Restaurant: Rivas

1117 Missouri St
Houston, TX 77006

A few of my friends used to come here for lunch at least once a week when they went to the University just down the street. I've only been here once before but I actually could not remember my experience here. Normally that would signify a bad thing but now that I've come here again, I really like it! My besty came here so often that the manager recognizes her. It also goes beyond that though cuz the guy supposedly always gives her a free dessert too. She's a super likeable person so I'm not surprised. In any case, my bf and I really enjoyed our lunch time here. We actually intended on eating at another place (another of my fave haunts that I will be sure to get to in another entry) but they were closed for renovations. It all worked out well though because now I can add another good place to my list.

First of all, if good service is what you're looking for, then this is the place for you. The folks here are on top of EVERYTHING yet it wasn't overbearing to the point where conversation with your lunch partner is constantly interrupted. I had the penne and chicken while the bf had the chicken marsala and both dishes were $6.95 which I believe were their lunch prices. The serving size was very generous and the food was satisfying and palatable. To add to this raving review, they have complimentary bread like most italian restaurants do, but if you're an unhealthy nut like moi, then you will LOVE their free bread. They give you garlic bread that's loaded with butter and garlic flavor that I wanted to ask for more to take home with me. Or at least to munch on at work. I'm a PIG!

One thing that amused me was their choice of Christmas decorations. They had random things thrown around and it sort of reminded me of how the the holiday aisles look like at walmart after christmas has passed and everything's on clearance. In most cases, it would have been pretty tacky but I think that they actually made it worked. It had a homey and cozy feel to me. They also have a outdoor patio area where people can dine if they want to enjoy the gorgeous weather. I love eating outdoors but chose to sit inside so I could go crazy with the camera.

Can you find the bf in the last photo?

Daily Shots: "M" is for Me

I walk by this part of M.D. Anderson a lot, yet this is the first time I noticed my first initial just bearing down on me.



Texas Heart Institute.



M.D. Anderson reflected off the side of THI.

Outer-Wear: Guess?

This jacket is so CUTE! I'll prolly never buy it because I already have enough jackets and plus I don't have the money either. But for all the guys out there who don't know what to get their little ladies or some other important female person in your life, I know I would wear this happily if I received this as a gift. I love the collar and pretty gold embelishments as well as the quilt/stitch details all along the coat. I love white/off-white/ivory colored jackets. It's very feminine!

Guess? Knit Cuff Down Walking Coat

$148

Ivory

*photo courtesy of nordstrom.com*

Oh Really?: Houston Metrorail

Whenever I see, ride or even think about the Metrorail, I can't help but get so frustrated about how incredibly STUPID it was to develop that type of transportation system. Whoever engineered the Metrorail as well some of the freeways in Houston should be FIRED. If you're going to have a light rail system, it should be either UNDERGROUND or ABOVE GROUND. Not flowing with the rest of traffic and creating more traffic if you ask me. What is the point in having a light rail if it has to stop at red lights! These trains will sometimes get the right of way and traffic lights are sensored to give them the green light whenever they are coming. What that means is you have all these rail guards coming down where cars have to stop and wait for these ridiculous trains to come by. Not only that, they have a crossing located at a VERY busy interesection at a FREEWAY. That makes no sense at all! And now the city wants to make plans to extend the metrorail along Richmond also?!? STUPID STUPID STUPID!!! When you visit cities such as Chicago and New York City, you can't help but be impressed by how advanced their public transportation is. Their trains are built so that it doesn't interrupt normal automobile and pedestrian traffic. And since those trains have no need to stop at lights and what not, they pretty much zoom from one point to another, getting you to your destination in no time. In the mornings, I have the choice of either riding the rail or the shuttle bus, and I choose the bus because it will get me to my drop-off faster at least 70% of the time. Another retarded aspect about our metrorail is that it has been so poorly planned that there is no real way for the city to make sure that every passenger has purchased a proper riding pass. I don't want to complain too much about this since I tend to ride free sometimes cuz I'm just gutsy like that! Hah! But there are times where the creepiest of creeps are riding the rail and you just KNOW that they did not buy a pass. See, this whole thing is completely retarded. I just get so irritated, especially when I'm in my car having to wait for the stupid trains to pass. And sometimes the gaurd rails will come down twice in one setting because it just so happens that there's a train going in both directions. *alkdjfhadskjf!*

Daily Shots: Smile. Or Else.

Restaurant: Cakeland Cafe

11803 Wilcrest Dr
Houston, TX 77031

When it comes to eating out, I'm a pretty picky person just because I don't eat a lot ot things but I can normally find something me-friendly at any restaurant I visit. I'm not a very harsh critic either. I'm pretty basic. Here's how I would rate restaurants:

1. The food is good and I would mos def come back.
2. The foods ok but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here.
3. Yeah, I don't think I'll be coming back.

I'm not one to care about service and atmosphere ... if the foods good ... then i'll be there.

So a friend and I met up at Cakeland Cafe on Wilcrest and 59S. The place was pretty boring looks wise but they certainly had a good looking collection of cakes and other pastries. I had a turkey burger that wasn't remarkable. It satisfied me but I felt like it was one of those frozen patties. Chef Gordon would probably not have liked it. But I'm not picky in that sense. My friend had a chicken caesar pita and she was thoroughly pleased. The price wasn't bad either. It was about 7 bucks for each of those plates and it comes with a side of either a salad, soup or fries. I think their crown jewel is their bakery selection. They have cakes as well more cultural types of dessert and pastries that I'm not familiar with. I think the owners were either Greek or of Mediterranean descent. I would rate this a 2 on my scale but I would go back just to sample their dessert since I didn't do that while I was there.

Daily Shots: Homeward Bound

Random photos taken while leaving work.


Shuttlers.

I heart you.



Spotlight on M.D. Anderson.



Houston sunset: Beauty or Smog?



Free supplies is always a great feeling!

Daily Shots: Keeping Up

So I've been lagging on the daily shots. My goal was to carry my camera with me EVERYDAY so that I can capture certain unique things that I may stumble across through out my day. But it hasn't been so easy because carrying around my knapsack as well as my ginormous camera is definitely not easy on my linebacker shoulders. It sucks though because there has been at LEAST a gazillion times where I saw something where I wish I had my camera with me. The bf has suffered through the phrase "awwwww I wish I had my camera ... dammit!" at least a billion times. The idea from the daily shots came from this site that I frequent on a daily basis. More on that another time.

On this particular day, I'm glad I had my camera so that I could capture this guy making his statement. I went to Toyota to get service done on my car, and this guy was definitely not happy with the Toyota that he bought. Something was wrong with his A/C and Toyota refused to give him a loaner while they check his car out because they're cheap like that. And one thing led to another and now it's this big debable. In my opinion, Toyota's definitely are not what they used to be. I have had my own Toyota for a mere 15,000 miles and it has already suffered a myriad of problems.

A gigantic wreath hanging around in Meyerland Plaza.

A pretty Christmas card tree.

I was on the ferry in Galveston and saw the words "NO SMOKING" painted everywhere. Of course this is the result of an over-processed photo. I can't help it, I'm addicted to my photo editor!

Paw Pals: Tip #1

Tino and Neo are my best buddies EVAR! Whenever I'm feeling down, just having them in my presence and watching them do the darndest things will automatically put a smile on face. I love them to death and will do almost anything for them. I prolly don't walk them as much as I should but I make up for that by allowing them to sleep with me ... yes on the bed ... and I let them take up as much room as they want. I get sad thinking that I may have to give Tino up one day since he's just too big and hyper. My mama told me that there's no way I can keep him and have a little one of my own. So most days, I ask myself which one would I'd rather have: a baby? or my dogs ... and sadly enough ... I want my DOGS!

I made the mistake of letting my dogs do pretty much whatever they wanted their entire lives so when I yell at them for being bad, I'm sure deep down they're not fazed at all. I always figured that they would get scared and stop doing bad things when I would scold them and give them a firm "NO" ... sometimes it worked ... sometimes it didn't ... but I have since learned something else that MAY work.

and with that I give you ...

Tip #1:

Dogs crave attention and want to interact with their bestfriend (aka owner but I don't like to use that word because I feel like it belittles them) whether it is in a positive or negative way. At times, they may do things that they know they shouldn't knowing that you will get mad and punish them. They do that because even though they're in trouble, they have your attention and you're interacting with them even though it's a negative type of situation. A good way to train your furry friend is to simply IGNORE them because THAT in itself is more dreadful to them than being yelled at. So the next time you come home and your hyper-active dog starts jumping all over you, instead of the usual berating, just ignore them until they have calmed down and then go over and give them oodles of hugs and kisses and yummy compliments!

Wedding: Johnny & Tiffany

11.24.2007

Phoenix Wedding Banquet Hall

When I first met Johnny 3-4 years ago, all he could talk about was Tiffany, the one who got away. Now 3-4 years later, they're married!