Things I Love. Archives - 2 Cats and Chloe

What I’m Loving Wednesday: Holiday Office Box + Sudio Review

One of my favorite blog-friends-turned-real-life-friends, Heather, has a series she does called What I’m Loving Wednesday. To be quite frank, I adore these posts. I usually always learn about a new product, restaurant or idea that I must have or must do. (It also helps you get to know the blogger, and to realize that you have a trillion things in common with her…)

So I decided that for the month of December, I would give this “What I’m Loving Wednesday” concept a try! Because we are all looking for hot, shiny new ideas when it comes to making life easier and stuffing our stockings this time of year right?

As most of you know, my life is well beyond crazy these days. As a wedding planner, national marketing coordinator and blogger, I’m always on the go. Add to the situation that I’m six months pregnant and currently homeless. Basically - my life is consistently inconsistent. So to help with juggling my “work essentials” and my “holiday must-haves” I decided to revert back to my elementary school, pencil box days.

Yup, you read that right. A box. Whenever I sat down at a coffee shop, a client appointment, my grandmother’s couch or the picnic table at the river - I could never find my essentials in the bottom of my bag. Turns out a simple, yet pretty box, was just the solution I needed.

So what is currently in my box? Essentials that are helping me through the rest of this holiday season!

The randoms: gift tags, christmas ornaments and a shiny gold stapler. Because you never know when you are going to have to throw together a centerpiece, wrap a gift or staple together a 4 page wedding timeline…

Thank you notes and stamps are crucial this time of year as well. (I am seriously struggling to keep up with my thank you notes! So many friends have sent thoughtful holiday and baby gifts already! I swear I will be all caught up by the end of this week!)

The essentials: My planner, my iPhone, an iPhone charger and my Sudio Headphones. Yes, I am one of those old school-new school people who keeps everything written in my planner AND on my iPhone. Switching to “2016” on your iCal just isn’t quite as exciting as purchasing a new planner… #JustSayin.

Every time I relocate my workspace (whether it is for work or to wrap presents) you better believe that I am either talking to a client or jamming to my holiday tunes. The chic, white and rose gold Sudio Vasa Headphones are not only stylish but they have great sound quality. When I first got this new addition to my “office box” I called up my mom, my husband and my boss to make sure they could hear me and I could hear them. It was loud and clear on both ends!

I have been known to be a snob when it comes to headphones so there are a couple of things I definitely want to point out… The fact that my Sudio Vasa headphones have flat cords means that they don’t get knotted up when in my box (or in their provided leather case). There is a 3-button remote and mic, making these easy to use when working, driving and wrapping gifts. Additionally, the ear buds are legit. They stay in your ears without slipping.

Also included in the package is a gold clip to help keep the buds and mic in place (which I have found great, but not 100% necessary, as my clients have been able to hear me clearly without the mic clipped to the top of my shirt) and replacement ear bud covers. The replacement bud covers excited me because who really likes to share ear buds with other people?? Not this girl. If someone else needs to borrow my Sudio Vasa’s, I can switch out the ear buds and not worry about co-mingling ear wax!

Wearing my Sudio Vasa headphones not only allows me to multi-task like a champ, with both hands free, but they also help keep me organized while preventing Nana from listening in on my normal speaker phone calls. (No one said that living with your 91 year old grandmother would be easy…)

In addition to loving my new box, my shiny and random “must-have” items and my new Sudio Vasa Headphones, I am loving the fact that Sudio is offering my 2 cats & chloe readers 15% off with the Sudio Promo Code: 2catsandchloe If you’re in need of a last minute stocking stuff or Christmas gift - I highly recommend you jump on this deal immediately!

So what do you think? Have I gone off the deep end by going back to my “pencil box” days? Go ahead and judge me all you want, but if it helps me stay organized, I’m game! What am I missing in my box?

Many thanks to Sudio for gifting me my new Vasa Headphones! While these were given to me in return for this post, my review and thoughts are all my own!

Is crazier than cray just cra?

by Susan

I have so many posts swirling in my head with so little time for my chubby fingers to type them up. #FirstWorldBloggerProblems.

So instead of taking time today to plan, create and fancily publish a post (ha, like ‘fancily’ is ever on my to-do list) how about I just share random, unplanned, barely processed thoughts… ready? GO!

Jetlag is no joke. He’s actually a big-ole-son-ova-a-beep who reminds me every time I yawn that I live 6 hours behind my Swiss Family. When it comes to waking up in the morning, I’m finally readjusted to my appropriate timezone. In the evenings though? I couldn’t even stay awake for something as exciting as the Teen Mom Premiere two nights ago!

Speaking of sleeping… We’ve had Olivia Benson for 4 months now. It’s been four long months sans kitten cuddles. Big news though, Rockie has decided to start reclaiming his spot on our bed again. Olivia and Michael are not happy about this.

Having your house on the market is just way too darn AWKWARD. Seriously, what are you supposed to do when there are strangers in your home? What if pissy Rockie decides to swipe them for no good reason? You’d hate for someone to think you’re leaving expensive items around: did you put away all your Charming Charlie’s Jewels?! Did that lady just sprint away from my home because she hates it or is she just training for House Hunters: Marathoners. Why have I consistently spent every single showing drinking wine and spying through a crack in the blinds at my neighbors house? We may or may not even use binoculars…

Oh yeah, wine is back in my life and she has started to lead me down a deliciously dangerous, non-whole30 path. As my girl Shannon said to me the other day: Wine is the love of my life and also my worst enemy.

Sorry for being semi-MIA lately. While yes, I have been posting… I just feel like my posts haven’t always been “me” recently. If that makes any sense… Any other bloggers go through that sometimes?! My life have so been beyond cray (would that just be cra?) lately that I haven’t even had five seconds to eat Swiss Chocolate (gimme gimme gimme) and upload the pictures from my vacation yet! The hubby is gone this weekend though, and we MIGHT be receiving an offer on the house tonight (fingers crossed) so maybe I will have some free time for blogging + netflix. A girl can dream right?

Olivia Benson, Border Collie, Showing off her Doggie Dentures

And for those of you who were following along on instagram earlier this week, thank you for your prayers. Our “Problem-Child,” the sweet Olivia Benson, had a crazy health scare on Monday. The lab results all came back with good news: Her liver is fine. She is just an insane turd who cost me $225 for no reason whatsoever.

So now let’s wrap this puppy up with a shoutout to Monday’s Podcast and Giveaway! Did you have time to listen and/or enter to win?? I’m SO EXCITED to start offering Blog and Branding Consults to my fellow bloggers! To kick this service off, I am giving away one free consult! Wouldn’t you love to sit down over a glass of wine (or tea) via Skype with a Marketing Professional (um… me!) to discuss your branding? If you just murmured “yes” to yourself, then what are you waiting for?? Go get entered!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What Women Want For Valentines (or any other day really…)

by Susan

With Valentines Day just around the corner I thought it would be really fun to put together a post about what women would really like from their men. No… I’m not going all “50 Shades” on you. I’m talking about gifts from the heart.

My husband, who is probably reading this post, post-publishing, grimacing his face, rolling his eyes and thinking “Oh Lord, what has she done now?” is a really amazing practical gift giver. I’ve gotten some really, really nice things from him. Things that I needed. Things that were absolutely useful. Things like computer software, an iPod docking station, paleo ketchup and a satellite radio subscription. While all of those gifts are things I love and use (I don’t mean to sound ungrateful) they are all lacking one thing: Romance.

Now ladies, we cannot hold this against our men. We love and adore them no matter what. But some of them are fundamentally just practical gift-givers. I polled several of my girlfriends and heard the same thing over and over again: a little more thought and romance would go a long way. I then asked each of them for a gift (or gesture) that they would love for their guy to give them.

So men, if you’re stressing over what to get your gal, here is a great list of ideas just in time for the upcoming day we all love to hate: Valentine’s Day. (This list also applies but is not limited to birthdays, anniversaries, Talk-like-a-Pirate-Day, Christmas and/or any random Saturday.)

1 // Even though we love you and your social updates on politics, burritos and gym memes… We would feel like a giddy highschooler again if you updated your Facebook status with a picture of us, or heck, a compliment about your wonderful girl would even go a long way. Just don’t be excessive… no one likes too much PDFBA! (Public Display of FaceBook Affection)

2 // Flowers for special occasions are nice. Flowers for no reason are even nicer. Even if I am the type of girl who keeps fresh flowers in the house… it’s the fact that you went out of your way to buy these, just for me, that really means something. Also, if you can go a couple steps further and put them in a vase, bonus points!

3 // Jewelry is wonderful. Even if it’s not expensive jewels. A charm, simple necklace or even an inexpensive made-in-China Charming Charlie’s find… it’s a token of your love that we can wear. When someone compliments it, we can say “thanks, my man got this for me!”

4 // A card or note. Newsflash: Girls love notes! A lot of us have a box with all of the cards in it that you’ve given us. You wouldn’t believe how far a post-it note on the mirror that says “you are beautiful” or “I love you” would get ya… Guys, it cannot get much easier than this. Yes it’s possible to woo your girl with three words on a post-it.

2 cats & chloe: valentines gifts for women, love you post-it note, romantic gifts for women

5 // Speaking of notes… with today’s advancements in technology, sometimes we just don’t have post-its laying around. A simple, “Good morning” or “Good night” text, or an “I hope you’re having a great day, love you!” text will go miles.

6 // A weekend away! Sure a nice weekend in a fancy hotel would be extremely ideal and romantic… but don’t think some of us wouldn’t be happy if you said “HEY! We are going camping this weekend! Pack your bags!” (PS. Remember those bonus points you’re trying to rack up? You will get a few more of them if you have figured out arrangements for the kids/pets/house/etc prior surprising us with a weekend away!)

7 // Come home with a bottle of wine or champagne for no good reason. Just do it. Especially if you did number 5 and learned your girl is having a rough day. Everyone benefits. Add a few dark chocolate covered strawberries = booooonnuuuussssss!

8 // Even at the age of 30, I would love to have one of those scavenger hunt date nights. You know, where you put thought into a few pit stops and it ends somewhere special or fun, or even at a bar for a glass of wine!

9 // Long distance? This is one of the few times that a super practical gift is acceptable. OR when your girl is traveling out of town. This is when a few minutes of thought in target or the grocery store can go a very long way. Think: Care package!

10 // Plan a picnic. I know it sounds cheesier than all RomCom moments you can possibly imagine - but plan a lunch in a park. Here’s a hint, you don’t even have to cook! Pick up chipotle, or her favorite, easy lunch. Pick a place: think park, beach, the lot where you are going to build your future house, a family cottage or in-town “getaway.” The key is to have it all planned out before you force her away from her computer and into your car… have the food and blanket waiting. Don’t tell her where you are going. (Stay away from the blindfold in the car though… nothing ruins a romantic picnic like vomming from motion sickness.)

11 // A couples massage. Yes, she would love a massage. I have yet to meet a girl who does not love an afternoon at the spa. And if you’ve already gifted her a massage, snaps for you. Wanna up the romance and minimize the knots in your back at the same time? Opt for a couples massage.

12 // Spend a couple of hours creating a photobook or collage for her. Whether its pictures from a vacation, photos documenting a year together, an album of your kids and family, or even pictures and funny jokes the two of you share. It’s things like this that she will hold on to and treasure. I was always so jealous of my college roommate… her boyfriend, now husband, made her an 8×10 collage every single year they were together. They now have a wall full of framed collages packed with pictures, ticket stubs and memories that their kids are looking at every day when they walk down the hallway.

2 cats & chloe: Target and Homegoods to decorate

13 // One last freebie for you. This is an easy one: Keep the house clean. Keep the darn toilet seat down. Put the throw pillows back in their proper places. Empty the dishwasher. Be still my heart.

So gents, remember, it’s not always the dollar amount that matters. Thoughtful, creative gestures are really the way to score the bonus points this Valentine’s Day. It’s a win-win for everyone because I’m pretty sure you will really enjoy cashing in all those bonus points you rack up. Wink Wink.

Ladies - what am I missing? What would you LOVE for your man to give you for Valentine’s Day?

Puppy, Mugs, and Things! It’s Friday!

by Susan

Oh hey Friday. It’s wonderful to see you! For the record, I spent this entire week drastically confused about what the day actually was… Maybe it was the holiday? Maybe it was the fact that they didn’t pick our trash up on the correct day? Maybe it was because I didn’t actually leave my house all week long…

Either way, I double checked the calendar before publishing this post. It’s Friday. So here are five things I am currently in love with:

Have you noticed my odd mug obsession on Instagram? As we are organizing, packing and cleaning up our house before it goes on the market - I am beginning to realize that Houston, I really do have a problem. I’m obsessed with witty coffee mugs. #icantstopiwontstop #butineedtostop. But seriously, how great is this one?

[ It was only $1.99 when I bought it last week at Target. ]

I cannot believe it took me until my fourth Whole30 to try my hand at making my own salad dressings and mayo. I’m pretty positive I was just afraid to try it. I assumed it would be difficult. I assumed it wouldn’t be worth the time it took to make ranch dressing.

What I learned is that I was wrong, on all accounts. It takes me just a couple of minutes to make a batch of homemade (clean/paleo/whole30 complaint) ranch dressing. It is one of the easiest things I’ve ever made. And ranch is ALWAYS worth the time.

Santa brought me this hand blender for christmas. It is amazing. It is also the best $40 Santa ever spent. While you can make ranch and other sauces with a food processor or even a traditional blender, I find it quite a bit less daunting with this little hand held guy. Did I mention it’s available in almost every color under the sun?

I am in love with my puppy when she is awake. But I am beyond obsessed with her when she is asleep. This is, by far, one of my most favorite pictures of her yet… I’m pretty positive that she fell asleep while wrapping up her prayers and praising Jesus.

Is anyone else ready to give up everything they know and love in life because Parenthood is about to end? I have loved this show from the beginning. I’m extremely crushed that it will be over next week. While it had great drama and a little wit - this show was good for one thing: keeping me in tune with my emotions. I could always bank on one good, whole hearted, ugly cry a week thanks to Parenthood.

I will be out of town for work next week, so I will be sobbing through the series finale, all alone in a hotel room. If only I could drink wine right now…

Like I said, I haven’t left the house in a week. What I didn’t say is that I really haven’t gotten dressed in a week either. I’ve been living in these, these and this. Without this. For the record, I have brushed my teeth.

Maybe I should make it a point to leave the house at least once this weekend… #dreambig!

What are you loving this week?

TODAY I’M LINKING UP WITH KARLI, LESLIE, REBECCA, AND AMANDA!

Friday Dance Party: T.Swift vs The M.Train.

by Susan

Pour the Champs! It’s Friday Y’all! Unfortunately I didn’t make it through the week in one piece… I have strained the muscles in my right bicep, as well as the tendons surrounding my elbow. Basically my arm won’t go beyond a 90 degree angle… So while typing is actually possible, it’s not comfortable. I could sit here and ramble but I’m all hyped up on pain pills and muscle relaxers so, after the week I’ve had, Lord only knows what nonsense I would be publishing. Given my current situation, and since it is a beautiful Fall Friday - why don’t we just have ourselves a little dance party instead of spending our spare minutes reading my blog? I’m currently crushing over these two favorite songs and for the life of me, I cannot pick which one is “more favorite!” Turn your speakers up, get your dancing pants on {unless you prefer to dance with no pants… in which case you are on your own!} and let’s get to it!

It’s T.Swift verse the M.Train… Which is your fave? Cast your vote below in the comment section and then please take a moment to visualize me hopping around my home office, jamming out with my non-coordinated “I’m-A-White-Girl-On-Muscle-Relaxers” moves, with my one gimpy T-Rex Arm… You’re welcome.

{source} Oh, big news! Come Monday/Tuesday this bloggity blog will have a very new, fresh, WordPress-y look! I’m making the switch so stay tuned! Big things are coming! Have a great weekend y’all! Today I am linking up with some of my favorite gals at Friday Faves, Oh Hey Friday, High Five for Friday, and Friday Favorites!

What I’m Loving Wednesday: Holiday Office Box + Sudio Review

Is crazier than cray just cra?

What Women Want For Valentines (or any other day really…)

Puppy, Mugs, and Things! It’s Friday!

TODAY I’M LINKING UP WITH KARLI, LESLIE, REBECCA, AND AMANDA!

Friday Dance Party: T.Swift vs The M.Train.

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