Parties Archives - 2 Cats and Chloe

The Soiree: Paleo Margarita Mocktail

Yay! Welcome to another Celebrate Southern Soiree! I’m really beginning to LOVE Thursdays because it’s all about the party! If you’ve been following along, you know that J and I opened up this linkup, asking for other gals (and any guys out there too) to be party hostesses!

I’m super excited to introduce you to Brita this week! She has opened up her blog for the Soiree today!

If you haven’t heard of her or checked out her blog B.Britnell before, let me just say that I was extremely flattered she wanted to join this fun. Brita’s blog is one that I oogle over every day. Her recipes are amazing and her photography is outstanding. So go show her some love on her blog or on instagram! Then link up for today’s Celebrate Southern Soiree - because you will be visible on not just one, but three blogs today!

Now on to the show! Last night I went out with my sister and my BlogFriend-turned-RealFriend, Heather, for our photography class and margaritas. You know, I’ve been trying to cut bad things out of my life (I’m not currently on a Whole30, just trying to live the paleo life to it’s fullest) and honestly, I’ve kinda decided that if I am going to be drinking - it better be something that I really love. And while I used to love a good margarita… after a night of full of margs, wine and cigars with J a couple years ago, margaritas have just never been the same.

So when I was pondering our dinner and how I kinda wanted a margarita but not really… I decided I wanted to create a Margarita Mocktail to get me through.

I pulled some “ingredients” out and decided to play. And now I’m obsessed with this drink. It was a trillion times more refreshing than a real, sugary margarita.

Paleo Margarita Mocktail

Prep time

5 mins

Total time

5 mins

Author: Susan {2 cats & chloe.}

Cuisine: Beverage

Serves: 1 glass

Ingredients

1.5 small limes
½ medium lemon
1 tsp light agave
a glass full of sparkling water
ice

Instructions

Squeeze the juice of 1-2 small limes into the glass, then pull out the pulp and add it to the glass.
Add half a lemon and it's pulp to help balance out the sweet/sour ratio.
Add your light agave.
Use a spoon to smash the pulp and mix the juice with agave.
Add your sparkling water, to taste. If you want it less sweet, add more.
Pop a few ice cubes in there and watch the beverage froth up!
Enjoy!

I was really surprised at how frothy this Paleo Mocktail became. It was a great twist to my normal sparkling water. When I totally forgot I was just sipping on water I decided that this would be perfect for a summer soiree!

While I normally prefer cocktails to mocktails… sometimes a girl just needs a break. Before my Whole30 followers jump on board with this, let me say that this IS NOT Whole30 compliant. Because of the agave. But, if you want to leave out that teaspoon of sweetener, this mocktail does become Whole30 approved! Try adding some mint or other fruit to this beverage to mix it up even more!

And for those of you who want to make it “stronger” and more adult? Add some Agave Tequila to keep it clean and paleo!

Paleo, Whole30 Lemon Lime Mocktail

I cannot wait for my mid-afternoon pick me up later today so that I have an excuse to make another paleo margarita mocktail!

Join the fun and linkup below! And don’t forget to go back to yesterday’s post to WIN LIFE CHANGING SHAMPOO!

Be-te-dub. If you want to open your blog up to get a bit more visibility as a Celebrate Southern Soiree Party Hostess - please fill out this form! It’s a first come, first serve thing! We are looking forward to partying with you in the coming weeks!

Loading InLinkz ...

The Soiree: Vintage Shasta Party?

by Susan

So before I begin this post, let me just tell you that I am a girl who loves her birthday. I like to start planning my birthday month (June) shortly after Christmas wraps. Crazy? Yeah - probably. Fun? Totes.

Last year the hubby and my mom teamed up to throw me a surprise 30th birthday party. On a boat. With a bunch of my friends. And pirate balloons. Did you miss that fun post? You can see it here. This year though, turning 31, it really isn’t really that big of a deal. I mean, after 30… the next milestone is 40. So it’s all downhill from here right?

But it’s still a birthday so it’s still party-worthy. So here’s what I’m thinking… a vintage camper birthday party!!! (I’m normally not a fan of multiple exclamation marks but this idea is so great excessive punctuation is absolutely necessary!) As an event planner, I’ve come to the decision that it’s totally okay for me to throw myself a party, as long as it is not a big milestone (i.e. 30th birthday, bridal shower, graduation party…) because I’m throwing it with the intent of my friends and family gathering to have a great time. Anyway, I figure I may as well use my new awesome Shasta Reissued 1961 as a prop right??

2 cats & chloe: tin can camper the 2015 shasta reissue

I’m just in the beginning phases of brainstorming said 31st-vintage-camper-birthday-party… but here’s what I’m working with:

Want this look? You can have it: Coral Summer Placemats from Target // Summer Floral Plates from Target // Pitcher with Orange-ish Tumblers from Target

Don’t you just love this fun vintage style fan that I found? It’s so fun and it does a great job at being a fan and circulating air!

I really haven’t had much time to even decorate her yet… so it is a bit crazy that I’m already planning her first party! In addition to packing up our house and working a few weddings in June, apparently I need to drive myself crazy, I am going to start planning party with my new 2015 Shasta Reissued 1961 Camper. What do you think… Maybe a cute birthday pennant banner? Some coral and seafoam striped straws with fun, summery beverages? A campfire? Good music? S’mores? Oh em gee I’m so excited!

Now it’s your turn to join the Soiree fun! It’s a new linky about the party! Link up below with a recipe, home decor, DIY or party post! You can use an old post or a new post! Totally up to you! We are also looking for future party hostesses! If you want to get a bit more blog exposure and be party of this party - let us know by filling out this form!

Loading InLinkz ...

NYE: sunsets, pizza, gambling and naps.

by Susan

If you need to know one thing about me, you need to know that I love to throw parties. We had planned to host a bunch of friends and family at our house for New Year’s Eve. The menu was created, the facebook event was live, the glitter was ready. But then we just decided last week that we would rather save the money and head to the river. No offense to our friends - we just needed to get away.

We spent the eve of 2015 with my family and some close family friends. And a trillion dogs. Did you see this picture on my instagram account? How many dogs can you count in this picture? {Hint: there more than 5.}

The evening started when the fire pit came to life. Even though it was quite brisk on the water - we enjoyed the last bit of 2014 around a fire, watching the prettiest sunset of the year.

With my Whole60 starting on January One - I was thankful we stuck with our tradition cottage NYE dinner - personal pizzas. I bought a ton of pizza toppings and a gf pizza crust. My mom bought dough and sauce from a little Italian restaurant. Paired with an amazing bottle of wine that my cousin and I bought in Switzerland from a legit Italian vineyard… it really was the perfect dinner. #thisisnotpaleo.

Now nothing says holiday tradition like our NYE game: the Left Right Center Game. Guys, if you haven’t heard of this game before you need to grab it and pencil it in for your next shindig. This game never ceases to provide tons of entertainment. Pre-plan and tell all of your guests to bring three $1 bills each… unless you’re extreme high rollers and you wanna up the ante.

My dad thought it would be a brilliant idea to mix it up a bit this year… so we decided to play LRC twice. The first time with dolla dolla bills y’all. The second time with lotto tickets! Yes the winnings and stakes were raised, but unfortunately, despite the fact that the lotto tickets were a lot prettier and more colorful… they only grossed $3 of winnings in my mother’s pocket.

I didn’t win a darn thing, except a selfie with chloe and a New Year’s Eve kiss from my husband. It was probably one of the most calm and laid back New Year’s Eves that we have had in a very long time - but it hit the spot.

How did you spend your New Years Eve? Partying like rockstars or maybe a quiet evening like ours?

I hope y’all had a wonderful celebration and that you are as excited for 2015 as I am! Can you believe it’s Two Thousand and Fifteen?! Geez Louise. Let’s take a quick nap and then show this year that we mean business.

Bring it on 2014…

by Susan

It’s only January 21st. It’s not too late for an update and “New Year’s Resolution” post right? Eh - it’s my blog. I make the rules. So here we go!

Happy New Year friends! Again, I realize I am about 20 days late with this. But bear with me - it’s been a crazy 21 days.

2013 went out with a bang! We had one heck of a party at our Big Green House. Friends even drove up all the way from Carolina to pose in our photo booth, blow some party horns, drink some champagne and steal some dolla dolla bills y’all in a fired up game of Right-Left-Center Game! We welcomed 2014 surrounded by great friends and a very loud vuvuzela.

And then, just like that, the first day of the new year became the first day of my Whole30 challenge. And it has consumed my mind. And my time. And my cravings. I definitely plan on doing a post real soon that talks about my Whole30 experience because, at only day 21 out of 30, I hate to be uber cliche and say it’s been “life changing” quite yet… It’s definitely been an eye-opening experience that will stick with me for a very, very long time.

Let’s see, what else? Oh! I got a new job! Don’t worry brides and grooms - I am still your go-to wedding planner. But I have picked up a marketing coordinator position with a Home Warranty company. Yes - I swore off “warranty” January One of 2013… buuttttt I’m back. But not in sales. In marketing. I made my official Linkedin announcement today. Wonder if anyone from my old job will notice…

**insert shameless plug… go like 29:11 on facebook!**

Speaking of wedding planning - I have one last thing to share! 2014 and my business 29:11 Celebrations are BOOMING! I currently have 14 weddings booked and already have inquiries for 2015. Who would’ve thought that a year ago - when I left my warranty job of almost 8 years to jump out on the crazy steep and scary ledge that is self-employment… sigh… who would’ve known that my business would take off?!

Oh - and since I firmly believe in writing out your goals and resolutions, so let’s do this:

In 2014 I will be…

HEALTHY

ORGANIZED

and

HAPPY

So there ya have it. Bring it on 2014. I’m ready for you.

Impromptu Gatsby Dinner Party!

by Susan

Looking for a great excuse to have a girls night and a mini-dinner party? The release of The Great Gatsby on DVD is a great one!

I was one of those folks who realllllly wanted to see this film in the theater but unfortunately never had the chance. So with it’s release on Tuesday, I chatted with a sweet friend about watching it together…

Here was the plan… a quiet Wednesday evening and a movie. What did it turn into? Homemade pizzas, chocolate covered fruit, champagne with strawberries and of course the glitter and glam that is Gatsby.

Minus the actual glitter and glam. We wanted to be comfortable.

Then the phone rang and it was my sister. Who had no plans for this dull Wednesday night. I tempted her with the champagne and pizza just enough for her to make the hour commute to Newport News and join in what now was becoming a Girls Night Gatsby Party!

Then the phone rang again. It was my mom. She was working about 30 minutes away from my house. I mentioned our ‘now party’ and she drove a bit further to come join in on the fun!

I was oh so excited to get these sweet peppers and lonesome tomato out of my garden for the pizzas! They were delicious!

We ate a few macaroons as our appetizer… You know, a normal and totally healthy pre-dinner snack.

This was the line up and options for pizza toppings…. green peppers, sweet peppers, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms of all sorts, pineapple, spinach, pepperoni, and cheeses!

Sarah tried to go all-italian-mobster-legit on her pizza dough…

Leslie, the champagne opening expert that she is, snuck outside to pop the booze open! It shot all the way to the garden. We are entering her in the Champagne Opening Olympics next year.

Cheers ladies! To Mr Gatsby!

The Happy Pizza Makers:

Rockie even joined us for the movie… He now likes to be call Mr. Catsby!

Did I mention how off the hook Sarah’s dessert was? Chocolate covered strawberries, bananas and pineapple!

And just in case you were wondering where all the Gatsby glitter and glam of the evening was (and still is) … it’s on my dining table.

With a wedding theme of Gold and Glitter I’m pretty positive watching Gatsby AFTER most of the planning has taken place was a good thing. Because if I was just starting now I’m very sure we would be having a Roaring 20s themed wedding…

Until next time, Old Sport…

The Soiree: Paleo Margarita Mocktail

The Soiree: Vintage Shasta Party?

NYE: sunsets, pizza, gambling and naps.

How did you spend your New Years Eve? Partying like rockstars or maybe a quiet evening like ours?

Bring it on 2014…

Impromptu Gatsby Dinner Party!

Connect

inst-happening!