aloha style: surprise, surprise.

dress:: {shopruche}

earrings:: {indefinitely borrowed from lil sis}

bag:: {navy exchange}

sandals:: {old navy}

Saturday night. 

Chris is excited to take me out to a surprise restaurant for dinner. The boy knows I am a sucker for surprises. :) 

We pull up to the restaurant and he is telling me all about how he got a great recommendation from this guy he works with who LOVES this place. 

My heart sinks. Two days before, my friend had told me never to go to this restaurant. She said it was really awful. The internal debate ensues. Do I tell Chris or just go along with it and let him be excited that he surprised me?

Oh, but he can tell I'm not happy. I can't attempt to hide it, he knows me too well. So I cringe and tell him. Sorry babe! 

We scramble to come up with a good plan B so as not to ruin our special date night. Both of us are trying really hard not to be disappointed and frustrated. 

Then *bing!* the lightbulb goes off. I remember a Eurasian tapas restaurant that another friend told me about that she and her husband loooove. So off we drive, into town, hoping that we can get in without a reservation. 

YAY! A table is available right away. The ceiling is adorned with ten giant paper lanterns and the atmosphere is just right. 

Oh, and the fooood. Bacon wrapped jumbo shrimp with chili sauce. Pork belly with brie and adobo sauce. Crispy calamari with spicy aoli sauce. Mussels, crab and shrimp in a delicious tomato sauce. And the yummiest wine. A new favorite, for sure. 

What could have turned out to be a very frustrating evening developed into a sweet, special date night together. Guess we were *both* surprised by where we ended up for dinner! Phew, bullet dodged on that one. Even if Chris claims he'll never try to surprise me again. 

Oh, and my new dress fits perfectly. Hallelujah! It's rare to find a maxi-dress that doesn't pool yards of fabric on the floor. I was not expecting it to fit me this perfectly--- so that's a sweet surprise too! A new favorite restaurant and a new favorite dress all in one night.  Perfecto. 

PS. The word "surprise" is so strange. Say it a few times to yourself. Isn't it weird?? Or is it just me?

lindsay