kind of kicking myself for not buying.

A few other places that are honorable mention / we were not able to fit into 24-hours : Lucia (hint: make reservations way ahead of time), Tillman’s Roadhouse and Bishop Cider Co. (I don’t know if that last one is good because we didn’t try it, but it was so cute when we walked by.)
All in all, the 24 hour stay cation (day-cation really) was a success. A sweet, food induced with a side of shopping success. 
______________________
Outfit 1:
Outfit 2:
Outfit 3:
__________________

This post was sponsored by Old Navy. Check out Old Navy’s latest fashion lineup in store or online at oldnavy.com. All travel advice, food recs and opinions an are my own. 😉

Shop the Outfit

Fit Details

Monthly Capsule Wardrobe

Each month I create monthly capsules out of my favorite pieces, perfectly curated for each month.

111 Responses

  1. Love Bishop Arts! Next time, drop in at Man-tiques…crazy cool stuff in there and they have Lone Star on tap 😉 I’m loving that neon maxi on you.

  2. You and B should just move to Austin, Texas and open the new Bloom shop here! Ok, maybe I’m a little biased because I live here. But! People here loooove to support small businesses (like, a lot), and I bet Bloom would do wonders here! Just a thought 😉

    Also, this post makes me feel like I need to give Dallas another shot. The last time I went, I got such a snobby vibe and felt completely out of place! :/ But you’ve shown me that there are some spots that have a more “homey” vibe. I like it 🙂

    Rachel
    http://daydreamfrenzy.blogspot.com/

    1. Oh Austin. I know, every time we visit we think ‘should we?’ and then by the time we drive home we think ‘nah.’ 😉 I think we are just too lazy to move again. Ha! And yes you should give it another shot! Especially McKinney 🙂 No one is snobby here and we also have an emporium pies and hopefully another bloom one day!

  3. So glad you posted this as we are headed to Dallas (from Tulsa) on Friday. Can’t wait to check it out!

    1. Oh good! A few other places to try: Taco Diner, Victor Tango’s, Cane Rosso, Top Pot (DONUTS.) and Hopdoddy’s! Not sure what area you are in but those are all kind of around the same Knox-Henderson or NorthPark/ Park Cities area!

  4. You’re so fun! I giggle at something you write each time I check in, and I’m inspired to share your writing style with the young writers I work with. I used to work with your mom at Frenship (I was Ms. Morales then–married Coach Sexton in 2005) and am getting to know your mother-in-law as we office a few feet away from each other. So proud of your work and creativity!

  5. I agree that Bishop Arts is an adorable neighborhood! Last time my fiance and I were in Dallas, we ate at Oddfellows and it was SO GOOD. I love the vibe of that place. This post is really making me want to visit Dallas again! Perhaps a weekend road trip is in order sometime this summer (I’m in Houston).

  6. Yay, I love Bishop Arts! I ate at Eno’s when I visited from Houston in Dec (is anything better than pizza and beer?) and really enjoyed it. Now seeing these pics I’m really wanting to go back again! Glad y’all had a fun weekend break. 🙂

  7. You made me laugh out loud at your Real Housewive’s tip 😉 You’re adorable. Glad you enjoyed your staycation! xx

  8. This makes me SO excited to visit my sister in Dallas! Your pictures are always so adorable. Glad that you had a nice little staycation 🙂

  9. This looks like SO much fun! I live in a suburb just north of Dallas too and it’s so fun to go into town with my fiance and you really do forget you’re close to home! Love your outfits, too.

    Kim
    http://trendkeeper.me

  10. Love the coverage of The Big D, Kendi! I visit here at least once a year since I have family there. My boyfriend’s family actually grew up in Oak Cliff and we recently took a trip to Bolsa ourselves. Love the chambray dress for the third look – you look stunning!

    XO Alison
    looksharplansing.blogspot.com

  11. Love Bishop Arts! Next time, drop in at Man-tiques…crazy cool stuff in there and they have Lone Star on tap 😉 I'm loving that neon maxi on you.

  12. You and B should just move to Austin, Texas and open the new Bloom shop here! Ok, maybe I'm a little biased because I live here. But! People here loooove to support small businesses (like, a lot), and I bet Bloom would do wonders here! Just a thought 😉

    Also, this post makes me feel like I need to give Dallas another shot. The last time I went, I got such a snobby vibe and felt completely out of place! :/ But you've shown me that there are some spots that have a more "homey" vibe. I like it 🙂

    Rachel
    http://daydreamfrenzy.blogspot.com/

  13. So glad you posted this as we are headed to Dallas (from Tulsa) on Friday. Can't wait to check it out!

  14. Oh Austin. I know, every time we visit we think 'should we?' and then by the time we drive home we think 'nah.' 😉 I think we are just too lazy to move again. Ha! And yes you should give it another shot! Especially McKinney 🙂 No one is snobby here and we also have an emporium pies and hopefully another bloom one day!

  15. Oh good! A few other places to try: Taco Diner, Victor Tango's, Cane Rosso, Top Pot (DONUTS.) and Hopdoddy's! Not sure what area you are in but those are all kind of around the same Knox-Henderson or NorthPark/ Park Cities area!

  16. I agree that Bishop Arts is an adorable neighborhood! Last time my fiance and I were in Dallas, we ate at Oddfellows and it was SO GOOD. I love the vibe of that place. This post is really making me want to visit Dallas again! Perhaps a weekend road trip is in order sometime this summer (I'm in Houston).

  17. Yay, I love Bishop Arts! I ate at Eno's when I visited from Houston in Dec (is anything better than pizza and beer?) and really enjoyed it. Now seeing these pics I'm really wanting to go back again! Glad y'all had a fun weekend break. 🙂

  18. Haha, I definitely relate to that. I hate moving! So much work, lol.
    Alright, when the new Bloom shop opens I'll be sure to visit McKinney! I'm always up for a road trip. ^__^

  19. You made me laugh out loud at your Real Housewive's tip 😉 You're adorable. Glad you enjoyed your staycation! xx

  20. We will be having a summer staycation. We already made a list of things we want to do. It is fun to discover great places in our own city.

  21. This is so great! I’m new to the Oklahoma City area and have ventured into Dallas a few times, but am perpetually intimidated by the sprawl and not sure where to find a good experience. So thanks for the tips!

  22. This makes me SO excited to visit my sister in Dallas! Your pictures are always so adorable. Glad that you had a nice little staycation 🙂

  23. This looks like SO much fun! I live in a suburb just north of Dallas too and it's so fun to go into town with my fiance and you really do forget you're close to home! Love your outfits, too.

    Kim
    http://trendkeeper.me

  24. Love the coverage of The Big D, Kendi! I visit here at least once a year since I have family there. My boyfriend's family actually grew up in Oak Cliff and we recently took a trip to Bolsa ourselves. Love the chambray dress for the third look – you look stunning!

    XO Alison
    looksharplansing.blogspot.com

  25. So fun! We just moved to Dallas and I visited the Bishop Arts District last week for the first time! I had brunch at ‘ Stock N’ Barrell’, it’s a new restaurant and it was amazing. If you guys go back you’ll have to check it out!

  26. Wow, Dallas looks like such an incredible and really unique looking city. I really don’t know too much about it, but from what I’ve heard, I really want to visit.

    Of course, your outfits were looking great as always!

    xo Jackie

    Something About That

  27. We will be having a summer staycation. We already made a list of things we want to do. It is fun to discover great places in our own city.

  28. This is so great! I'm new to the Oklahoma City area and have ventured into Dallas a few times, but am perpetually intimidated by the sprawl and not sure where to find a good experience. So thanks for the tips!

  29. Wow, Dallas looks like such an incredible and really unique looking city. I really don't know too much about it, but from what I've heard, I really want to visit.

    Of course, your outfits were looking great as always!

    xo Jackie

    Something About That

  30. I love Bishop Arts, Oddfellows is so delicious and I love love love Bolsa. Great picks.

  31. Hello Kendi, love all your dresses for you mini staycation! I would like to order the white dress. Would you mind telling me what size you are wearing? We look close in size. I just bought the yellow maxi in navy in a size medium. Old Navy sizes trip me sometimes…I could be a small in somethings and a medium in others. And can you see through it. I couldn’t tell in the pics. Thanks in advance! 🙂

    1. I’m wearing a Medium in the white dress. (I’m about an 8 right now.) I know what you mean on the sizes, I could be a small or a large in any thing there. Just for reference in the maxi, a medium is right for me too 🙂

  32. Cute outfits!!!! Looks like a lot of fun. My girlfriend and I are doing a staycation and I can’t wait!!!!!!

    Agi:)

    vodkainfusedlemonade.com

  33. Definitely love all your outfits–especially the neon maxi dress! Dallas is so cute. Hubby and I are planning a vacation to TX in the near future. Maybe it’ll be Dallas!

    Melanie | UnraveledThreads

  34. You are my hot weather dressing muse. My grandparents live just north of McKinney and I can feel the heat of a Texas summer in these photos. You manage to always look AMAZING despite the fact that it is sweltering there. I love in Georgia now and dressing cute when it is hot is somewhat. I was always pop over here though for some inspiration.

    P.S. I’m trying to figure out away to leave work early so I can go pick up those tennis shoes from outfit 3. I’ve been looking everywhere for those.

  35. I love Bishop Arts, Oddfellows is so delicious and I love love love Bolsa. Great picks.

  36. Hello Kendi, love all your dresses for you mini staycation! I would like to order the white dress. Would you mind telling me what size you are wearing? We look close in size. I just bought the yellow maxi in navy in a size medium. Old Navy sizes trip me sometimes…I could be a small in somethings and a medium in others. And can you see through it. I couldn't tell in the pics. Thanks in advance! 🙂

  37. I'm wearing a Medium in the white dress. (I'm about an 8 right now.) I know what you mean on the sizes, I could be a small or a large in any thing there. Just for reference in the maxi, a medium is right for me too 🙂

  38. Cute outfits!!!! Looks like a lot of fun. My girlfriend and I are doing a staycation and I can't wait!!!!!!

    Agi:)

    vodkainfusedlemonade.com

  39. Definitely love all your outfits–especially the neon maxi dress! Dallas is so cute. Hubby and I are planning a vacation to TX in the near future. Maybe it'll be Dallas!

    Melanie | UnraveledThreads

  40. You are my hot weather dressing muse. My grandparents live just north of McKinney and I can feel the heat of a Texas summer in these photos. You manage to always look AMAZING despite the fact that it is sweltering there. I love in Georgia now and dressing cute when it is hot is somewhat. I was always pop over here though for some inspiration.

    P.S. I'm trying to figure out away to leave work early so I can go pick up those tennis shoes from outfit 3. I've been looking everywhere for those.

  41. You make Old Navy look chic, and let me just say, that’s not an easy feat. Bravo Kendi, bravo.

  42. Looooove this post! Definitely bookmarking. i’m new to the Dallas area, so these places and tips are gems. Thanks!

  43. You make Old Navy look chic, and let me just say, that's not an easy feat. Bravo Kendi, bravo.

  44. Looooove this post! Definitely bookmarking. i'm new to the Dallas area, so these places and tips are gems. Thanks!

  45. What a fun little weekend for you two! And you looked super cute the entire time!

  46. What a fun little weekend for you two! And you looked super cute the entire time!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Favorites from the Week

this week’s most loved posts