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Easy Tips for Hosting a Fiesta Happy Hour at Home Ft. @MoesTriangle @nothingbundt

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Easy Tips For Hosting a Fiesta Happy Hour At Home Ft. Moe’s Southwest Grill & Nothing Bundt Cakes

Let me tell you something about me…Cinco De Mayo is one of my favorite holidays. For me, it’s all about being with friends and celebrating the food, the drinks and the colorful culture of Mexico. This year, I took the opportunity to host a few Raleigh based blogger friends to a Cinco De Mayo Happy Hour in my home and wanted to share some of my easy tips for hosting your next FIESTA 🎊

THE INVITE

#SobeSavvyCelebrates INVITE

Canva is my go to for creating an invite to send to friends. It is easy to use and they have so many great templates to chose from. I sent my invite graphic via text but also made a Facebook event page to invite my guests, track RSVPs and send any updates.

SIPS

Happy Hour Margaritas & Tequila Shots | Photo Credit: SobeSavvy.com

Every Fiesta should have Margaritas & Tequila Shots at the top of their must sips list! My husband made a pitcher of Classic Margaritas using this easy shortcut: Simply Limeade + Tequila (we used Patron) . Have some simple syrup, salt and limes to customize to your guests liking. Want to make it spicy? Just add this Organic Jalepeno Limeade from Trader Joe’s!

Making Margaritas is as easy as 1-2-3 with these simple ingredients |Photo Credit: SobeSavvy.com

For refreshing non-alcoholic options, we served Jarritos (the all natural fruit flavored sodas from Mexico) and I made a pitcher of fruit infused water with strawberries, lemon and mint!

Non alcoholic Fiesta SIPS | Photo Credit: SobeSavvy.com

EATS by Moe’s Southwest Grill

Pick up a Nacho Kit from Moe’s Southwest Grill for your next FIESTA! | Photo Credit: SobeSavvy.com

Since I was hosting this FIESTA at home, I decided to make a simple menu consisting of semi-homemade food and ordered dessert. (I’ll share more of the sweet details about that next.) On the menu: Homemade Guacamole, Blue Corn Tortilla Chips, Mexican Fruit Cups (save time by getting the fresh cut of fruit spears from Aldi’s), Crunchy Beef Tacos, Shrimp Fajitas (use the fire roasted peppers found in the frozen food section at Trader Joe’s), Mexican Rice and Mexican Corn ( also from Trader Joe’s). I set it out on a long buffet table for guests to serve themselves.

For a fun customizable option, I also set up a Build Your Own Nacho Bar using a meal kit from Moe’s Southwest Grill! The Nacho Kit is a meal kit that comes in a box and feeds 4-6 people typically. It has everything you and your guests need to make the perfect plate of nachos. The kit includes: chips, your choice of 2 proteins, TWO bowls of queso, beans, pico de gallo, sour cream, jalapeños and salsa. Everything was so good and it definitely made things easy for me having it all ready to serve!

Build Your Own Nachos with a Nacho Kit from Moe’s! Location: 6679 Falls of Neuse Rd at Falls Village Raleigh, NC 27616

👀Watch it all come together here ⤵️:

SWEETS

Dessert Anyone? These Bundtinis from Nothing Bundt Cakes are so yummy!

Nothing Bundt Cakes offers an array of bundt cakes, which is why I had to have them for my guests for dessert. Their 🆕 Fiesta Bundtinis were festive, fun and delicious! You can choose different toppers to fit the occasion but these were perfect. I got an assorted dozen of vanilla, chocolate, white chocolate raspberry and red velvet. Nothing Bundt Cakes never disappoints in quality, flavor and presentation.

Nothing Bundt Cakes ‘Fiesta’ Bundtinis -6643 Falls of Neuse Rd- 27615 Raleigh NC -919 838-7270

Fiesta Fun

Hostess Leslie @SobeSavvy having some Fiesta photo fun w/Anna @annakhaddock

We had a nice warm day, which allowed for most of the Happy Hour to happen outdoors on our patio. However, upon arrival guests were greeted with a Welcome Drink/Margarita and asked to take a pic in our Fiesta photo area!

Say Fiesta🎊

Afterwards, guests were escorted out on the patio area where I found much of the decor at my local thrift store! After we ate, we played a Cactus Ring toss game ( which also doubled as a cooler for drinks..found at Target for $5.00), and my husband was a game show host for a trivia game based on facts about Mexico.

Congrats to Rada, _@sortakindafamous, for winning the trivia game!

Finally it was time for some pinata fun! I bought the pinata at Hobby Lobby for just $9.99 and filled it up with candies, confetti, as well as minature plastic bottles of liquor!

THANK YOU Gifts by Leslie

When it was time to for my Happy Hour to end, I was able to give hugs (yay for the Covid-19 vaccination), a coupon for a free bundles from Nothing Bundt Cakes, have some parting shots(with tequila of course) and gift everyone a party favor courtesy of Gifts By Leslie (my small business). Everyone got a mini bottle of Taijin Clasico Seasoning (found at Burlington Coat Factory).

Tajín Clássic Seasoning is a unique chili lime seasoning blend made with mild chili peppers, lime and sea salt. It’s the perfect ingredient to elevate the flavor of fruits, veggies, drinks and more.

RECAP

I had so much Fiesta fun hosting a Cinco De Mayo Happy Hour 🎊 for a few blogger friends. It was so good to see everyone in good spirits and in good health as we all try to manage our lives in the midst of Covid-19. I did my best at making guests feel comfortable, safe and at ease. I hope you find this post helpful and feel free to use along these easy tips for your next FIESTA! 🎊

👀Watch full #SobeSavvyCelebrates video recap here⤵️

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Leslie H. Founder of SobeSavvy.com

Event Recap | Fun Times at #GalentinesandWine @IL_Palio #GalentinesDay #ValentinesDay #IlPalioNC #winetasting #ChapelHill

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What do you get when you mix Girlfriends + Wine Tasting + Valentine’s Day? You get #GalentinesandWine 💕🍷 An event I hosted and created to celebrate good wine and fun times with some amazing bloggers/influencers in the Triangle!

THE INVITE

Inspired by artwork from Deborah Cartwright, I set out to invite 4 black women bloggers/influencers whom I had the pleasure of vibing with over food and wine in the past. It gave all of us a great opportunity to connect and explore the unique, hand-selected collection of wines at Il Palio Restaurant.

THE RESTAURANT | IL PALIO

Il Palio, located inside the The Siena Hotel, was gracious to host our group and take us on a journey of their hand-selected Italian wines and paired it with some delicious small plates. Known for their warmth of service and quality of their cooking, Il Palio was the perfect choice to celebrate Galentine’s Day along with the great tradition of Italian hospitality. Annabel Butler, the new Restaurant Manager and Sommelier, did an excellent job of hosting us!

THE WELCOME COCKTAIL

Nothing says festive like a cocktail in a flute. Make it pink and you got the perfect Galentine’s drink! Lucky for us, Il Palio already had a pink cocktail on their menu, called the Pom Reader, made with Suntory Roku Gin, pomegranate liqueur, honey, lemon, prosecco. We loved this as a pink welcome cocktail prepared by their bartender Bryan!

THE WINE and FOOD Pairing

The wines picked for us were all Italian wines with all native grapes, which gave a great snapshot of Italian wines. These wines were paired with small Italian plates and were provided with tasting notes for all of the following wines:

Sparkling / Wild Card:

• Denny Bini Lambrusco, a chilled sparkling red wine from the Emilia-Romagna region [..paired with Oven Roasted Caprese Salad]

White:

• Collestefano, Verdicchio di Matelica, a nutty, high-acid white wine from the Marche region [ …paired with cheese, nuts, dried fruits]

• Fontanassa, Gavi Ca’Adua, made from the Cortese grape this full bodied white wine is similar to Chardonnay and comes from the Gavi region […paired with wood grilled octopus]

Red:

• Tasca Regaleali Rosso, Nero d’Avola, a lighter bodied red wine from Sicily grown in Volcanic Soil […paired with two types of wood grilled crostini – Olives Tapenade & Chicken Liver Mousse]

• Podero Sapaio Pappolo , a deliciously rich Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot blend [….paired with Marinated Beef Carpaccio] ❣ While everything I tried was a delicious pairing, this was my personal favorite duo of the night!

Sweet:

• Vietti Moscato a sweet wine from the Piedmont region. […paired with dessert, which was a cookie plate of the chef’s selection of house made Italian cookies]

**SobeSavvy Tip: Not sure what to get that special person in your life for Valentine’s Day? How about the gift of an exquisite Italian dinner in Chapel Hill, NC? Il Palio will have delicious options with wine pairings including their well-known Tagliatelle alla Tartufo. Get details about Valentine’s Day at Il Palio here:
https://ilpalio.com/valentines-day

❤🍽❤🍽❤🍽❤🍽❤🍽❤🍽

Also, SAVE THE DATE…Il Palio at the Siena Hotel is excited to host the Podere Sapaio Wine Dinner on February 26, 2020 at 6:30pm. This special six-course dinner highlights wine originating from the territory in Italy that runs parallel to the Tuscan coast. Executive Chef Adam Rose has prepared each course to pair perfectly with winery owner Massimo Piccin’s beverage selections.Tickets are $95 per person including tax and gratuity, with reservations available by calling Il Palio at (919)-918-2545.

THANK YOUs

Me and My #GalentinesandWine ❤🍷celebration was lovely! Everyone got a Thank You gift from me as a token of my appreciation: a candle, chocolates, and a poem I wrote & framed inspired by #debracartwrightart.

To see more highlights of the event, WATCH my YOUTUBE video here:

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Thank you again to my wonderful guests for joining me for this special evening and to the wonderful staff at IL PALIO! The great service, amazing food & wine and wonderful memories made with the ladies is something I will cherish always!

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Do you plan to celebrate Galentine’s or Valentine’s Day this year? Let me know in the comments below your plans or if you need some inspiration and other savvy ideas, I’d be happy to help! Cheers 🍷❤ 🍽

CONNECT WITH ME @SobeSavvy
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Blogger Event Recap| #ScentandSipEvent Part II Cheers To Mom|Hosted by SobeSavvy.com

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Back in March, in honor of International Women’s Day/Women’s History Month, SobeSavvy.com hosted an invite only event in Raleigh, NC called #ScentandSipEvent [in case you missed it, catch the recap >>here]. This time for Mother’s Day, I wanted to host a few Mom friends, Bloggers, Influencers in the Triangle and beyond [Raleigh, Durham, Wake Forest, Fayetteville, NC] and celebrate  our motherhood journey. It was a great opportunity to network and toast to us Moms!

We are Blessed to be Moms! |         Photo Credit: Photography by Write Productions @write_productions

 

INVITE + SWAG BAGS



The “ScentandSip” idea came after receiving an exclusive Galentine’s Day invite to an event being held in Miami,FL. I notified the event organizers/PR my desire to collaborate/host an intimate event in my home. I was able to include the diptyque “Scent“ and Chambord “Sip“ in the SWAG BAGS for my guests.Meka H. of @hwthblog shows off her swag | Photo Credit: Write Productions, @write_productions


WELCOME COCKTAIL



This event was held in the comfort of my home, where guests were greeted with a hug of course and a welcome cocktail The featured cocktail was the Chambord Royale [see the recipe above] and it was the perfect way to get the celebration started!

PHOTO FUN


Hostess, Leslie H. of @SobeSavvy reps being a Mom | Photo Credit: Write Productions, @write_productions


I created a photo station to give everyone a chance to take a welcome picture. All it took was some items from the Dollar Tree , a nice smile and a talented photographer [shout out to Lanette L. of Write Productions] to capture the fun.

Tiffany H. of @themrstee strikes a pose! | Photo Credit: Write Productions, @write_productions


Jovhanna T. of @thespirituallovehealer is all smiles! | Photo Credit: Write Productions, @write_productions

Carla W. of @glamourandglue is truly blessed! | Photo Credit: Write Productions, @write_productions

Marcia S. of @keechiibags is too blessed to be stressed! |

Photo Credit: Write Productions, @write_productions

My daughter, #outandaboutAva, even joined in on the fun by being the flower girl and throwing rose petals for us Queens!

Forever My Flower Girl ! Photo Credit: Write Productions, @write_productions


FOOD| CATERING BY SASSOOL



May is not only a time to celebrate Moms but did you know that is is also Women’s Health Month?! It was very important to me to serve something nutritional and delicious to my guests.

Thanks to Sassool Mediterranean Cafe, I was able to give my guests a beautiful taste of homemade lebanese and mediterranean food, which is a cuisine known for its health benefits. This family-owned restaurant has locations in Raleigh, Cary and also a third location which offers a limited menu of their most popular items at Morgan Street Food Hall in downtown Raleigh. I learned that the Sassool brand was launched on Mother’s Day, May 11, 2014 to honor the owner Mounir Saleh’s mother, Cecilia, for the authentic recipes that she brought with her when she immigrated from Lebanon with her family to Raleigh in the 1970s. The name of the restaurant, Sassool, is the nickname that Cecilia was called by her father when she was a child. What a great way to honor some Moms in the blogging community by having the opportunity to feature a brand that honors their Mom!
We enjoyed the following catering options: 

* Oven Specialties (this is an assortment of baked pita flatbreads, sliced into bitesize wedges)
* Mini Kabobs (same menu item as regular kabobs, just smaller size–you can choose Chicken, Beef or Lamb).
* Caprese Kabobs are an excellent choice too (fresh mozarella balls, grape tomatoes, fresh basil and balsamic drizzle)
* Fruit Salad … such a great variety of fresh fruit garnished with mint
* Cilantro jalapeno hummus, tatziki and pita chips 
* Sassool Corn Salad


WINE|TERLATO WINES


Ever heard the saying..”Wine taste better when shared with friends” ?
That was indeed the case with these two featured wines that were served at my event:

Terlato Vineyards 2017 Friuli Pinot Grigio | Photo Credit: Write Productions, @write_productions

2018 Côtes de Provence Mathilde Chapoutier “Grande Ferrage”| Photo Credit: Write Productions, @write_productions



My husband served as our informal CSW and shared some of the wine facts with us! We learned the Terlato Vineyards 2017 Fruili Pinot Grigio is from NE Italy and tastes of peach pear with some mineral.It is America’s highest rated and fastest growing Pinot Grigio! It is superb with oysters or shellfish.The 2018 Cotes de Provence Mathilde Chapoutier Rosé is made from 4 grapes: Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Rolle. It tastes of strawberry, grapefruit and apricot. Aged for 5 months, we tasted the quality the rosé in every sip.Both of these Terlato Wines were enjoyed but the ladies loved the rosé!  Check out my photos to see why you should serve these wines at your next gathering. Mark your calenders, National Wine Day is May 25. These two wines would be a great way to celebrate! Cheers!

DESSERT | HEAVENLY CAKES BY TANYA

Chambord, is a mainstay at top shelf bars and is made in the Loire Valley of France. This liqueur uses red and black raspberries with Madagascar vanilla, citrus peel, honey and cognac. This combination can be traced back to the 1600’s when Louis XIV drank Cognac with dinner. This versatile liqueur is used to make cocktails from many different spirits. The liquer was featured in the welcome cocktail, given to guests, a mini bottle was gifted in their swag bags but the Chambord was also infused into these amazing chocolate cupcakes made by Raleigh-based premier bakery, Heavenly Cakes by Tanya. 

From cupcakes, to special occasion cakes and keto friendly sweets, Tanya is someone I trust and recommend for delicious desserts. Not only are her creations visually appealing but it tastes as good as it looks!

PARTY GAME


Everyone loves games at a party right?! I picked up one from Target Dollar spot. For just $3, for 10 in a pack, the “This or That” game was the perfect icebreaker. Each guest received a card to fill out and we compared/shared the categories that we have in common. We had to think and reflect on how we are now as mothers because it defintely played a part in how questions were answered. All in all, everyone had fun with the “This or That” game!




I am very thankful to these Moms who came out to join me in celebrating Mother’s Day weekend. I think we all appreciated the Mommy Break and I learned so much more about these women who are amazing Mompreneurs as well. Be sure to follow them to see what awesome things they are doing. I am so grateful for partnerships with brands and businesses who participated in my event. Many thanks to Write Productions for doing such a wonderful and professional job capturing the event!


WATCH my YouTube Video recap of the #ScentandSipEvent Part II ‘Cheers To Mom’ moms mixer.

https://youtu.be/JLbb2sv4zYM

Cheers!

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5 Years of Holiday Cheer! Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer The Musical is here @DECRALEIGH #RudolphRaleigh #familyfun

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🎶You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen
Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all🎶 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer..

We all know and love the song that goes along with the animated television story of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”! Now is your chance to fall in love all over again with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer The Musical, in it’s 5th year is now playing at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts inside the A.J.Fletcher Opera Theater to see this all time favorite holiday classic brought to life on stage!

Before seeing the show, SobeSavvy.com was invited to a special Blogger Party to celebrate it’s 5th year anniversary! If you saw my IG instastories @SobeSavvy, then you saw how much fun we had prior to the show! If not, be sure to check out my you tube video below.

There is actually a chance for all guests to enjoy lobby festivities before seeing the show. I recommend arriving early so you can:

• SHOP for adorable gifts and plush toys for your little one or find the perfect Christmas gift!

• SNAP photos with the larger than life characters from the special including Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster and of course, Rudolph!

• POSE for the camera at the step and repeat and capture a picture from your memorable night out!

My husband and I grew up watching this all time favorite cartoon special every single year at Christmas time. So to experience it with our daughter and see it come live on stage is such a joy! We all had fun taking a trip to Christmas Town all the way to the North Pole to Santa’s workshop. We watched the story unfold and enjoyed seeing Rudolph grow from a young buck who went thru adversity to a deer who became a leader necause he never stopped believing in himself. So what his nose was different. You Glow Rudolph!

Kids of all ages were in the audience to experience the wonder that this story truly is. My girl enjoyed this at 7 years old as much as she did when we went to see Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer The Musical in 2016, when she was age 5! There was plenty of dancing and singing. The audience was invited to sing-a-long with the lyrics to ‘Silver and Gold’. This musical truly brought the warm feelings of the holidays to our hearts. The last scene actually had REAL snow falling on the audience. The kids and adults alike were delighted!

Now thru Dec 24, grab your family, young and old to see the greatest Christmas tale ever told! Come dressed in your holiday pjs or wear a Santa’s hat to this family fun show filled with singing, dancing and great acting! Santa and Mrs. Claus, Hermey the Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice, Yukon Cornelius and Rudolph are all ready to entertain you! Buy your tickets now to Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer The Musical. It is the absolute must do for this holiday season !!

Watch highlights from the Blogger Party celebrating the 5th Year Anniversary of Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer The Musical!

Thanks again for inviting SobeSavvy.com to the event and performance. For more info on how you can get tickets to the show, go to dukeenergycenterraleigh.com.

Happy Holidays!🎄