mission accomplished

well i succeeded in finding that last cushion.  it took 3 hours out of my day, but i got it.  i fought rush hour traffic to get to the west hollywood target after a meeting this afternoon. . .and they had none.  i then ventured north and west a bit to van nuys. . .and they had none.  i contemplated between going back east to north hollywood or further north to north van nuys.  i opted for the later and struck gold.  they had not one, but TWO cushions.  i really wanted to buy them both considering what i had gone through to find them.  but i only needed one.  so i left the other for someone else searching as tirelessly as i had.  i hope they find it!

after completing my mission, i felt the harsh pangs of hunger stabbing at my gut.  i had left my meeting at 3 pm and it was now 6 o'clock!  and i still had to fight traffic all the way back across the valley to my little western suburb.  i decided to avoid the freeway and take side streets.  along the way i figured i might be inspired by some new little restaurant (new to me) to try.  i wasn't.  but alas, just a few blocks from my house i remembered the little empanada place i had been wanting to try.  i was on my own for dinner tonight with adam out at band practice. . .so i could eat whatever i wanted and be a little more adventurous.  and i was not disappointed.  i have found my new favorite place! 

one of the biggest challenges since moving to our new little suburb has been eating out.  we LOVE to eat out and try new little places.  but the variety isn't as great as it was in the heart of the city.  out here we are plagued by chain restaurants. . .olive garden, outback steakhouse, california pizza kitchen, chilis. . .etc.  they are ok now and then. . .but not like the little one-of-a-kind places that are so predominant in the city.  and now i've found one close to home.  hooray!

so this is what i had: grilled chicken satay with thai peanut sauce, sticky rice, a green salad with mango and balsamic viniagrette and a spinach and cheese empanada with chimmichurri.  holy moly was it good.  i couldn't nearly eat it all. . .and there are so many other things on the menu i can't wait to try.  mom. . .hurry and get out here so we can go back!