A Sunday at Reynard

This past Sunday, I ventured off to Williamsburg to meet up with some other New York City bloggers. About ten of us went for brunch at Reynard, in the lovely Wythe Hotel, where it was once a factory but now converted into a sleek industrial-feel 70-room haven. I love this area in Brooklyn for it's bohemian and trendy vibe, with constant brush strokes of street art and graffiti, it is a place for artists to be seen and to live. And Williamsburg does have some pretty dope food, especially if you're a mad foodie like me, it's a great location to venture off to and find a hidden gem. 

From L to R: Chelsea as of Late, Liz Avenue, Pretty Proper Quaint, & Maria on Point.

We devoured sunny side up eggs with lentils, pureed peas with sesame and cheesy omelettes with crispy fries, on top of some sweet pastries. To wash it down, we had a few bottles of rosé from Provence. Afterward, we opted for a photo shoot outside in their cute garden patio. 

I'm all about empowering other women and cannot STAND 'mean girls'. I know I've discussed this before in a past pose (click here) but for me, especially now that I've taken on an additional career path in the blogging world, it is so refreshing to meet other like-minded women who can not only relate with me as to what it takes to do what we do, but to also share in our tastes and style in everything from food to clothes, music and just plain having fun together, I truly enjoy connecting with other talented bloggers! We're not each other's competition, because we're all freaking awesome and being you is YOUR POWER. EMBRACE that shit. So with that in mind, I wanted to showcase a couple of bloggers and share with my readers a little bit more about them. Continue reading further to check out some featured bloggers from this fabulous group! (Of course, I had to get a group picture of us!) Keep scrolling! :) 

Selma Ali, LASELMASTYLE.

Featured Bloggers

Albanian beauty, Selma Air, is the creator of LASELMASTYLE, a New York City personal style blog focusing on the many variations of fashion, in particular, dressing for an occasion or on a feeling/emotion. Recently dabbling in fashion on a budget, Selma's created Project Re-Design, a monthly collaboration with another blogger, where each woman purchases the same piece of clothing/accessory re-designs them to their own individual taste. To see more of Selma's great style, check out her blog here! 

Maria Jose Abad, Maria on Point.

Ecuadorian NYC fashion blogger, Maria Jose Abad runs Maria on Point, a personal style and fashion blog that provides styling ideas and shopping information for petite women. Maria on Point also shares recommendations and answers for those who are seeking to look stylish on any budget. Maria understands the peculiarities behind finding the right size and fit for petite women and shares details about these key elements on her blog. She is also an on-air style advisor on Univision and Telemundo, and works full-time in public relations. To see more of Maria's cute, petite looks, check out her blog here! 

From L to R: MaQ + Suz, ElleD., Maria on Point, Pretty Proper Quaint, Adrianna Naomi, Selma Ali, Areta Style Secrets, Chelsea as of Late, Runway in LA.

 I love all of our different sense of styles, even for a Sunday brunch like this! I'm not much of a girly girl, so I put on my Stan Smith's with a comfy black slit maxi skirt and a Lakers tank top. In case you don't already know, I'm a die hard fan and STILL am even though Kobe's out. Ha ha! I was born in Cali, so I definitely got some of that West Coast vibe in my style. 

Laker gang! ;)

There's so many exciting posts coming up on the blog, I can hardly contain myself! I will be featuring an interview with a close, personal friend who is also a highly-respected chef. We're from the same city, so I'm very thrilled to be sharing a story on her! I'll also be doing my first travel diary at the end of this month. My hubby and I are getting away to celebrate our 10-year dating anniversary! Whoa! And, I also am working on an upcoming partnered sponsorship with an amazing pet brand, and MaQ will definitely be our star of the story! Stay tuned, all coming soon - and more! You didn't think I'd forget to stop cooking, did ya? ;) Have a wonderful Hump Day! You got this, we're halfway to the weekend! 

Squad Goals. 

LOVE & XX'S, 

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

OTHER SIMILAR POSTS

Birthday Giveaway

Happy Monday! Last Thursday was my birthday and even though I'm not a huge fan of my birthday, in particular, my husband and I went for dinner at One If By Land, Two If By Sea - voted by The Culture Trip as one the 10 most romantic restaurants in the world. It was amazing. Period.

I have my reasons for being awfully quiet about my birthday. And no, it's not because I'm getting 'older'. I won't even indulge in it, because to me, age is nothing but a number. I may be a certain age but I don't feel a day older than 16! Even though I'm young at heart, I am an old soul and do find it important to keep my personal life private. Which is why I took a six-day break from the blogging world. It's refreshing (and healthy) to embrace some downtime, especially around an occasion such as your birthday. Like reading a book while taking a bath. Enjoying a strong cocktail with a good meal. Or taking a 5-mile stroll through your city just because. Or people-watching (MY FAVE.) I can't help it, I'm a writer. Everyone's got a story to tell and I'm always looking for one.

In light of my birthday, I'm also celebrating with a giveaway! So attention to all the bookworms out there, I'll be hosting an EBook giveaway until April 4th. And it's my first novel! What's it about? A New York City homicide detective, Lily Dietz, who becomes engrossed in the hunt to catch a killer who favors Asian-American women — a category she herself falls into. And here is something that isn't mentioned in the synopsis: I love German shepherd dogs so much I felt compelled to create a dog character in the book, Cuffs, Lily's beloved K-9 working-line GSD. He is her shadow, her confidant, and her best friend. Interested? Cool. Want to read it? Even better! Here are the requirements for participation:

• 18+ years of age (or legal age)
• Resident of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia
• Must own a Kindle

The first 10 entrants will win a FREE Kindle copy of The Fisherman's Lily! Click HERE to enter. This giveaway will be running until next Monday, April 4th. Don't miss your chance to read my debut novel... on me!

Hope everyone had a great weekend! For more upcoming looks and food & recipes this week, don't forget to subscribe to my site down below! A little hint for what's to come? I'll be doing a Korean-fusion cocktail again, but, this time, it's more suitable for brunch than with any other meal! Hm, any clues? Stay tuned...

LOVE & XX'S

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ!

10 Years in New York City - Part 2

Friday's post was about the lessons I've learned from living in New York City from the past decade. Today I'm sharing with you what I did on my 10-year anniversary! First, I wanted to walk the Brooklyn Bridge with my favorite boys and take in the scenic view of my city (and to take some photos of course). It was pretty cold that day but I always find find this bridge especially to be so awe-inspiring. Talk about a landmark! Plus MaQ has never visited the Brooklyn Bridge before! I knew now was a good time as any, and it was such a treat for everyone. I really enjoy sharing as many experiences as I can with MaQ in the city of New York, he is after all a NYC dog!

MaQ & the Brooklyn Bridge. Doesn't he look majestic AF? :)

Brooklyn Bridge, you beaut. <3

Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, New York, January 2016.

It's only about a 40 minute walk from the Brooklyn bridge to our apartment in the East Village so we walked our way back up. That's what makes commuting with a large German Shepherd rather difficult. He can't just take the subway or hop a ride on a bus. Same situation with restaurants (unless there's outdoor seating available if the weather permi). But walking through the streets of New York is also one of my favorite things to do with my furry man. I just love watching the world go by and he loves greeting them. On our walk up we made a couple pit stops to check out some graffiti and street art, something I've been documenting though the years with MaQ. As you can see in the photo below with Danielle Mastrion's incredible portrait, he is a natural born model. I also really love the first photo of this post because some of things I cherish most in life are apparent in it. Art, love, life, even rock music. New York, you are just supremely awesome. I can't believe how lucky I am to live here every day!

My husband surprised me for lunch at Cipriani Downtown. It's one of my favorite restaurants in New York. It's a more casual version of Harry Cipriani, and Downtown offers a slightly less formal menu than its uptown predecessor. Beautifully designed, the restaurant offers outdoor dining when the weather is agreeable, serving lunch and dinner in a party-like atmosphere. Not to mention the hip artwork and gorgeous people surrounding you as you dine. We shared the tuna tartar while downing their well-known Bellinis, a famous staple of Cip's. They're are the absolute best. For our main course, I had their scampi asparagus risotto and the hubby went for some delicious gnocchi. Like I've mentioned before, I'm a foodie and unfortunately foodie addicts like myself will sometimes forget to take photos of all our food that's to be enjoyed. Oops. :X All I have to tell you is it was damn good.

Cipriani Downtown, New York City.

Cheers to the best Bellinis in the world!

Cipriani's Tuna Tartar. One word. Amazing.

I chose where to have dinner. On my very first night in New York, ten years ago, I went out partying like a mad woman until the wee hours of the morning before finally stopping at a 24-hr open Korean restaurant in K-Town. It was a blast. But fast forward ten years later, I wanted Korean again, but I wanted something a bit more upscale. We're talking a big celebration, y'all! I wanted the ultimate dining experience with a fantastic view. Enter: Gaonnuri. A penthouse-level joint (39th floor) in K-Town, this stylish Korean eatery offers panoramic views & tabletop BBQ. The meat was top quality; the service, impeccable. And the views were out of this world. I really want to try their Black Forest Cake on Fire dessert, but I was far too stuffed my first time around. A true gem I discovered in the heart of Koreatown and because of my sweet tooth (and hungry fatty-status), I will definitely be coming back soon! Very soon. :) 

Empire State Building lit up in red and green.

Now, THIS is Korean BBQ. :)

Spectacular views from K-Town!

With all these celebrations I'm left feeling remindful of what's important. Sure I have a tendency to get caught up in my work, but that shouldn't be a reason not to enjoy the little things. For example, I haven't been to a New York museum in a few years (YIKES), I itch a blog post coming up on this very soon... stay tuned! Thanks for stopping by and we wish you a great start to your week! :)

Love & xx's

10 Years in New York City - Part 1

Woah, it's official! This week marks my ten year anniversary living in New York City! I'm incredibly proud to finally be able to call myself a real New Yorker! In the past decade, I've changed careers twice, wrote my first novel, found MaQ, the German Shepherd dog I've always wanted since I was a child, and married the man of my dreams. Phew! But it's true what they say, "If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere." One helluva ride, I've been doing a lot of reflecting over the past decade of my life and how far I've come. It's been a very humbling experience and New York has helped me grow in ways I didn't even know were possible. So, here are 10 things I've learned on my journey as a New Yorker.

Brooklyn Bridge.

1. YOU BETTER WORK!

RuPAUL, you are preaching to the choir! Living in NYC is ridiculously expensive and everyone out here wants their fair-shared bite out of the Big Apple. But in order to party hard, you better work even harder. And I mean you better work like you've never worked in your entire life! I've been working since the age of 12 and nothing ever came easy for me. For many years, I've held down 2 to 3 jobs at once all the while working on other projects like my novel or whipping up some new recipes or coming up with a new photographic series. I've worked my butt off to get to where I am today. And that kind of work ethic is vital to be able to live here. It's not even an option.

2. LOVE WHAT YOU DO.

Words are my life and have always been my gateway to outward expression and my release from the trials and tribulations of life. I had dabbled in creative writing such as short stories and some poetry during my adolescence, even getting a few of my poems published while in college. So, I started writing again after transplanting myself from the Motor City to the island of Manhattan. It was like a lightning bolt had struck me, straight to the core. Immediately I knew I wanted to take my writing more seriously. This could be my way of helping and contributing to society and most importantly, do something I love doing, no matter how long it was going to take to work my way towards becoming an established writer. Here if you want it bad enough you'll do it for free, but my firm belief is never work for money and/or success. Your work should feel significant and meaningful to you. Work for a cause, not for applause. The money will follow. Hard work pays off, for real though!

3. CAN'T READ MY POKER FACE.

Ever hear how New Yorkers aren't the smiling type? It's true. Sort of. We're honest folks, pretty blunt actually in it's truest and rawest form. New Yorkers are not about letting people know too much of their business because most people don't care, they're just curious. Nosey. Nobody's got time for that! They want to see you do good (perhaps), but never better than them - something I will never understand. I'm everyone's cheerleader! Why would you want someone to lose rather than win? Because it's an extremely competitive town and after a few years even, being in the Concrete Jungle, I think a person is only bound to build that "don't mess with me" type of NYC mentality. Plus it wards off the cacklers, trollers, fakes and haters of the world while keeping yourself in check!

4. THE FOOD HERE IS UNLIKE ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.

I may be tiny and petite, but I can eat like a horse. I LOVE FOOD. But my upbringing, in terms of food experience, wasn't very eclectic. I grew up mostly on Korean and American food. As a kid, The Olive Garden and Red Lobster were considered one of the 'nicer' restaurants. But living in NYC where the culinary melting pot is literally right outside your apartment, is one of my greatest pleasures living here. Never have I eaten better or with more wonder and joy than I have in the past ten years. NYC really does have every type of ethnic cuisine you can imagine and I've learned so much about cooking and food in general. Okay, now I need to stop talking about this. My stomach's growling. ;-) But seriously, you haven't had food until you've been to New York!

5. OOEY GOOEY ROMANCE AT IT'S FINEST

When I think of all the sights and sounds of the city, I am filled with so many memories (good and bad, and just downright ugly) of my past relationships. New York City is a great place to be single, but I think it's an even better place to fall in love. Two different types of people with two different types of perspectives, equals countless hours of exploring the city. Different parts of the city. Sure it's great to do some solo-adventuring, but it's the best when shared with someone you deeply love. Some of my favorite memories are nestled in this gorgeous town with the love of my life. My husband and I met in the East Village, he proposed at the Metropolitan Opera and we married in Central Park at Strawberry Fields, right on top of the John Lennon, 'Imagine' memorial. For me, the city brings out your romantic side, at full speed! Unforgettable moments. For reals.

6. NOTHING GOES AS PLANNED.

My dad used to say, "If you want to make God laugh, just tell Him your plans." My five year plan after college was to join the police force. (I know, what?! I'll tell y'all about it another time.) Obviously I changed my mind, ha ha! I'm very thankful for all the experiences that I've gained from the different jobs I've had through the years. I'm constantly evolving as a person, and I think all that personal growth from work has helped mold me into who I am today. When I stopped trying to plan my life down to every single detail, the better life has become. Not to say that you should be some irresponsible hot mess, but unplanned events, both positive or negative, can lead to wonderful things. Don't try so hard because life really does have a funny way of working things out. Letting go can be very powerful. Everything will fall into place whether you like it or not!

New York City Skyline.

7. DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU HOW TO LIVE HERE.

Life in NYC is not at all like the way the TV and big screen depict it. It's the fashion capital of the world, but not everyone is running around like Carrie Bradshaw. People dress the way they want to dress. New Yorkers do what they want to do and they do what they got to do too. This place can eat you alive, so never try to live by someone else's way. Be authentic and be true to yourself, through thick and thin, because the city life can get pretty stressful. Sometimes too much it seems. But don't give up. Be real to yourself. If you are, no matter what difficulties life wants to throw your way, you'll be able to figure it out. Look at how much pressure goes into making a diamond! That's the beauty of New York, you never know what can happen!

8. STAY CONNECTED BUT WATCH YOUR BACK.

It's all about who you know in this town but if that means having to force yourself in dealing with highly toxic people, walk away. You don't have to sacrifice your dignity or integrity for anyone or anything. That's far too important, to me at least, and life's too short. Work with those you can grow and learn from. If they're not bringing anything to the table and it's just negative, time to move on. You deserve better. It's tough being appreciated here, because the city of New York doesn't owe you anything. It's nothing personal and no one's perfect after all, but this shouldn't make you have to short-list what you feel is fair or right for yourself. Networking and staying connected is an imperative tool in New York, but that doesn't mean there's no snakes in the grass.

9. MAKE TIME AND SPACE FOR YOURSELF.

I will forever be a city girl at heart. The idea of living in the middle of nowhere with not much to do is a little nerve-wrecking to me. In my opinion that's too much space! But sometimes the city feels like there's not enough space. Trust me, you know what I'm talking about if you've ever squeezed into a subway car train during rush hour like sardines in a can! There is no sense of personal space in the city. So it's good to take a retreat every once in a while. I always feel rejuvenated and revived after spending some quiet time with nature and being outdoors. It does the body and soul good. :)

10. LIVING IN NYC VS. BEING IN NYC

Ambition means more in this town than talent, but that shouldn't deter you from having some kind of social life. Don't just work, play! There's a million and one things to do in NYC and one of the biggest perks living here is being able to do them. I've been to the Brooklyn Bridge many many times, but I particularly wanted to walk it with my boys on my ten year anniversary living here. It is such an epic landmark and was quite the New York moment to have. Make the most of this city because you never know what tomorrow will bring.

My city, my town. New York City Forever, baby!

Well, New York - I made it. And on my own terms. Feeling pretty groovy and happy to be alive. Keep banging. I will always love you. (But not without my whips and chains, you naughty city you! I need to straighten you out from time to time!) :P

Cheers to the greatest city in the world! Stay tuned for Part 2 of my NYC anniversary extravaganza! ♥

Love & xx's

Happy Holidays

Wishing our readers a wonderful Holiday season!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Love & xx's always,