Milanese Geometric Dress

July 26, 2018

WEARING: LA DOUBLE J GEOMETRIC PRINT DRESS | RAEN NORIE SUNNIES | 
PAUL'S BOUTIQUE LONDON LOGAN BAG | TKEES SANDALS

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY LA DOUBLE J AND RAEN.

I had been wanting to shoot at the Bethesda Fountain in Central Park for the longest time but could never find anything fitting with the location. Nothing to get my mojo moving, that is until I came across an Italian fashion brand that's not only contemporary but with lots of roots and one of my favorite fabrics: Prints! And when one can't go to Italy, why not bring Italy to you?! Haha, keep reading to see the complete shoot where I styled it very Milanese-based and kept it fun. I'm also sharing my number one highlight from this location and why you guys need to go for yourself just for that reason!

All dogs go to Heaven... or so I've been told... and when I think of a place that is such like doggy Heaven, this is it! Part of the other reason I haven't shot at the fountain are the people. It's always overcrowded and I don't blame 'em for its serene beauty and transporting quality. We (as in my husband and I) woke up at 5:00 am to get ready and be at this particular location by 7:00/7: 30 am. I am NOT a morning person, and quite frankly, neither is the hubby! But when you're dedicated to bringing your vision to life, you do what you gotta do and set that alarm clock mad early! And it was soooo worth it because literally, all the pups of Central Park go to this fountain to roam around and play! The first shot of this post was a happy accident, but I decided to use it since it gave me such Italian-feels! Had I known it was a massive doggy playdate I would have brought MaQ with us! We even fed some of the birds after the shoot with leftover granola... its such things as this in life that make it truly special and beautiful. It was a glorious morning shoot! (YES, we did all of this today!) Can you say: Hustle? ;)

Now onto the dress! And my GAWD, I'm in LOVE! The pink, white and blue cotton dropped waist geometric print dress from La Doublej. It is made out of 100% cotton, fits true to size, and is oh so dreamy to wear! And comfy! Made in Italy, I love the dropped waist and frill at the end of the dress. But what struck me most about this dress is the print itself. If you're looking for some Italian flair with amazing unique prints, La Doublej is the way to go! What do you guys think of this dress? Isn't it just gorgeous?! This dress is available here at FarFetch!

I styled the dress with a similar color paletted bag by Paul's Boutique London, chic pink suede sandals by TKEES, and my new favorite sunnies by Raen in the Norie model. The earrings are by Ana Luisa. What are some of your favorite spots in New York City? Have you ever been? If not, what are you dying to see? Drop your thoughts in the comment section down below! We always love hearing from our readers, you guys are the best! Wishing you a wonderful rest of the week and a lovely weekend.

LOVE & XX'S,

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Pepper Lady

July 16, 2018

WEARING: ELLY PISTOL BOMBER | TOPSHOP SHORTS | EGO BOOTS | 
SMALL THINGS EARRINGS | FOREVER 21 SUNNIES

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ELLY PISTOL & SMALL THINGS.

It's a fresh start to a brand new week! And it's time to spice things up! Pepper is the symbol of spice and excitement. And in today's post, I'm sharing a relatively new clothing brand based in Stockholm, and their athleisure wear is literally the bomb! One of my favorite pieces from the collection is this edgy, fun Pepper Lady bomber jacket. It's the perfect new addition to my Fall wardrobe! Continue reading to see how I styled the bomber in a fierce, summery look with ripped denim shorts and over-the-knee boots! What does it mean to you to be a 'Pepper Girl'?

Pepper Lady has a super strong orange lining and just like all Elly Pistol jackets you can easily roll up the arm sleeves to show off even more of the orange goodness. The bomber comes in a completely new design with quilted arms only, and color blocking on the rib both in front and on the back. Stretchy rib on arms and waist gives you that super comfortable fit. There are large chunky metal zippers in silver, 4 pockets- 2 in front and one on each arm sleeve. The jacket includes our popular Elly Pistol arm tag in rubber, that can easily be hooked off and placed anywhere you can possibly imagine. Use it as a bag accessory or keychain. Whatever floats your boat. Use my discount code, 18SUZANNE10 and gives 10% off everything on their website.

To keep the style super-edgy, I paired it with black denim shorts and all-black over-the-knee boots. The floating pearl double hoop earrings are double the trouble! These modern, geometric earrings with front and back hoops and orbiting pearls are artfully created for a minimal, chic look. I also styled my hair halfway up and tied it with a thin black ribbon. I found the ribbon and pearls to bring a tiny bit of feminine features in the overall edgy look. My retro sunnies are from Forever 21 and less than $8!!! You can get them directly here.

And of course, what girl isn't complete without her beloved furry companion?! What can I say, I just love my boy to bits! He is the best. Fun lil' tidbit from behind the scenes: MaQ literally walks offset when we have the shot. He's our cue to know when it's a wrap. Ha ha! And it's hilarious because when we check the photos, he is right everytime! I think after awhile, having taken so many photos with me around the city, it's become second nature to him. It's truly amazing. We will have another Q&A up next month. Would you like a video Q & A? Blog post and/or both? I'd love to hear feedback from our readers! Wishing you a great week!

LOVE & XX'S,

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You've Got to Feel to Heal

July 9, 2018

WEARING: VIPSHOP SHIRT DRESS | MAUI JIM SUNGLASSES | BRAHMIN BAG | GUCCI SLIDES | 
BING BANG NYC RING | BING BANG NYC INITIAL STUDS

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY VIPSHOP.COM, MAUI JIM & BING BANG NYC.

You've got to feel to heal.

Life is tough, but so are you. Most of you come to my blog for style inspiration, whether it's in the realm of fashion, beauty, lifestyle... I aim to make each element beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. Maybe some of you come to see my boy, MaQ, as he is just as much a part of my blog as I am and he is truly the mascot of my business. But what I rarely discuss on here is my personal life and all the experiences that led me to here. Since I've had a lot of new readers on here as well as on other social media platforms, I thought today would be a great time to sort of -reintroduce myself. Hey, I'm Suz. I've lost both of my parents in my 20s. I'm completely estranged from the rest of the family, including my brother. Today marks exactly 6 years since my father unexpectedly passed away. Grab some tissues, this isn't going to be an easy read. Listen quietly or talk to me... I'm open either way.

My father, Caz, died from a massive coronary in 2012. The irony? The day he died was the day he finally was hired for a job after struggling for years trying to find work. The morning his sister drove him to the interview he had said he felt like he was finally at peace and one with God. He literally collapsed in the hallway after shaking hands with the woman who just hired him. When my brother called to tell me the news that our father had passed, I thought it was a sick joke. Truly in a state of shock, I was numb until getting on the plane the next day with my fiancé at the time (now husband). I sobbed the entire flight home, knowing I would have no time to shed any tears while handling my family affairs once we landed. My family was unsupportive and cruel. Since my father died, not one member of my family has even called to check in on me. I'm dead to them, therefore, they are dead to me. One of his sisters refused to come to the funeral because she "already said goodbye to him" from a falling out they had. What about everyone else that needed love and support? Forget them too, right? It was as if everyone couldn't wait to just put him in the ground and be done with it. My father's side of the family has never been the best at communication (I plead the fifth) but everyone's true colors were shown after my father's death. It was like being hit with a Double-Whammy.

I lost my mother in 2005. It's still hard to believe it's been over 13 years since being without her. What was different about my mother's passing was being there until the very end. She was diagnosed with terminal cancer and battled it for nine months. I took care of her while holding down a job at the airport, finishing up school to graduate on time, and then some (nearly died twice while she was sick.) I am forever grateful that I was able to say goodbye to her. When people wonder what's worse: Losing a loved one suddenly or watching them slowly deteriorate... after experiencing both, the worst is the unexpected. There's so much I wanted to say to my father before he died and because we were estranged for three years before he passed, I'm eternally haunted from all the things left unsaid and what could have been. Is it normal to think that there's something else I could have done to prevent such a heartbreaking loss? Yes, but that's part of grieving.

How long does the grieving process take? I'm going to have to say, sadly, for the rest of your life. Is it easy for me every day? Fuck no. Some days are so awful, I have trouble getting out of bed. But then I hear my parents, and they'd be damned if I lived an unhappy, unfulfilled life. They wouldn't want that for me. And even though I try my hardest to live a full, rich life, I can't help but feel such sadness at times, knowing I can't share any of my accomplishments or mistakes with them. And in turn, I feel this incredible pressure to honor them - to prove to my parents that I wasn't born in vain and that it was all worth something. That I'm made of both of them, and that's a gift within itself. Do I feel lost half the time? Yep. Do I have moments of profound anger? Rage? You betcha. I feel like I've been robbed. Not one, but both parents? And no family to back me up? Why? I may never know, but I know this. I love them with everything I have and the content I create isn't just for the world to see, but it is more so especially for them. I hope they are proud of what I have done (so far) but I always have the sinking feeling that it'll never be enough, that I just will never be good enough. That's a horrible burden to carry. But I carry it. With pride.

So how do I bounce back on God-awful days as such? I FIGHT. It'll take every single ounce of energy within me. I try to believe that my experiences happened for a reason, and perhaps since I was strong enough to survive it, I do feel responsible to share it with you guys. To tell my story is a privilege. I hope this short but emotional post brings you something. Whether I may inspire you, and/or make you feel less alone, or even just getting to know me a little more and have a better understanding of me: Using my blog and art has helped me tremendously through the healing process. Those of us who have lost our parents are forever changed and we will never forget. I do believe that if you’re dedicated to wanting to live a brighter, lighter life, doing the work, finding the tools, and feeling the feelings will help you move forward. It has helped me. But it's a long, unwinding road. You’ve got to feel to heal.

LOVE & XX'S,

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Rainbow Brite

July 2, 2018

WEARING: ACNE CORAL BLOUSE | WHO WHAT WEAR COLLECTION STRIPED PLEATED SKIRT | 
EGO FRANKIE HEELS | LITTLE E NYC KC BEAUTIFUL DAY BLUE BAG | NEUBAU DANI SUNGLASSES | 
BING BANG NYC AALTO ASSYMETRIC EARRINGS

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY WHO WHAT WEAR COLLECTION, EGO SHOES, & NEUBAU.

Us New Yorkers are enduring a major heat wave, where temps rose past 100°F. I'm not one to embrace such hot days like these, where the humidity and scorching heat literally makes me sick. I get headaches and feel completely lethargic, no matter how hydrated I am! Plus I'll have little to no appetite and trouble focusing from feeling "hazy" from the weather. Any tips/suggestions on how to feel more energized during the dog days of summer? Even though the weather has me feeling a bit bleh, I won't let that get in the way of my style and mood! In today's outfit post, I am all about color! I just recently celebrated my 12-yr dating anniversary with the hubs where we went to our favorite restaurant in all of NYC for dinner. After all that we have been through, I think it's only a miracle we're still together. And we've been through it all. I know a lot of you are asking more about me and my husband so I'm thinking of doing a post dedicating that for you guys, as well as a better chance getting to know us! To say I'm happy is an understatement. Continue reading to learn more about this vibrant summery outfit that totally goes with my current mood and where to shop the look!

In case you missed this Instagram post, I was wearing a dress from one of my favorite places in the entire world. Target. Yes, folks. You can look stylish while shopping at "Tar-jeh"! And can you believe this rainbow-striped pleated skirt in this post today is only $30?! It has a matching long-sleeved top if you want to match with the bottom, but I opted with warm orange tones like coral and neon orange. I have had this shirt for years and adore the details of the buttons in the front. It definitely brings something to this look.

These shoes are my favorite at the moment. I don't wear many pairs of heels because one I'm too old to be running around the city in heels all day long and two, like every woman who has certain insecurities about herself, my feet are definitely not my most favorite feature on my body. But after putting these heels on, I felt like a million bucks! They're sexy, edgy, colorful and only $40. What more could you want in a shoe for summer?

Other accessories include this blue ostrich bag, orange tortoise sunnies and these asymmetric earrings by one of my favorite jewelry brands here in New York City. What do you guys think of this "Rainbow Brite" summery look? Don't forget to shop the look at the beginning or the end of this post. Got questions? Just want to say hi? Drop me a line or leave a message down in the comment section below. Wishing you a short and happy week :)

LOVE & XX'S,

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Swoon Reads

June 30, 2018

Thank you to Swoon Reads for kindly sponsoring this post. All opinions are 100% honest & completely my own.

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Rujuta Sheth Kaftan

Artesano Cristi Straw Bag

TKEES Jo Suede Georgia

Extraordinary books are better when they're shared. Swoon Reads distributes the most recent and most noteworthy young adult and new adult novels suggested by readers like myself. From brave legends to outsider undertakings, to romance—if we're digging it, they'll distribute it. Swoon Reads is dedicated to the undiscovered and are constantly seeking out the very best in bright, new bookish talent. Being a writer myself, there's nothing better than a publisher who takes the time in finding new talent, so you can imagine my support on this as well. To learn more about Swoon Reads and what I'm currently reading, proceed with this post!

You have the ability to get books distributed! Through a shared, participatory way to deal with distributing, Swoon Reads gives readers access to an industry that is frequently kept "in secret." From submitting unique original copies to voting on which cover makes it onto the completed books, Swoon Reads includes the network in each progression of the distributing procedure. Through Swoon Reads' online stage and application, book sweethearts have the chance to manufacture and draw in with an online network of kindred book readers and writers. Writers present their unique, unpublished compositions to the Swoon Reads people group. At that point, readers who join on the web or download the application can rate, remark, and offer their top choices. Swoon Reads utilizes that input to help choose what to distribute. The best part is it's all totally free. I discovered this is an awesome method to give new scholars a possibility for presentation and furthermore to get input as well as finding new talent. What do you guys think of this concept? You can ever vote on covers for books that are coming out here!

Most of you know I'm a complete bookworm and I've read thousands of books. I enjoy reading complex work such as Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and others but during those hot summer months, I like nothing more than something simple and 'flowy' to read. Like a young adult novel (YES I still read them from time to time!) or a romance novel that just whisks you away, these are the kinds of books I like to read at the beach and on vacation. For example, like the book, I'm currently reading is an utterly relatable contemporary novel about loving yourself and forging your own path. Here's the synopsis: Savannah is dreading being home alone with her overbearing mother after her big sister—and best friend—goes off to college. But if she can just get through senior year, she'll be able to escape to college, too. What she doesn't count on is that her mother's obsession with weight has only grown deeper since her appearance on an extreme weight-loss show, and now Savvy's mom is pressuring her even harder to be constantly mindful of what she eats. Between her mom's diet-helicoptering, missing her sister, and worrying about her collegiate future, Savvy has enough to worry about. And then she meets George, the cute new kid at school who has insecurities of his own. As Savvy and George grow closer, they help each other discover how to live in the moment and enjoy the here and now before it disappears. To Be Honest is another sharp, witty novel from Maggie Ann Martin, about a spunky heroine who is dealing with very real issues—body image, parental pressure, loneliness, first love, and finding your way—with heart and humor.

So get excited for all the benefits that Swoon Reads offers as a community-focused, participatory publishing company — including starting conversations among like-minded book lovers, unlimited access to free original manuscripts, and the opportunity to make your opinion count toward something tangible! If you'd like to learn more about Swoon Reads, please go to www.swoonreads.com or click here! Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.