On my mind

So the family dinner was a success. The pasta turned out great, the tomato jam was a hit, and I seared some steak and sliced up so we could get some protein in there. I also made a batch of sangria...yum.

Next week is my sister's wedding in Knoxville, TN, in which I am a bridesmaid. It will be a chic black and white affair and I am looking forward to seeing her vision in action! In the meantime, I am dreaming of a vacation for us to take in August to celebrate our 6th anniversary...I'm thinking Isla Mujeres, Mexico. I've been obsessively researching resorts and the more I thought about my ideal vacation, the more I leaned toward a smaller, more intimate place. Who wants to share a beach with 500 strangers and wait in line for dinners and have to walk 2 miles to get to the beach? So, as I kept hunting, I happened upon a couple of places that really intrigued me. When I go somewhere, I like to experience the local culture and eat the local food - which isn't exactly feasible when staying at a huge all-inclusive resort. So here's what I've found so far:

Hotel La Amada - not on Isla Mujeres, but the awesome decor has me drooling. It's in Playa Mujeres, which is north of Cancun. With just 109 rooms, it still seems intimate.

Next on the list is Privelege Aluxes on Isla Mujeres. It has an all-inclusive option but only has 124 rooms.

Hotel Ixchel has 117 rooms and is on Isla Mujeres. It's close to local shops and restaurants too. It is a little less private, but costs less and has a kitchenette, living/dining combo. A nice option I think.

The only obstacle will be getting Christian on the plane!!!!!