All Sunshine on a Rainy Day

Today, I am happier.  I took yesterday off.  Completely off.

As soon as my children left for school, my friend Abs showed up in her jeep and I hopped in.  We headed downtown Houston for the day, raining cats and dogs and all.

We had decided that a day on Westheimer was in store and we would shop every antique/junk shop that we happened upon.  We did that and more!

The first store that we stopped at was Berings.  http://www.berings.com/  I love Berings.  It's like the old hardware store on steroids.  They do it the right way.  With the bridal registry for china and crystal on one side and the nuts and bolts on the other side, and everything else you could imagine in between.  Abs and I snacked on chocolate truffles, I had cappachino and she had a tiramisu.  Oh, they were good!  We both bought some Easter basket goodies and debated over other good items like an electric teacup warmer and real sturdy fire pit.  Such a good store!

Then our first Antique Store was the best one!  We both scored some hot items.  I got an old print that is just like one my grandfather had of an old hunter with a rabbit in his mouth and the hound dog looking on in wonder.  And Abs got a book about the town that she just found out that her family is from, by the leading author on the town.

We shopped a bunch of other stores in the rain, seeing many treasures for other people's houses.  And our last treasure spot, we met a lovely older gentleman that could wear a toupee like nobody's business.  We both thought we should purchase something from him just for being so wonderful, but it was all rather expensive.  So, instead we chose to patron the restaurant of his advice.  It was a gamble.  We knew it would be either fabulous or mushy.  He was fabulous, but older.  And after many turns through the same light, we found the restaurant and it was fabulous!  http://www.babayega.com/  Oh, a return trip is on the menu!!!  The buffet was the best buffet I ever had!  Beef stroganoff, Pecan crusted salmon, devine salads, and a peanut butter dessert that made you so thankful that God gave you taste buds and this dessert to touch them.  The atmosphere was grand, too.  You felt like you were sitting just on the edge of a beautiful garden in a cozy study, with the doors wide open.  Oh, how nice it was!

Then we headed home, as it was getting close to time to pick up the children.

At home I took a little rest, watching a 30 minute show that I had dvr'ed.  And then it was off for Jr. Girl Scout adventure.  We took the little darlings to the Animal Shelter.  http://www.mcaspets.org/ They forgot we were coming, but gave us the best guide we could have ever had.  He just took us promptly back to the small dog room and let the girls oh & ah over all of them.  He even let 2 out to run and scamper around the girls.  They all had a good time.  I'm surprised I didn't take some home.  It's always so tempting.  Then we all used some hand sanitizer and headed to Gigi's cupcakes for snacks. http://www.gigiscupcakesusa.com/meetourcupcakes   Sugar them up and send them home, I always say!

Then we went home and M took us out for super to P.F. Chang's. http://www.pfchangs.com/index.aspx  We hadn't been there as a family before, two were new to this restaurant.  So, everyone really enjoyed the family meal!  It was fun and took us out of our doldrums.

OH, just saw the time.  Got to go!  Back to everything that I avoided, today!