We had such a blast and it was so awesome to go on a trip just the two of us. I feel like I’ve been really getting burned out lately so this was such a nice stress reliever.
Day 1, we visited the Alamo, did a little shopping, walked around the River Walk and went out for lunch and dinner. What a beautiful city!
At the Alamo:
While shopping, I picked up this adorable purple ruffle dress from Papaya. I bought it because I loved the brown belt so much (I didn’t own a brown belt). It’s so versatile! It cost $25.99. I wore it to dinner that night (you didn’t think I’d leave out my OOTD photos did you!? I made sure to take them!) I also picked up that cute gold heart locket necklace at Forever 21. I absolutely love it and have worn it everyday since.
I also picked up this sweater-jacket at GAP that day. I used my Groupon to get it. It was on display in the store’s window and I just loved the collar. It’s very comfy.
The next day we went to Six Flags Fiesta Texas but unfortunately due to their stupid rules (which, by the way, have totally prompted me to write a letter) I didn’t get any photos. Unlike Paramount Canada’s Wonderland which has an AWESOME system for storage of your personal articles on rides, this Six Flags was a massive fail and we ended up going back tot he car and leaving all of our things there except for a wallet, our sunglasses and car key. There is NO WAY I was paying $1 for a locker every time I wanted to go on a ride. PSA to Six Flags: take a note from the Canadians and learn to do it right. We did have a blast at the park though. We left at about 4:30 because I think we both had sun stroke or something, it was blazing hot!
H won me these cute toys and won a basketball and football for himself. Yay for his athletic abilities!
That night, I wore one of my favorite dresses, this floral ruffle print dress from Zara (with my awesome new brown belt, of course):
H and I:
Today (Monday) we went to the San Marcos outlets (I had to beg, but H finally agreed- and hey, he got a Lacoste polo shirt out of it!)
I wore this cute ROXY halter top I bought at Six Flags (all of the ROXY stuff was 25% off!)
First was this pretty gold metallic belt from the J. Crew outlet (which by the way I think isn’t great and the prices are awful. $69.50 cardigans? Thanks, I can get that at the actual store.) I’ve wanted a skinny gold belt for awhile, so I was glad to have scored this for $14.50:
on her toes (and nails.) Fluorescent pink nails were bountiful. It is my favorite polish for the summer and I guess I’m not alone.
My only other purchase at the outlets is one that I am really proud of and excited about. Check out the original price tag…
$295.00!!!! Eeeekkk! I would have never paid that much for this belt…but oh is it ever so lovely:
I got this gorgeous Tory Burch belt for $79!!! Can you believe it? It’s so versatile because of the tan, black and gold combo. I can see it cinching sweaters at the waist and jackets and trenches as well. I can’t wait to wear it! Very happy with this find 🙂 It totally turned my “I suck at outlet shopping” attitude around.
Oh, and another tangent- WHAT IS UP WITH THE COACH STORE!!?? Seriously. It was like a mob in there. Women clutching 3 bags all over the place and confused looking men and screaming kids. I was in awe. I like some of Coach’s leather bags…but these were just “eh” bags and people were going crazy! I uh, guess people love Coach.
Speaking of screaming kids, they were everywhere. It reminded me of the Sex and the City episode where Carrie says:
“…and then the couple has to tell each other something that all potential parents have to say in order to procreate- don’t worry, our kids will be different.”
H and I just looked at each other and I said, “let’s just have one.” As an only child, I know how easy it was for my parents to take me everywhere and I was always well-behaved and knew how to behave around adults. I think parents need to read the Duggar’s books on parenting (if they exist) because when you have 19 pretty well behaved kids, you have to be doing something right, right? OK, tangent done.
We left the outlets all smiles:
The drive home was quite awful. Two accidents, horrible traffic. But the clouds were gorgeous, I snapped a few shots of them:
Pretty, huh?
I hope everyone had a SAFE & HAPPY weekend! Let me know what you did in the comment below…and of course let me know what you bought if you took advantage of some of the labor day sales!
I missed all of you and your lovely comments while I was MIA! Hope this massive posts makes up for it 🙂
xoxo,
Veronika.
I love all your outfits and everything that you got! I need to go outlet shopping! The Coach outlet store is always terrible for me. I guess thats because it's such a popular brand and everybody likes go there to get something, which always makes it crowded! So I usually just don't go there anymore! I would rather buy it at regular price or go to the outlets at a random time when nobody is there, lol.
You look adorable as usual and super happy! Hooray for weekend getways 🙂
The dresses are gorgeous V and love your belt finds! Oh no…stay away from the Coach Outlets on holidays. The ones in Florida are so crazy that they form lines around the building and only allow a minimum number of shoppers at a time. I heard that "once upon a time" a mob of shoppers were fighting over a purse! Yikes!
Sounds like you had a Fab weekend! Don't you just love the extra day off work?!
<3, natasha
Im glad you had a good time in my hometown (and my hometown while I did my Master's in San Marcos). The outlets are usually RIDICULOUS on the weekends, holiday weekends being the worst and people in Coach are totally out of control. I think they must get a bunch of stuff to resell it or something, but usually they have a good selection and a calmer atmosphere during the week. Love the new dress and belts! And I love your blog 🙂
I've never found anything attractive at a Coach outlet either.
I completely understand about the screaming kids, even as a parent of a shrieker. Aren't they embarrassed when their kids are being so disruptive, or do they just not care?? I want to die when mine starts acting up, and we leave. I just can't handle it.
thanks for all of your comments ladies 🙂
@amy drinkie- seriously I can't imagine! One woman in the bathroom had a chihuahua and 3 kids! her son was sitting on the FLOOR of the stall next to me (and I was so paranoid he would crawl into my stall) and she was yelling at her other kids to go to the bathroom…I just thought to myself…I can't do that! ever!
Spontaneous weekend trips are just unbeatable. I love all the dresses you wore out at night. Purple is a really flattering color on you, you should wear it more! 🙂
I never tend to have luck at outlets either. I feel like a lot of the time, it's stuff that nobody wants and it's marked down really cheap, or it's cute stuff, but not really priced at enough of a good deal to make it worth it.
The Coach store is always packed! They had sent me a 20 percent off coupon in the mail that expired today sl I'm guessing that's why everyone was going crazy in there!
What a fun weekend! You and the hubs are so cute 😉
Love the Tory Burch belt, as well as the gold one from JCrew. I need one because I hear J.Crew skinny belts are the best.
I love your new purple dress! Purple has always been my favorite color (when I was little I had a purple themed unicorn party…I think I was 5 or 6?).
I was just at the San Marcos outlets a few weeks ago. I heart the Williams Sonoma store 🙂 The Coach store scares me, though. It's like a mob mentality in there. Glad you had some good finds!
gorgeous outfits!!! i am digging both of your belts!
So jealous of your J.Crew gold belt! I've been wanting it for months but can't bring myself to pay $30+ for it… and it's even gone on sale but never can I catch my size. ugh! And your Tory Burch belt is fabulous. Love it!
Yeah. I try to stay away form the any coach outlet. They are nuts!
Did you check out the kate spade outlet or the michael kors outlet? they have a part of the outlet of the high end designers. I always headed that direction. One year I got a great deal on a cute kate spade person. I get great compliments every spring. If you are becoming a kate spade handbag fan you should join their mailing listing list online. They have great sales!
Glad you loved SA. I miss my hometown. Six Flags is dumb when it comes to the lockers. I learned a long time ago to take a smaller casual purse with a long strap so I can run it across my body (protective).
Did you get to check out Bucees in Luling? It was probably a zoo.
@liz- I did go to Bucees on the way there! I did go to Kate Spade and MK but didn't get anything there. I honestly wish I would have brought a fanny pack for six flags!
Oh boo! It's a hit or miss at the outlets. Seriously fanny packs all the way. Just need to find a really cute one!
BTW Liz congrats on your pregnancy!
Thanks Veronika! 😉
beautiful findings indeed!!! ur dresses are so gorgeous and look super comfy! glad u enjoyed urselves in San Antonio. hubby and I always end up with a massive headache due to the usual heat 🙂
that hagen dasz sorbet.. sooo yummy!
Great weekend looks – the belt is going to go perfectly with so many dresses and outfits! I've had a chance to visit San Antonio a few times, the riverwalk is so pretty at night!!
I really enjoyed this post.
I never have luck with outlets either, stuff there is wayyy too expensive. I think they like to trick you into going there to think it's cheap. I'm glad you found a couple things you loved though.
I really love that purple dress. I'm a big fan of the tiered ruffles on clothing. I think they add femininity and flirtiness and are very flattering on any body type.
I really can't wait to go shopping soon. I haven't been shopping in months for anything for myself. I always feel like I dress much better in the fall than any other season so I am excited to be able to buy a new fall wardrobe and I intend to be a lot smarter with my picks – I have a habit of picking up things that I "Might" wear rather than versatile pieces that I can get good use out of. It's so hard though when there are so many cute pieces!
Love the Tory Burch belt – can't wait to see how it looks with your outfits – it is very unusual. Also liked the purple ruffle dress you wore.
Your mini-break seemed like it was a lot of fun – and the buildings look very picturesque. Glad you were able to go away for the holiday!
Don't judge parenting until you are a parent, TYVM. You try keeping a child calm at a outlet store.
Can't wait to see how you tackle kids and shopping someday… NEWSFLASH – Your kids will not enjoy shopping as much as you do.
I used to work at the Burberry outlet in Cypress and the Coach store was ALWAYS massively overcrowded – so much so that they had to create some system of letting only a few people in at a time. The first Black Friday at those outlets were also ridiculous, and the Coach buyers were waiting in a long line outside the store WELL before Midnight that day. I don't understand it at all. But if you want to try the Cypress outlet Coach store, go at 10AM on Sunday morning.
Anon- where am I judging the parents? I never said "they must be horrible parents if their kids are screaming." I simply said I saw a lot of it and I couldn't handle it and the Duggar comment was a somewhat serious one- I think all parents could learn a thing or two from parents who've raised 19 kids! That's not a judgment.
As someone who has babysat for a long time and has been a nanny before, trust me, I know how kids and babies can get and there is no judgment from me. Having said that, there are some parents who completely lack control of their children. It's a fact, just like there are great parents who have kids who act up sometimes, there are bad parents whos kids act up too.
1. The duggars to not raise their kids – their kids raise their kids… they just make them.
2. Being a nanny/babysitter is not the same as having your own kids.
The Duggars homeschool their kids and they are for the most part well-behaved. I don't condone them having so many children, but they don't live off of the system and from what I see they've raised good kids.
Please point out where I'm judging parents, and also please point out where I'm saying being a babysitter and nanny is equivalent to being a parent. I'm just saying I've expereinced the temper tantrums so I can understand how frustrating it is. I'm not saying my expereience is just like that of a parent.
OK I am so seriously jealous!! I want to go back to the San Marcos outlets so BAD!! I forgot they have a JCrew outlet and I heart JCrew SO MUCH!!! It looks like you guys had a blast, and of course cute outfits!
XX
I'm glad you had a great weekend in my neck of the woods! You were literally 3 minutes from my house. I went to the SM Outlet Mall but my purchases only included clothes for Monkey at Baby Gap and Carters. Not near as fun as yours.
Glad you had fun! I worked at a store in the outlet when I first moved to San Marcos for grad school and I have never seen so many bad kids in my life- it's like parents take their children there and let them run wild! I only live an hour from there now but I never have any luck outlet shopping so I just quit going.
Did you know stores like Jcrew, Gap, Banana , etc actually manufacture a separate line of clothing to sell in their outlets?
I've noticed the quality of the clothes I buy from those stores is different than whats available in the regular mall stores. I did some research and I found out that it's an entirely separate manufacturing line! Even coach has an entirely separate "outlet" line of handbags. When i learned this i was really disappointed. But i guess if you still think its cute and the price is much less, quality is less important. I really like the stuff you found this weekend- "outlet line" or not!
I still think there are some great finds at outlets at some of the stores that don't do this ( off 5th, neiman marcus last call, etc…) but in general I've stopped going to outlets.
I love all of your shopping finds!! I never seem to have any luck shopping the outlets, either. I am glad that you had such a great weekend!!!
Oh, I love the belt you got. I have never been to a Tory Burch outlet, so I am jealous. Did they have a lot of shoes? I love her shoes.
I remember when I lived in Texas many many years ago, me and my friend would drive from Austin to San Marcos all the time. Got some great goodies over the years.
Thanks for sharing your outfits. You looked super cute.
Glad you had such a fun trip.
That TB belt is insane, You will wear that all the time!
Also love the purple dress and Zara floral dress, they look great on you!!
i went to the jcrew outlet after reading this post, and boo the gold belt is too big! 🙁 did you find it to run bigger than usual?
leena- it is too big to be a waist belt, but I plan on just adding a hole to mine.
eek what is your husband wearing?
anon-
Shirt – Forever 21, Shorts – Hurley, Toms shoes
Not sure what's so "eek" about that, but maybe you should spend your time at work not posting rudeish comments on people's blogs? Just a thought 🙂
Great post! Wish we had outlets around here.
Been reading through the thread — you don't need to justify anything! People get in a pickle over the craziest things.
I'm a parent and I agree with what you said.
Michelle
xx
thanks michelle 🙂 I think that sometimes people are quick to make an interpretation of something I say that's incorrect. I just try to point it out if someone is drawing unfounded conclusions.