Summer Archives - 2 Cats and Chloe

Current Summer On-The-Go Essentials

August 17, 2015 by Susan 3 Comments

Many thanks to U by Kotex for sponsoring today’s post!

Where have I been all summer long? Gals - I wish I could say I have been off on a tropical beach somewhere, living the good life and drinking Chardon-YAY all day long. Instead I have been working really hard while trying to fight off a terrible summer cold and some chronic health issues. I’m popping vitamin C like it’s candy. Soaking up vitamin D whenever I have the chance. I’m eating clean and drinking my h2o but since I have been on-the-go since mid-june, I just don’t think my body has had a chance to get some good, solid, summer R&R. I’ve been in between hotel rooms, my parents’ house, our family cottage and of course, Nana’s house for a few months now. Being a nomad is tough!

So today, with the help of U by Kotex, I am sharing a few of my current on-the-go summer essentials!

My Sunnies. I do not leave home without my polarized shades. My eyes are crazy sensitive these days and I am basically blinded-by-the-sunlight when I am outdoors without my glasses. I don’t know how y’all can drive around without a quality pair of sunglasses.

Summer on-the-go-essentials

Multiple Purses. Crazy right? Why would anyone think that multiple purses is a go-to-essential? Because when I am on the road and miles from a place to call home, who knows what I will need to be toting. My hot pink Kate Spade has become my Mary Poppin’s Bag. It fits everything from my laptop, work necessities, emergency personal essentials, to snacks and drinks. Then I have my new favorite clutch that fits my wallet, sunnies and absolute must-haves when I do not feel like lugging my pink bag.

2 cats & chloe + U by Kotex

Snacks & Drinks. It kills me how my husband stops so frequently at gas stations for a quick drink when we are traveling. There is just something about how I can get 24 beverages from Sam’s Club or Costco for the same price as 3 bottles from a 7-11… That being said, I always try to have a bottle of something (sparkling water is my go-to-of-choice) and a snack. This summer, while not really paleo, my snack of choice has been Skinny Pop! I love that stuff!

Emergency Supplies. No, I’m not talking about jumper cables or road flairs. I’m talking about U by Kotex Lightdays Liners to #SaveTheUndies! You never know when mother nature is going to wreck your plans (or your undies!) These Lightdays Liners are slim and easy to hide in your purse or wallet when you’re on-the-go! And because we are all rockstars who would prefer to not carry around bulky pads all the time, U by Kotex is giving you free samples of their liners!

That’s it for me today friends. I will be back soon with some house and life updates for you! In the mean time, grab your free sample from U by Kotex (because who doesn’t love free samples?!) and tell me in the comment section below, what are your current on-the-go essentials?

Birthday Flowers: Hydrangeas

June 10, 2015 by Susan 1 Comment

I know I have written about this in past years but I can’t help but snap a few more pictures and do it again this year, especially since I started my photography class! Every single June, hydrangeas are in full bloom for my birthday. It goes without fail. When I was a kid my grandparents would always give me a bouquet of hydrangeas from their backyard for my birthday. When I moved into Mike’s house I was thrilled to see that there was a huge hydrangea bush in the yard.

I’ve been eyeing that plant for the last few weeks, knowing that it wouldn’t reach it’s full potential until this week. There’s just something about hydrangeas and my birthday…

2 cats & chloe: Birthday Flowers

Note from a Wedding Planner: While I absolutely adore hydrangeas and think they are absolutely gorgeous as wedding flowers, please know they they wilt so quickly and they are actually poisonous. I’ve had girls who want to put them on their wedding cake… I’d avoid it unless the wedding favor you’re passing on to guests is a sick stomach!

Is there a flower or special thing that happens every year around your birthday?

Memorial Weekend Treat: Frozen Berry Flattened Trifle

May 21, 2015 by Susan 7 Comments

Can you believe Memorial Weekend is already (almost) here?! This weekend is always one of my favorites. The sun is (usually) shining. The flags are flying. And we are (almost always) working a wedding and then spending the holiday weekend at the river. This is the first year, in EIGHT YEARS, that I do not have a wedding this weekend. I am cutting way, way back this year on my wedding business. I still have one-ish a month for the majority of the season. But it’s a fourth of what I did last year. Because I want to be around to enjoy fun-filled weekends (like Memorial Weekend) with my family!

That being said - how about a festive NON PALEO NON WHOLE30 BUT INCREDIBLY DELICIOUS dessert? Yes… every now and then you just have to live by the 90/10 rule. (Keep in mind, this dessert was created we discovered my gluten intolerance… so I will not be eating this. But my friends and family will love it!)

Frozen Berry, Flattened Trifle

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

1 hour

Total time

1 hour 15 mins

Two Sleeves of Graham Crackers One stick of Melted Butter One Can of Sweetened Condensed Milk (For a slightly lighter, less rich taste use fat free) Approximately 8 ounces of Greek Yogurt. Four-ish of Pineapple Greek and Four-ish of Lemon Greek. (Again, for a slightly, less rich taste you can use normal yogurt) An average sized lemon to zest and squeeze the juice One 8 ounce Container of Thawed Cool Whip Half of an Angel Food Cake (I did store bought) Approximately 1.5 cups of Fresh Strawberries Approximately 1.5 cups of Fresh Blueberries

Author: Susan {2 cats & chloe.}

Ingredients

Two Sleeves of Graham Crackers
One stick of Melted Butter
One Can of Sweetened Condensed Milk (For a slightly lighter, less rich taste use fat free)
Approximately 8 ounces of Greek Yogurt. Four-ish of Pineapple Greek and Four-ish of Lemon Greek. (Again, for a slightly, less rich taste you can use normal yogurt)
An average sized lemon to zest and squeeze the juice
One 8 ounce Container of Thawed Cool Whip
Half of an Angel Food Cake (I did store bought)
Approximately 1.5 cups of Fresh Strawberries
Approximately 1.5 cups of Fresh Blueberries

Instructions

Take the Grahams, double ziplock bag 'em, then smash them to bits! Add the melted butter and mix into the bag.
On your cookie sheet, spread out some wax paper. This makes for a much easier cleanup. Lay the buttery grahams out and press them down hard. Making a make-shift crust. I popped it into the oven, on 350 degrees for about 5 minutes to help bind it. {Not sure if this is necessary or not though since you will be freezing it.}
In a separate mixing bowl you need to mix your yogurt, sweetened condensed milk, zest the lemon until you don’t feel like zesting anymore, then cut the lemon in half and squeeze it’s contents into the bowl, sans the seeds. Then blend in the Cool Whip.
Cut up your strawberries and tear up the Angel Food Cake. You could cut it, but let’s be real… it’s way more fun to tear it up. More than likely it will take you back to your first birthday where they told you to run amok with the cake. DO IT! And do it so the pieces are small squares.
I highly recommend fresh fruit. Unless you are in Hertford, NC. In which case they “ran out” of blueberries. I have never made this with frozen fruit before but in my mind, they are going to be frozen in the long run – this should just save on the freezing process? (Bottom Line: Stick with the fresh if you can.)
On top of your grahamy crust, lay out some blues and straws… berries that is. This ensures that even when the top looks like the American Flag, your happy family and friends will get some of each fruit.
Put a layer of the Angel Food Cake down. Surprisingly this is AWESOME when frozen. Then smooth the layer of your fruity cool whip concoction on top of the cake.
Use your slices strawberries and blueberries to make the top look like the American Flag. OR, I think this would look just as pretty, scatter the strawberries and blueberries around like you did on top of the grahams. Use your creative juices to figure out your frozen treat decor.
Cover it up and pop it in the freezer. I let mine freeze through the night. It’s still a bit gooey because of the contents, but my oh my! You’re going to enjoy!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend Y’all.

#thisisnotpaleo

Be safe. Have fun. And take a moment to remember those who have given their lives to keep us safe.

PS. Today is the Southern Soiree! So linkup here:

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Hatches to Batten: Arthur is Coming!

July 3, 2014 by Susan 2 Comments

One of the coolest things about the blogging community is that you get a tiny little glimmer of insight into lives that may be nothing like your own. For example, there are some of you, possibly a lot of you, that will read this post and think “Seriously, what does it take to prep for a hurricane?!” or “This looks like too much, unplanned fun. Does this girl even work?!” or maybe “Is the saying ‘the calm before the storm’ legit?” The answers to these questions are a lot, too much, and yes.

We are currently at the Calm-Before-The-Storm Phase of this impending Fourth of July hurricane weekend. During the week, when I’m not coordinating events, I work as an independent marketing contractor for a national home warranty company. This job gives me a bit more flexibility when things {like hurricanes} pop up and I need to help my family out. Yesterday I texted my boss at 7am with a slightly cryptic message:

“Arthur will be a Cat One at landfall.

Heading to NC to batten down hatches.”

So yesterday, I spent the day packing up anything and everything at our river house that had a possible “could catch wind” factor. We flipped over tables. We pulled in all bird feeders. We made sure windows were closed. We double checked to make sure our webcam was working. We strategized about the placement of our boats in the yard and under trees. We took the pontoon boat off the lift and out of the river. And then we drank. {If this was more than a Category One Storm, we would also be taping windows and things of the sort. Here’s hoping it doesn’t pack too much of a wallop.}

Surprisingly my mom trusted me, with the high winds and the rough water, to drive her beloved pontoon boat to the ramp. It was either that or I take her truck and huge trailer {which I’ve never towed before.} Pretty positive she was thinking it was going to be a lose-lose either way. But I successfully drove, docked, and trailered the pontoon on my own. Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

But first, let me take a selfie.

Meet my sister. She is too cool for selfies. But she’s all about some panoramics.

After everything was successfully in it’s hurricane-safe places, there was nothing left to do sit on stationary porch swing and enjoy a glass of wine. #whenin~~rome~~perquimans

Yes, the swing is sitting on the ground.

After wrapping things up at the house we went into town for a quick bite to eat.

Hertford is known for just a few things:

1. It’s the size of Mayberry. It’s precisely one street and two stop lights big.

2. A turtle log. {Exactly like it sounds: A log, that turtles sit on.}

3. An S-Bridge that needs to be saved.

4. Inexpensive food and treats found in the back of the drug store.

So of course we were heading straight to Woodard’s Pharmacy.

As a kid, a whole quarter would get you three scoops of ice cream. Now, with inflation and all that jazz, we are up to 75 cents plus tax. Look out Cold Stone!

Hertford, Woodards Pharmacy Ice Cream 75 Cents!

Woodards Pharmacy Ice Cream, Hertford, NC

I did learn though, that even though they may be giving away their ice cream, where they actually make their money is on the essentials. $8 for my lactose pills was just a little but outstanding. {The bad outstanding, not the good one.}

In other news, I’m not sure why all ice cream stores do not sell lactose intolerance tablets. It’s beyond brilliant.

So that was pretty much my day here on the east coast of Virginia and North Carolina yesterday. I thoroughly enjoyed “The Calm” before our Fourth of July Hurricane. We are planning on heading back to the river tomorrow afternoon to check in, do a little clean up, and then enjoy the sunshine that follows the hurricane. {After all my years and hurricanes here, I will swear to you, the first glimpse of sunshine after a hurricane is ALWAYS the prettiest blue you will ever see.}

Until then friends, enjoy a hurricane free Fourth for me!

Thursday’s Memorial Weekend Recap

May 30, 2014 by Susan Leave a Comment

What’s the best part of blogging, you ask? It’s the fact that you get to make your own rules.

Rules like recapping a holiday weekend on a Thursday. No, unfortunately my weekend did not last until now. No, I was not swept away after our Summer Kickoff Blog Series. And no, thankfully I am not so incredibly sunburnt that I cannot type.

I’m just busy.

Crazy busy actually. Last weekend was my last free {read: not-working-a-wedding} weekend until mid-july. You can bet your bottom dollar that I will be doing NOTHING when I actually have a free weekend.

So of course I spent every second of Memorial Weekend, simply, enjoying myself.

Can you tell we are sisters? {don’t even ask - we aren’t twins. but we do both thoroughly enjoy champagne on the river.}

The weekend wasn’t all play. There was a bit of work. But work that didn’t involve weddings or brides or real estate or marketing or home warranties or house chores…

I volunteered to pressure wash our dock. Yes. You read that right. I volunteered.

There is just something absolutely nerdy, deep inside of me, that loves pressure washing. I’m not sure if it’s the misting water, the fact that it’s actually a great arm workout, or maybe it’s just the thought that I am “making something pretty” that causes me to adore this chore.

Seriously. It’s hard work. But I consider it to be the adult power tool version of those painting-with-water books from our childhood.

Without glitter this time, I did leave my mark. And the year. #happysummer

There was a little bit of boating… just a bit though. We didn’t get too carried away this weekend. Do you see that hunky dude below? And the hat that Sandlot’s Smalls would be jealous of?! Shortly after this picture was snapped, that hat went flying. The hubs could’ve cared less. But what does this girl do? She makes him turn the boat around! {we are on a budget after all!}

It was his first time driving the pontoon. Circling back and getting close enough to said hat was not an easy task for him.

Only because there was no other choice - I had to jump into the middle of the river, full of cold h2o and rescue this flat brimmed hat. And that’s when summer started.

{Of course, only to be warmed up later with some more champagne in the sunshine.}

Remember how last week I told you that this cottage is over run by k9s? Well friends, we’ve hit an all-time low. (Or all-time high if you’re talking to one of the dogs…) After 8 summers, BrownDog discovered the porch swing. This is where she decided her time was better spent relaxing than chasing the ball.

#snoozinandtreats #treatsandsnoozin

And just an FYI - I may be moving away from the summer in a cup… and embracing a Chocolate White Russian made with Dark Chocolate Almond Milk.

#delicious #nolactaidpillnecessary

#riverhair

So yeah. Life is a bit hectic right now. I swore to my best friend that I would continue blogging and writing because I love it. And she says she loves reading it. But as wedding season is in legit full-gear and my house is under construction {we’re redoing our floors in addition to a few other things in hopes of getting it on the market ASAP!} please be patient and maybe just read some blog posts from a few May’s ago. Use your imagination and pretend they are from 2014… not that much has changed in my life right?!

For the love of the riverhair and chocolate russians in my cup!

Until next time… xxoo