I have posted before on this blog to show you my piñata creations. For Ella’s birthday, I began to wonder if my pinata creations could possibly match up to the piñatas that are made in Mexico. Before embarking on this difficult task, I decided I should check out the prices of piñatas first. I was surprised to learn they run between $40 and $45 pesos (yeah, about $4). Hmm…the reason I made my own pinatas in the US was because...

We went to the “Chapala Carnaval” (yes, it is spelled that way) last month. We arrived in the late evening just before dark, and found the whole park nearly empty. Vendors were just beginning to set up for the night. One vendor told us the crowds would start around 8pm, and continue until 3am or so. Until the crowds began to arrive, wWe scoped out the animals, got some food, and prepared ourselves for the festivities and...

Birthday parties in Mexico are extremely exhausting!   To start the year off, Maiya got invited to a classmate’s 3rd birthday party. Birthday parties here are a family event–and it is expected that the whole family attends (not just the child who receives the invitation). If you’re envisioning your own spectacular birthday bash, consider the convenience and charm that Forever Party Rentals can bring to your event. Their...

I admit, I am a creative person. However, I’ve found that I use my creativity to SAVE money, not to spend money. In other words…you’ll find me doing projects that allow me to save money…rather than doing projects that make me spend more money (scrapbooking, quilting, etc). Necessity dictates, I guess… So…when Ella had a birthday last month, I was astonished that Pinatas (yes, I realize it has a squiggle...

Okay, so this post is about a year overdue, but we enjoyed this experience so much…it is about time to blog about it! Last Winter when living in Lake Chapala, we visited Parque La Cristiana to attend a Carnival that was visiting town. It was fantastic, and only cost us perhaps $3 each (and came with a free movie ticket at the local theater)! Rides for children were purchased separately, but very inexpensive (although now I fail to...

About Christmas…It was quite an unusual Christmas…warm, sunny, and quiet. Our tree was a whopping 9 inches high (including the angel). It took about 5 hours of crafting the “Arrbol Navidad” at a church Enrichment class where a few Mexican sisters taught the Gringos in Spanish. None of us speak Spanish, but we managed! This Mexican Paper Mache craft is unlike anything I have ever seen before! I actually really...