Fall Mini Session w/ MaQ

Looks like New York City's last 70°F+ day, up until spring reappears, might be today! The temperatures will quickly drop, especially into this weekend where it might get to only the upper 50's! Brrr! My skin is shivering just thinking about the frigid temps that are around the corner! Winter is literally coming! (Insert the pleading & whiny emoji face here please.)

Before I know it, I won't be able to rollerblade with MaQ as much (I could always be my crazy self and make a go at rollerblading this winter because why not,) and since I've been taking advantage of this really beautiful & mild weather we've been having, of course I grabbed my camera for a few morning shots of my baby boy. 

I love the Autumn season and it's everchanging leaves. MaQ wanted to show you the start to the foliage. Like this one on the right, it was once a lush green and now you can see it's transition to yellow. Being raised in the Midwest, I've always appreciated the four seasons. (As much as I b*tch about the heat during the summer and then the bitterness of winter,) I am fond of the continuing cycle. Death and rebirth, as such it is in life. We too, are constantly changing, whether we like it or not. It's in our nature. Just like weather, you cannot fight this.

That'd be like if MaQ could never play fetch with his ball again! It wouldn't matter how hard you'd try to keep him from doing this, he'd find a way to play! You can't stop from being who you truly are! And this guy is just a playful mush...

Or... not... What force to be reckoned with! That's what 100+lbs of pure muscle looks like! Check out those T-Rex arms! Ha ha ha! It's one of my many nicknames for MaQ, because he's always in the exact same mid-air position with his paws! Too funny. But seriously, don't mess with this guy! ;)

Thanks for stopping by! We hope you enjoyed this sesh with my pooch! If you're looking for a photographer to do a Fall-themed shoot, or any other inquiries, feel free to contact me! I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. To know more about what I shoot, please go to my bio page for more info. :)

Have a great Hump Day! ♡

Love & xx's,

maQ + suz

Kimchi Deviled Eggs

Um, I just need to forewarn you that these are highly addictive! And they are super quick and easy to make, which is always a plus in anyone's kitchen! If you're as much of a fan as I am with classic deviled eggs, these are even better with a twist! We got some Korean ingredients in there! That's right, kimchi city here we come! ;)

At first I found the combination of ingredients to be somewhat ghastly! Mayo and mustard with kimchi?! Eeeeek! But after creating these deviled eggs, I found them to be scrumptiously delicious! This is perfect for a brunch, a cocktail party, or just getting together for a casual night in with some friends. It packs a serious punch in your mouth, definitely a Korean party going on in there. Ha ha! Seriously, where's the soju?

Kimchi Deviled Eggs

Makes 14 deviled eggs

Ingredients

7 large eggs

2 generous tablespoons mayonnaise

2 teaspoons yellow mustard

1/4 teaspoon rice vinegar

1 tablespoon gochujang

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1/4 cup kimchi, roughly chopped

Diced chives and black sesame seeds for garnish

Preparation

Boil the eggs in a small pot for approx. 6-7 minutes. Remove eggs from pot and slowly pour out the hot water. Put eggs back in the pot and fill it with cold water, covering the eggs for about a minute or two.

I have a fun trick to help speed up peeling your eggs. Put one egg in a small glass cup and fill it with water. Shake vigorously up and down and NOT from side to side with one hand holding the cup while the other covers the opening. If you shook correctly, your egg should peel like an orange, very easily and in a circular way.

After peeling, cut eggs in half and scoop out the yolk with a small spoon. Place all the yolk in a bowl and mash them. Then add mayo, mustard, vinegar, gochujang, and sesame oil and mix very well. This will be your filling for the eggs.

Put filling in a piping bag with a fitted tip. Press the bag with your hands to push all of it to the end corner. Make sure to press any air out of the top before you start.

Pipe the filling into each half-sliced egg, until there’s a nice mound over the top. If you’re not feeling up for piping, you can as an alternative, scoop the filling out with a small spoon.

Garnish each deviled egg with kimchi, black sesame seeds and chives. Serve immediately.

My only suggestion for this recipe is to NOT to try and substitute the sesame oil with any other kind (olive, vegetable, etc.) The secret with sesame oil is even a tiny dollop can bring so much flavor, and it is a key ingredient to bring all the other components together. I want to do a blog post on some 'Americanized' kimchi sides, sesame oil yet again, being the main ingredient.

I've been on a Korean kick lately! I'd love to keep posting various Korean dishes, infusing other types of cuisines; American, Mexican, Italian, etc. Stay tuned! Next week's food post will be killer good! I can't wait! Now if you'll excuse me, I have some major eating to attend to!

::Foodie lover at ♥::

Love & xx's,

maQ + suz

Mickey & Butterflies

WEARING: FOREVER 21 MICKEY SWEATSHIRT | JENABELLE FLUTTER MARLEY SKIRT 
| BAMBOO SHOGA SUMMER WEDGES |PURPLE SPARKLE PASHMINA SCARF

This week I'm pleased to announce I've teamed up with Jenabelle, an online fashion retailer based here in New York City, in collaboration with Shopping Links. Jenabelle's motto is 'Fun. Affordable. Fashion.' And it is so much more than that. They carry many different fashion trends, with it's clothes, accessories and shoes, serving any stylish gal a silver platter of endless tasteful chic choices.

I've never been one to only wear one style or label. I'm a mixer, just like my ethnic background and love to combine feminine and masculine pieces, even high end and lower end labels or vintage, and west coast vibes with the Midwest's. Detroit Rock to be exact! To me, style is all about how you carry yourself in whatever choices you make with your statement.

For today, my statement, of course, is even though I'm totally infatuated with the Fall Season (it really is my favorite!) I'm a California-born chic and am never fully willing to let go of summer! Now that it's getting colder in New York, but warm enough to hold on to maxi skirts and wedges (perhaps too stubbornly), I'm all for bundling up, but my legs and feets are not! I blame it on 20+ yrs of being a rink rat. Or what most people refer us as: figure skaters. :P

I mixed up a Fall statement pashmina scarf, a more masculine piece with Mickey (cause this mouse is from Cali LOL), a Bohemian flowing skirt from Jenabelle, and my go-to summer wedges! I like to think of this outfit as "Hippy & Shabby-Chic meets Casual & Fun!"

As a New Yorker, I am guilty of wearing too much black and barely smiling in photos. New York will make you too honest, raw, and sometimes, sadly, will unknowingly start to take yourself too seriously. Life should be fun and your clothes should be too! (At least from time to time... if you're really that into black..) ;)

Here's a close up of Jenabelle's skirt's gorgeous fabric and illustration of butterflies with some floral foreshadowing in the background. I love how feminine and free-spirited this piece feels on me! As soon as I tried it on, I got major L.A nostalgia, reminiscent of Venice Beach, Disneyland and my mom's immaculate flower garden at our first home in Anaheim.

I love the shoe embellishments of these Bamboo wedges. The beachy, west coast vibe shoes go very well with the lightness of the Jenabelle skirt. And I'm all for adding a few inches on my short self when wearing long dresses or skirts. Plus, my feet want to soak up as much sun until it really gets too cold! Brrrr!

Here's the back of the Mickey sweatshirt. How many of you are a fan of the messy bun btw? I love it but when my hair gets too long, there's literally too much to bun! Ha ha ha! I'm thinking about cutting the hair short again, but I love my hair long. Ah, decisions, decisions. :)

What's your signature style? Feel free to share and comment! We love to hear from our readers! See a fashion piece you're eyeing for yourself from this look on my blog today? You can shop for it below!

Thanks for stopping by! We hope you had a not so manic Monday. <3

Love & xx's,

maQ + suz

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Shopping Day

TGIF! Most Friday's, I'll be running around doing errands but I also try to make time to pamper MaQ. He LOVES going anywhere with me, especially to 'his' stores. He has two favorite places: Whiskers & Petco. Today we went to the Petco in Union Square, and as you can see, this fella is raring to go!

I pick up his usual treats, for continuous training, for passing time (as well as an instinctive habit) and to help reduce the buildup of tartar and plaque! Here is a list of certain particular items he (yes, he does choose) and I will normally get on a weekly basis. 

• Halloween PLAY DEAD Bone Dog Toy: OMG, we just are so excited for Halloween! We are really into the Halloween spirit this year and can't wait to show you all our annual themed costume this year! I found this to be pretty adorable, and MaQ does have a 'play dead' command! He loves plush toys and since they're not too expensive, I do have a tendency to purchase these type of toys.

Isn't it so cute? Looks like someone needs a trim! I only will clip his nails when he's tired. Otherwise, he fidgets and I become anxious in fear of hurting him. If he's more on the exhausted side, he could care less that I'm giving him a 'mani'. Ha ha ha!

Here is MaQ posing his best 'play dead' look. He looks like he's half-smiling! This was one of the earlier tricks I taught him, all I have to say is, 'bang bang!' And he'll stay in that pose until I tell him it's okay to move! Such a good boy. ♥

• Blue Buffalo Blue Bits Dog Training Treats in Savory Salmon Recipe: These are great for any dog, regardless of the breed or their size. These tiny, delicious treats are great for training. While we train, I give countless amount of treats, therefore I always use these because they're so small but oh so good. He's obsessed with these! And to be successful during training, one of the key elements should be a reinforcing treat that they really love. With this salmon recipe, I poke fun at him since he literally goes gaga over them such a grizzly bear does over a King Alaskan salmon! LOL! They're a bit pricey for the amount, but they're all about natural, healthy ingredients so I'm all for spending a little more to give MaQ the best quality.

• American Prime Cuts Ham Bone Dog Chew: This, besides bully sticks, are his favorite chews to pass time. If I'm writing, and want to go at it for more than just a few hours, I'll give him one of these to chew on and he'll go at it for hours. It's a little stinky, but I don't mind. These are perfect for larger dogs, because they are enormous! It's literally the size of a small dog!

• Large Greenies Dental Dog Treats: When people ask me how MaQ gets his gorgeous pearly whites, I always tell them it's the Greenies. They are really tasty (he loves them so much he once got into a tiff about it with one of his dog pals!) and are an excellent source of dental hygiene. Don't get me wrong, I do try to brush his teeth as much as I can but there are only 24 hours in the day to do so many things! Which is why I've been adding these in to his weekly treats, because not only does he enjoy them so much, it's why he's got some of the healtiest, whitest canine teeth! Hee-hee!

What are some of your dog's favorite treats and toys? We'd love to hear more about what your pooches go for! In the meantime, we hope you have a nice weekend!

Love & xx's,

maQ + suz

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MaQ's Raw Diet

Since MaQ turned 1, I've been giving him a primal eating plan. I put in a combination of protein, calcium, fiber, carbs, glucosamine, vitamin C, and olive oil all to provide longevity, optimal health, and even some beauty treatment! Yes, you read that right! Let me explain further.

Here is a list of what's in MaQ's daily meals. I serve this twice a day, for breakfast and dinner, the raw meat being the staple part of his meals. From left to right; clockwise (above):

• Kokuho Rose Sushi Rice: This superior Japanese style rice is the only rice I ever use (been eating this since I was little) and is hands down the best quality rice I've ever eaten. I use this as a substitute for commercial kibble. Most kibbles and canned food use feed grade rice, which is basically the scraps of rice that are leftover when actual rice is made for human consumption! Which means the likelihood of toxins being absorbed during a multiple processing stage is very high. So, of course, I naturally transitioned to this. As a puppy, Maq was on Royal Canin kibble because as a baby, there are certain nutrients that are vital to their immune system and since they are not full grown, the breeders where we got MaQ strongly recommended he be on this diet up until he's 1 - 1.5 years of age. Doggy's thrive off carbs, and in my opinion, rice is terrific for our beloved pets. So long as the rice is of premium quality.
• NuJoint Plus®: I give these glucosamine pills to MaQ daily. 4 pills to be exact due to his larger size. Another suggestion from our fantastic breeders, the pills help prevent all sorts of common problems that are prone in the German shepherd breed. Hip & elbow dysplasia, arthiritis, osteoporosis, and joint inflammation are just a few that can occur with GSDs. These pills are a natural anti-inflammatory hip and joint therapy supplement and are treats to MaQ. He's loved them since he was a baby and never go low on these! 
• Cento EVOO: First of all, it tastes great. Trust me when I say this, your dog will love you for it! The monounsaturated fats in olive oil actually encourage weight loss by breaking down the fatty cells, getting rid of a couple of pounds. It is also contains high levels of antioxidants, proving to arm your dog's immune system. It is also a brain food and has been shown to boost energy. And like I mentioned earlier, olive oil gives your pooch the ultimate beauty treatment! Just like how we put oils in our hair to repair with moisture, you can do the same with you pet! 
• Raw Meat: This can be basically anything! His everyday meat is usually beef, but when I want to switch it up, I'll go with salmon, chicken, ground turkey or sometimes lamb. With beef, I usually go with stew meat since it's easier to cut and prepare. There have been hundreds of articles written about the raw diet, each side debating different views. One, it's actually healthy and provides your dog a longer, healthier life, and two, it's just bad because there's too much bacteria, germs, etc. for the dog and they get sick. It does take a couple of weeks for a dog to adjust to a different diet, but once they do, not only do I think they're enjoying their food much more, but the benefits are far better than any commercial kibble! Think about the wolves, you don't see them running around looking for dried up bullshit. I know, they're not domesticated animals but they are the wild ancestors of dogs and have been living long enough in their habitat to survive and thrive. So if their ancestors can do it, dogs can as well. But, I'm not one to dispute what you feed your dog. This is up to you.

• Green Beans: One word. Fiber! And MaQ really enjoys these little veggies. And I always cook the green beans to give a softer texture because ewe, raw green beans don't taste very good! They are also heavy with antioxidants, ranging from vitamin K to manganese, and also can be an anti-inflammatory benefit. Green beans bring cardiovascular benefits as well! From the omega-3 fatty acid in the beans, it's a heart-protective nutrient.
• Friendship Cottage Cheese: I give this to MaQ very often for calcium intake. I like, from time to time, to switch it up with plain Greek yogurt, since he really likes both. I actually really love green beans with cottage cheese. Together it's delicious! I'll even have a small portion of it for breakfast!

Here's MaQ's complete meal! Dang, doesn't it look delicious? I love spoiling my pup. Why? Because I love him. It's such a pleasure to hear from strangers complement how beautiful he is. Aesthetics always come first, then once they look into his soulful eyes they are immediately enamored with my boy. When someone says, "I can see he is very well taken care of." Or, "what a gorgeous German shepherd!" Because for me, I take pride in giving MaQ the best of everything. Why? Because he does the same for me with his undying love and devotion. And if the roles were reversed, I know he'd feed me just as well!

I've got a cardinal rule when it comes to feeding MaQ. And this applies with pretty much everything else. He's not allowed to eat until I tell him it's okay to. This goes for getting out of a car, going through a door, waiting to cross the street or be invited up on the couch, even throwing a ball I'll make him stay in his position for a couple of minutes before releasing him to fetch it. Without any impulse control, MaQ would be a wild wreck! Sometimes before he eats we'll play the 'color' game to mentally challenge him. For example, I'll say some colors out loud like, 'red', or 'blue' before actually saying the word, 'okay'. He drools incessantly while waiting and I'm sure his food is that much more rewarding, plus let's be real. You ever had to wait to eat? Did it taste better than what you imagined? It's that anticipation! :)

Bon Appétit! (Yes, my dog knows what this means.) Can't blame him for having a French papa! ;)

Love & xx's,

maQ + suz

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