Hi it’s me, I’m baaack! I haven’t written a blog in a very long time. So you may have been wondering where I’ve been? Well…just like the rest of the world, this past year I navigated pandemic life.. while pregnant. That’s right I baked a whole baby and now the husband and I are the proud owners of a Briton, our 5 month old son! While pregnant I contracted covid which changed my life in more ways than one. Due to complications from Covid, I was hospitalized which led to me giving birth to our son a month early. I was hospitalized for the third time after giving birth to my son, only this time I ended up in the ICU. Pretty scary times. After being released from the hospital I went on to develop severe muscle weakness that left me unable to dress myself, or walk long distances ,heart palpitations, and issues breathing. I was later diagnosed with a rare muscle degenerative autoimmune disease called dermatomyositis that was triggered by my covid infection. I am now considered to be a covid long hauler.
So needless to say, it’s been quite the year for the hubby and I. And with our three year wedding anniversary approaching, I wanted to do something special after being stuck in hospital rooms, doctors offices and the house these past six months. After doing some research, I told my husband that I wanted to take him and our son to Paris. If only you could’ve seen the look on his face at this announcement… PRICELESS! Ha! I think he thought I had lost my mind! But thankfully what came out of his mouth didn’t match the look on his face and he told me to do what I do. Which pretty much translates into, I know you’re about to spend a lot of money and I’ll just be a silent contributor to the cause ha ha!
Insert <creative> Veronica! Knowing that I was in no condition to travel abroad, prior to my invitation to the hubby to Paris, I had done some pretty extensive research on romantic trips across Texas when I stumbled across Paris, Texas. The drive there was short enough to not cause me any major health crisis and we could drive there and back the same day if need be. So with a Parisian theme in tow, I put on my travel planning extraordinaire hat and got to planning! I headed over to my trusty Amazon Prime account and ordered passport books for Briton, Phillip, and me because you can’t go to Paris without a passport right?!
*As a disclaimer I am currently on immunosuppressants medications, so please note that all safety precautions were taken to ensure the safety of my son, husband, and self.
Paris Texas
Paris is a small quaint town 98 miles northeast of the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex. It’s one of 23 towns and cities in the U.S. named after the capital of France. Paris, Texas earned itself the title of the “Second Largest Paris in the World.” It even has its very own Eiffel tower with a TWIST, as the 65-foot-tall Eiffel Tower is decked out with a 10 gallon red cowboy hat!
From the first time I laid eyes on the Eiffel tower I immediately knew I wanted to have a “Picnic in Paris.” I mean what’s more romantic then a picnic under the Eiffel tower?! So when we got into town we headed to the Paris Bakery to grab food for our picnic. We purchased a few pastries, the recommended Cuban sandwich, and a flatbread and made our way to the Eiffel tower! We ate our lunch on a blanket, snapped a few photos and headed into town for some shopping.
Paris Baby is a cute little boutique for babies located in downtown Paris. From the moment we walked into the store, Melissa made us feel right at home. From helping us pick out a few items for Briton to telling us the best places to find good eats and the best places to take photos!
After being out in the sun all day we were pretty beat and HOT! So we headed over to where we would be staying for the night. The Emma Grace is a cute little Bed and Breakfast located in the heart of Cooper, Texas. The vintage building has been thoughtfully renovated, with restored flooring, original brick and plaster, and antique finishes. Neither of us had stayed at a Bed and Breakfast before, so we were pretty excited for this experience. We booked the Moulin Rouge guest room and it did not disappoint! This French-inspired room featured a double-slipper claw foot tub and beautiful fireplace. Fit with a queen bed and luxurious bath. This room was VERY heavy on the romance! We highly recommend you stay here if you’re visiting or passing through Cooper/Paris. Phillip has already told me that we’ll be visiting there again soon. YAY!
To know me is to know that I’m always down for a photo op! So I didn’t hesitate to pack my tulle dress from our anniversary celebration two years ago for a quick photoshoot in our room! I really thought I’d never wear this dress ever again so I’m happy to say it was put to use again! Money well spent!
Prior to our arrival I received a text from the owner asking our ETA, food allergies/aversions, and if our stay was due to a special occasion, so I gave her a little spill on our Parisian Anniversary theme. When we arrived we were informed that breakfast the next morning would be based off of our Parisian theme and again The Emma Grace did not disappoint! We were served the most mouth watering crème brûlée french toast. Still drooling! They were even nice enough to provide his and her mugs for our coffee and we were served orange juice in Eiffel tower stemmed glasses! Jennifer, the co-owner offered to hold Briton so that Phillip and I could enjoy our romantic breakfast. Can you say AMAZING customer service!!! I can’t say anything bad about our stay other than encourage you to visit The Emma Grace if you’re ever in town!
So if you’re in the Dallas area and you’re looking for a quick quiet romantic getaway or you want to experience a little slice of Paris-Texas Style, Paris Texas is definitely the place you never knew you wanted to visit. Passport-Optional!
XOXO,
GIGI
Pretty Is A Lifestyle 