Grecian Braids

WEARING: LOVE21 CREAM TANK TOP | FOREVER 21 HIGH SLIT MAXI SKIRT | 
ZARA LEATHER & CORK WEDGES | FOREVER 21 IVORY STATEMENT NECKLACE & BANGLE 

Good morning, everyone! I'm sorry I haven't posted in nearly a week. Reason being is I'm currently in Michigan working on a personal story. I cannot WAIT to share it with you guys! It's been a long time coming. Last week, I had the immense pleasure of getting my hair and makeup done by the wonderful and talented, Valerie, owner of Caravan Stylist Studio at the Gregory Hotel in New York City. It was one of the cutest glam spaces I've been to and strongly recommend it to us bloggers, as it's the perfect spot to get dolled up before an event or a photo shoot. We went for a boho-chic look, but it's very Grecian to me. I added in some ivory and turquoise jewelry to embody the look. I can't braid my hair to save my life so it was such a treat for me! I can't wait to go back and do something different! Check her out my NYC gals. Trust me, you won't regret it! Caravan offers hair, makeup & nails services! You can go to www.caravanstyliststudio.com for more info and to book your next appointment! Thanks again for such an amazing experience and my goody bag! Valerie hooked me up with all sorts of makeup and hair products we used for that session. My fave? Blue waterproof eyeliner! If you put it on your top inner lid, the blue will brighten up your eyes. How cute of a trick is that?! ;)

LOVE & XX'S,

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Peach Melba

Cheers, it's almost the weekend and I'm about to have me some fun! I finally found my edible flowers, y'all! After patiently waiting until Wednesday, I happily went to the Union Square Farmer's Market and picked up some vibrant babies with Windfall Farms. They have the freshest flowers to work with and ever since they've caught my eye during the start to spring, I've been dying to add them in my practice with plating. Plus, edible flowers can really bring a dish together with its fragrant and earthy qualities. Not to mention how aesthetically sound they are, especially with desserts. 

recipe + photos by Β© Suzanne Spiegoski

recipe + photos by Β© Suzanne Spiegoski

Peach Melba


Ingredients:

Peaches:
1 1/2c water
1 3/4c sugar
1 vanilla pod, split lengthwise
1Tbsp lemon juice
2-3 peaches

Raspberry sauce:
1 1/2c raspberries
1/4c confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 pint of vanilla bean ice cream
Raspberries & peanut granola to garnish.

Directions:

Put the water, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla pod into a wide saucepan and gently heat to dissolve the sugar. Bring saucepan to a boil and let it bubble for 5 minutes. Turn heat down to a fast simmer.

Cut the peaches in half, and if the stones come out easily then remove them. If not, you can get them out after poaching them. To poach, put peach halves in the sugar syrup for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side depending on the ripeness of the fruit. Test the cut side with the sharp point of a knife to see if they are soft. Remove with slotted spoon.

Peel skin off peach halves and let them cool. Be sure to remove stone after. To make raspberry sauce, blend fresh raspberries, confectioners' sugar and lemon juice. Sieve to remove the pits and pour the puree into a jar.

To serve, allow 1 -2 peach halves per person alongside with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Spoon raspberry sauce over each.

One of my all-time favorite desserts (originally from France) is the peach melba. The combination with the sweet peach and tartness from the raspberries is a symphony in your mouth. Add in the vanilla ice cream and its oozy, creamy combo will definitely have you feeling some type of way! Instead of doing it the traditional way, like how I used to get it at the retirement home I worked at as a teenager (yup, true story), was a scoop of ice cream, half of a poached peach, and with some drizzling of raspberry sauce. Nothing fancy. And it doesn't need to be. But I have such a passion when it comes to cooking, I'm always trying to elevate dishes to the next level. I even formed my first ice cream quenelle! So here you have it: My deconstructed version of the peach melba dessert. You can download the recipe by clicking on the button above. Got questions or comments? I love hearing from my readers! Write your thoughts down below. I've got some really exciting content coming up for the rest of the summer! And yes, it will include some traveling! Yay! Plus I'll be celebrating my one year anniversary since creating MaQ + Suz, and of course I'll be doing a post on this! Stay tuned...  

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The Crème de la Crème

WEARING: F21 GRAPHIC TEE | HOLLISTER CO. RIPPED DENIM MINI-SKIRT |

VINTAGE BLACK SATIN RIBBON | THE SAVVY HEART NECKLACE | BLACK BANDANA PAISLEY  


My intentions today were to delight you in a wonderful new gastronomy recipe, but it was one of those Monday's where some things just didn't work in my favor. Especially this morning. After mistakingly thinking Windfall Farms (where I get edible flowers) was stationed at the Union Square Farmer's market on Monday's, I quickly came to realize they were only there on Wednesdays and Saturdays. So I went with plan B, looking for other gourmet-type of grocery stores (I mean, you can't find anything on the island of Manhattan, right?!) that had available edible flowers. I've been wanting to incorporate them into my dishes not just for taste, but also for styling/plating. I searched through several Whole Foods where at my last one, and my FIFTH store, I called before heading over because of the heat. I thought it was my lucky day! They had a few left and they were going to hold them for me! Win! No. When I arrived to customer service where they had told me to pick up my reserved flowers, the poor woman's face immediately changed when I told her what I was there for. She informed me that the second the guy got off the phone with me and went to go get the flowers to hold them for me, someone had already grabbed them in the store! WHAAAAAAA! I walked over 20 blocks to get them. So I may not have a new recipe for you, but I'm tanner and not getting fatter so there is truth to always staying positive! Ha ha ha! 

Since I had such an awesome response from my 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' story, I wanted to share a little more on the subject, like this crΓ¨me de la crΓ¨me graphics tee I've had over the years from Forever 21. When it comes to a lot of pieces from my closet, they've been around. Ha! Of course, I love updating staple pieces but I'm a little bit of a secret hoarder! I just can't throw any of my clothes out! I can't even give them away, which I've been doing a lot of this year, in terms of cleaning out my closet (sorry for the Eminem phrase). But I'm like Carrie in the episode where Aidan has moved in and she has to make room for his stuff, which proves to be rather challenging for her. This is exactly me! I just can't bear to part from any of my clothes. Why? I think it's because I get my clothes from all sorts of places and they carry memories and special meanings within them. Like the Hollister Co. ripped denim mini-skirt? I fell hard in 'em with my first love while in college. And while I still wear them because not only do they still fit, but because more importantly, they're a reminder of who I was and who I still am today. 

Like most other girls, I've really been into the 90s comeback vibes lately, especially in the last year. I'm all for chokers, platform shoes and gothic emo looks. When I collaborated with The Savvy Heart almost a year ago, I was immediately drawn to their flair & style. They were one of the first brands I worked with when embarking my journey into the world of blogging. The black satin ribbon I'm wearing around my waist as a belt? This is the exact same 'belt' I wore when I married my husband! I love wearing satin, and when I wear this one in particular, I can't help but feel closer to my boo. Wearing it makes me all mushy, but I don't care, I love how I feel wearing it! And that's what really matters when it comes to what you put on. 

Coming up this week? Definitely my gastronomy post, recipe included, you know I'm all on it! Wish I could give you a clue, but for this one I'm keeping it a surprise. I also have another anniversary coming up, my very first 'blogversary'! I will be doing a special giveaway, along with a post reflecting from the past year, so keep your eye peeled! Lastly, I'd love to hear some of your shared memories with pieces of clothing in your closets! Comment down below. Thanks for stopping by! We hope everyone has a wonderful, 'cool' week! :) 

Photos by: Suzanne Spiegoski (Self-Portrait) 

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Cape Cod Travel Diary

Lobster all day, every day - Cape style.

Lobster all day, every day - Cape style.

This year, more fun, less fear. 

This year, more fun, less fear. 

Playtime with Maggie in the marina. 

Playtime with Maggie in the marina. 

Dog days of summer. 

Dog days of summer. 

Head of the Meadow Beach - Cape Cod National Seashore 

Head of the Meadow Beach - Cape Cod National Seashore 

The Beachcomber Beach of Wellfleet. 

The Beachcomber Beach of Wellfleet. 

Wellfleet Harbor with my boys. 

Wellfleet Harbor with my boys. 

Just the three of us. 

Just the three of us. 

photos + videography by Gilles Decamps & Suzanne Spiegoski


I'm so excited to finally be able to share with you my Cape Cod travel diary! My husband and I just recently celebrated our 10-year dating anniversary and really wanted to go somewhere where MaQ would also have a great time. He is our baby, and after our little scare, we definitely didn't want to leave him behind. Initially planning to go to the Keys for our romantic getaway, we quickly realized that given the weather during this time of year on top of being away from MaQ, was not the best of ideas. Enter Plan B. Since we wanted to explore someplace we both have never been, my husband thought the Cape was a perfect location. Approximately a six-hour drive from New York (that's with very little traffic), it was worth every single second. 

With miles and miles of beaches to discover, the views by the ocean are breath-taking and some of the most beautiful, peaceful beaches I have ever seen. It's no wonder the JFK's vacationed there. Ultimately chic yet casual, the magical Cape will help you unwind, leaving all your worries behind. Some of our favorite beaches we visited were the Head of the Meadow Beach, the Beachcomber in Wellfleet, but my most absolute fave? Marconi Beach. I know, I know. You say Macaroni, but I say Marconi! ;) The sand dune cliffs barrel up over 12 feet as you zigzag down a wooden staircase to the most incredible beach. It reminded me very much of Santa Monica. Total Cali vibes, yet we were on the East Coast.   

We also checked out PTown, or Provincetown, which is on the very tip of Cape Cod. Provincetown is a unique blend of old-fashioned fishing village and hip arts community. Its narrow streets are lined up with quaint old homes filled with shops and galleries. We took a day trip where we enjoyed lunch at Pepe's Wharf, downing of course, all the fresh delicious lobster we could get our hands on. The best part was our chance encounter with another German shepherd, named Maggie. The owner's son was the sweetest little boy with a passion for photographing dogs. We spent the remainder of the day together, playing in the marina with an afternoon nap soaking up the sun. You can see some of the action in our video down below. All in all, this serendipity was far too coincidental. I mean, come on, what are the odds of running into another German shepherd like that? It was just meant to be. 

Other areas we scoped out were the Highland Light, a lighthouse on the Cape Cod National Seashore in North Truro. It is the oldest and tallest lighthouse on the Cape, with exceptional views at their observatory deck. We even did an editorial shoot here, check out the photos. We also got to a chance to see the Wellfleet Harbor where there was a low tide during our visit with oyster shacks and shucking stations galore - a completely different type of scenery near the shore. We enjoy exploring many different parts of a place we visit, that way you get an all-around sense of where you are, all the while really being able to take a look around and absorb it all in.

We managed to do all of this in less than three days! I definitely want to go back to embark on more adventures, as I know there is still so much more to see! Thanks for having us Cape Cod, we we will be coming back for sure! Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to check out our travel video below on our YouTube channel! 

LOVE & XX'S,

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Breakfast at Tiffany's

WEARING: ANN TAYLOR LOFT BLACK DRESS | BANDOLINO KITTEN HEELS

Happy Monday! I'm excited to share with you my most recent favorite online store. thredUP is the best new resource for like-new women's clothing. It's a massive consignment shop that is thoughtfully curated and very easy to navigate. What I love about thredUp is that they're all about affordability, convenience, and conscious consumerism. Before going any further, I'm sure some of you ladies think secondhand clothing is not for you, but before you run out and spend a ridiculous amount of money on a brand you adore, why not, at least, give thredUP a try?  It's so simple to find what you want without going on a treasure hunt. It's way easier than digging through racks at a resale shop or bargain chain. All you have to do is just search for your brand and toggle by size and color. But, WAIT! There's more... 

When it comes to my personal style, I'm not for one specific trend or look. It can be low-end or high-end, or both, I like to mix and match according to my taste and what works for my body type. So I wanted to show you that style doesn't reflect cost. How you carry yourself is the reflection of your own style. Make it work for you! I picked out this gorgeous Ann Taylor LOFT dress with a pair of Bandolino kitten heels, specifically for an Audrey Hepburn inspired-look. To me, she was the epitome of style & grace, so I wanted to do a play-up on her and of course, the famous outfit from the movie, Breakfast at Tiffany's. I really wanted to demonstrate that you can wear secondhand pieces and still look like a movie star! Actual retail price of this look? UNDER $40! I saved 75%, (over $115) on these two items, but I feel like a million bucks in 'em!

What you can also do to snazz up a look is to accessorize it with a nice bag or a couple pieces of jewelry. In this case, I wore a pair of my mother's vintage earrings and an elegant clutch purse from Forever 21. You see?! I bet you didn't think that's where that bag was from when you first took a look at it. Point proven again. 

So what am I going to be doing with the money I saved? It's going into a secret project I can't disclose at the moment, but it'll be both for work and personal-related reasons. Can't wait to share with you! Until then... Need a closet sprucer-upper? Or perhaps you're starting to get ready for back-to-school or are you just dying to get the latest trends for Fall fashion? Use WOW40 at checkout for 40% off your ENTIRE order! Their delivery is on point too.

Lastly, do you have clothes you don’t wear anymore? Simply order a thredUP Clean Out Bag, fill it with the items you no longer want (consult on their website to see what they do and do not take, and what the payout is), and place it in front of your front door for pick-up. It literally could not be easier to get rid of the things you no longer want in a responsible way. Talk about being ecologically sound! :)


Photos by: Gilles Decamps \\ Styling + Editing by: Suzanne Spiegoski 

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