A Family Dinner Event

The Vargas-Garcia family is in town visiting with the Vargas-Crawford family. They have been here visiting and getting to know Sophia. I decided to invite them all over for dinner and to serve up a couple of pans of my "famous" enchiladas. I have taken a normal Betty Crocker recipe and vamped it "Michelle Style". I have to admit..they are PRETTY DARN GOOD!! I think Pablo & Kristin can vouch for me. The first time I made them, I had been living in PV for about a month and on my own and wasn't really accustomed to all the cooking elements, so when a recipe calls for a can of chilies DO NOT put an entire can of chilies and juice into a recipe in PV. Kristin, Pablo & I learned that the HARD way. They were VERY HOT...good but SPICY!! It was a great feeling entertaining everyone in my new apartment and the first time that I did entertain in my new apartment since moving in!! It was so much fun having everyone around!! Sophia was even a real trooper as she didn't want to sleep and didn't fuss at all even though she knew it was WAY past her bedtime. :) However, I did hear that she had a bit of a "meltdown" when they all returned home.

Here are a few photos to document the event!!! The whole gang gathered around my dinner table:


Pablo's Sisters (Lupe & Claudia) & Mom (Betty):

Grandpa's & Granddaughters share a one of a kind bond....I know I sure miss mine!! (soph's expression is so cute here...arrg matie) :)


AND...ALWAYS be a indescribable bond between a daughter and her Mom!!


This next photo isn't a great photo, but there have been many conversations between Kristin, Pablo & I about how Sophia's MANY face expressions imitate and/or replicate the MANY expressions of Kristin & Pablo. Here is one to document (in my opinion)....

Christmas Is Coming

I know what some of you are thinking....gosh Michelle it's only October. But what can I say in PV we go straight from Halloween (which isn't much however in the last couple of years I've been here I've seen more and more decorations become available) to Christmas. We don't celebrate Thanksgiving. The HUGE holiday here is Day of the Dead, which I AM looking forward to this year and NOT going to spend in an emergency room. HAHA!!

Today, Kristin, Toro and I went to look at a villa for an upcoming event to take measurements, etc and Kristin HAD to make a point that I watch my step because we were on a steep incline and the entrance up to the house was even steeper. There were steps, however I chose to walk up the driveway. You see me and steps don't mix either..HAHA!! (severe broken left ankle in 200???).

So, the point to this blog tonight is that I am soooo looking forward to decorating my apartment for Christmas. I know that I keep mentioning this over and over, but the new apartment is so much more like a home than just a depressing LARGE bedroom and NO living area.

Anyways, a couple of weeks ago, following church and breakfast with the Vargas-Crawford family. (which can I say I look forward to every week - It's like a family day all wrapped up into a pretty cool package with benefits!!) We headed out to The Home Depot. We walked in and Kristin and I were absolutely BLOWN away by all the ADORABLE Christmas decorations available. (well I don't know if kc was..but I sure was) nevertheless, I was in HEAVEN!!! I can't wait to go back and buy some more things, but I did end up picking up a couple of items. I've been buying a few things here and there over the last couple of weeks and can't wait to buy a bigger Christmas tree. The one I used last year I'm going to donate to the TDD office so we can decorate a bit as well.

So, here's a "sneak peek" at what I've accumulated so far. Thank you Kristin, Pablo & Sophia for the Santa figurine!! I LOVE IT!!!

On a different note, Kristin forwarded this photo of Mom, Dad & I when they were here in March for David & Stacy's wedding and I just HAD to post!!! Gosh, it was so much fun having them here!! In fact, when I was chatting with them this past weekend, I mentioned to Dad that since he will be retired (IN DECEMBER...YES folks my Dad is officially going to retire on December 19th) he could come and visit me in February, when it's cooler and beautiful. I told them that I have started a "I wish Dad could come and visit" Daddy-Do List. You see when I had my house in Dassel I would do as much as I could by myself and then put other things on the list for when Dad came to visit. It was always so much fun learning how to repair plumbing pipes, etc. I got a cute reaction from Mom, but Dad was pretty quiet. I'm thinking retiring in PV is NOT on his list and that BRADENTON will always be in his heart!!! Can't knock a girl for trying, right???

There is something about a bond between a daughter and her father. I'm sure all of you daughters out there can relate, but gosh..being so far away somedays just really hurts my heart. Then you find this picture while you are rummaging through stuff and think...GOSH I LOVE MY DAD!!!!

Gosh..it was such a GREAT time with everyone here!!

Until next time y'all ...I bid adieu.

The Girls Weekend & PV Sunsets

I was told not too long ago that I haven't updated my blog lately and YES I admit I haven't written on the blog lately, but how do you find the time.....OH DEAR!! I guess it's called time management..HA So here goes an update tonight.

The first weekend in October some BEAUTIFUL girls came to visit. We had so much fun. Jami arrived Thursday night. I picked her up from the airport, we came back to the apartment and off to downtown for a yummy dinner. She pumped me full of questions. I had soo much fun answering her questions and just reassured myself even more of my decision to be here in PV. We woke up Friday morning and I asked Jami if she wanted to hang out with me at work. I had to head downtown to order our cakes for our upcoming October events, etc. We headed to the office and then we were off to order cakes with Memo at Charme. It was soo much fun. We quickly ran through the two fabric stores here in Vallarta and she snapped some photos of the "expensive" fabric store. I LOVE the fabrics and laces in this store. They have every color you can imagine. Here's a couple photos.

Then it back to the office where I was able to get a TON accomplished and off to the airport to pick up Liza. Friday afternoon we walked around a bit and headed over to Daiquiri Dick's for some drinks and appetizers and to watch the sunset.

Saturday morning we were up early and headed downtown for a quick breakfast at one of my favorite cafes for some coffee and a quick bite to eat before heading off to our Spa Day.

We treated ourselves to an amazing day of massages, facials, manicures and pedicures. After successfully feeling relaxed and pampered we were all geared up to go shopping. I wanted to take the girls to all of my favorite shops, but I knew it was going to be a bit tough since still being off season and later in the afternoon on a Saturday, but we did our best and the girls got some really nice stuff to bring home to their families. We stopped for some chips, guac and salsa at a restaurant right on the beach and we chatted. We actually saw my couple that was arriving into town for their wedding that following weekend. That certainly hit home knowing that our season was about to begin. We continued our way downtown to the market and the girls were able to buy some really great souvenirs for back home. By the end of the day, we were all exhausted so we rented a movie and headed back to the apartment to relax.

The girls had a hard time sleeping with the roosters out in the street, dogs barking, the HEAT & HUMIDITY and the random horses rummaging through the garbage.

Sunday was a fun day of FUN IN THE SUN. We went to spend the day at Dreams Resort to have some relaxing time by the pool and on the sand and surf. These pictures explain it all. I have to admit that this was the first time since I've moved here that I actually spent time in the ocean and it was sooo much fun body surfing. I later discovered that there was a couple of tropical storms/hurricanes off the coast which was causing the HUGE surf that we enjoyed.




After we spent the day in the sun, we got all "dolled" up and headed for a really nice dinner.
Sunday nights in Puerto Vallarta are quite entertaining. After dinner we walked on the Malecon, people watching and enjoyed the locals dancing on the plaza. I loved watching Jami & Liza's expresions as we walked up and down the boardwalk. Jami especially found the "stone guy" quite interesting.
We spent Monday morning getting their things packed as we quickly headed over to the office so Jami & Liza could see Kristin & Sophia.
Then it was off to the airport for Jami. Liza and I headed down to the beach for one last taste of nachos and off to the airport it was for her. It was so sad to see them go. I enjoyed myself so much and realized how much fun it was so have them to visit and be a "tour guide". As Liza & I were sitting on the beach we watched this fishing boat come in and it was a bittersweet moment.


Thank you girls for coming and visiting. I hope we can do it soon and maybe this time with the hubby's!!!

As I was thinking a bit more about this blog and sitting in this HEAT I look out the window and saw an amazing sunset. I've always loved sunsets whether they are US located or Internationally located..but I have to admit the are absolutely beautiful here.
I don't think you all realize how hard it rains here when it does rain. When the tropical storms were here off the coast a couple of weeks ago it rained so hard that a few days later we still had a river running in the street. Here's proof! :)

The Dazzling Details has been busy these last few weekends and working our tails off. Check out our blog for the latest news and pictures. We've created some amazing events so far!!! We have two more for October and then October is closed!! Until next time....Stay tuned....