Girls' Day Out!

So, way back in December when trying to decide what to do for Mom for Christmas, it occurred to me that we hadn't had a girls' day in a long time. We used to have them once every couple of months, but they became a very rare occurence after the hurricane due to money and/or time constraints. Seeking to rectify this, I gave her a card telling her that was what I wanted to do - take her to lunch and spend a day together.

We finally got our day today. The delays in the last two months came in the form of everything from one of us having a cold to trying to work around what seemed like a billion appointments for doctors, tests, and parent-teacher conferences. It felt like we were never gonna get here!

We did though, and it was a blast! Although, I think it's a testament to how badly needed this was that we spent the first 20 minutes or so not really sure of what to do. We batted around lunch ideas until we decided that maybe we should go to Sawgrass Mills (huuuuuge outlet mall) and walk around until something came to us. Fortunately, as we were circling the parking lot looking for a spot somewhere where we'd remember (huuuuuuge parking lot for huuuuuuge outlet mall), Mom eureka'd with Rainforest Cafe (which is in said huuuuuuge outlet mall).

Food was so very good. Service was so very good. And walking for a good 2+ hours after while talking was so very good. Our mission included looking for maternity clothes for my sister-in-law, who is an aggravating size 0 when not preggers. This is an impossible task. First off, maternity clothes are UGLY. God, people! These women are carrying the future! Give them some frickin' dignity! Second off, two well-endowed women asking about size 0 maternity clothes will make people laugh. Seriously. :P

After a few side stops (and a final giving-up-and-going-to-Wal-mart for something to send my sister-in-law), we had one final thing on our list: Cold Stone Ice Cream. Now, I had no idea we even had one of these down here until I got a flyer from the school on Monday promoting today as a PTO-sponsored thing where part of the proceeds of sales would go to the school. A bunch of you out in the net-o-sphere have ranted about this place, so I suggested we go check it out. You know. Support the school by being gluttonous!

Honestly, I'm not sure what the big deal is here, but I think ya'll got suckered by presentation. Was it neat to watch them do the thing with the ice cream and toppings? Yeah, of course. Was it the best ice cream on the planet? Nah. It was good, though. Very yummy. Granted, we were surrounded by about two dozen kids with their parents from the school (and these parents do NOT have very stimulating conversations), and I got a total attitude from the woman at the sign-up table when I told her that I didn't bring my kid.

Maybe it's because I'm not really big on ice cream. In spite of the dirty looks sign-up-woman gave me, I got a pint to bring home to the guys, and they liked it, but again, no one's going out of their way to drive over there when we've got a Dairy Queen down the street and we're just as happy with a generic box of ice cream sammiches from Publix on occassion.

All in all though, very nice day. Just...gonna wear sneakers next time. :P