Rooftop Mornings with Activia

June 13, 2018

This post is sponsored by Activia but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Lately, I've been really taking in my mornings with a little me-time before starting my day. Especially when the past couple of weeks have been pretty grueling (14-16 hr work days) of meetings, events, shoots, editing and then finding the time to rest and recuperate. Which is why I'm so excited to partner with Activia, a probiotic yogurt that is good for everyone. And now that it is summertime, one of my favorite places to hang in the city is my rooftop. It's not a luxury building kind of rooftop, but one that is peaceful and quiet in the mornings, so much so that I've been enjoying my breakfast while reading and catching up on emails before heading out for work. The best part? I have the whole rooftop to myself with the written word and a yummy brekkie. Continue reading to learn more about my two-week Activia Challenge experience and how these delicious yogurts help support your digestive health on top of being absolutely delicious!

Only 60 calories per yogurt, I tend to have one in the morning and another during lunch time. They're contained with loads of probiotics (the good kind) that help regulate your digestive tract with fewer tummy aches and discomfort from bloating, indigestion and more. I started to notice a difference within a week after consistently eating two Activia yogurts a day. I love how light and flavorful the yogurts are, unlike some yogurts that are too dense/thick which I'm not a fan of. My two most favorite flavored yogurts are peach and strawberry-banana, blended not the fruit on the bottom kind. What's your favorite flavored kind of yogurt?

I find that taking the time to relax before the day starts makes me more productive and at ease. I'm not so much a scatterbrain, whereas hectic mornings will leave me all over the place; forgetting things and more disorganized. I also find that eating properly is a MUST - and yes, I am so guilty of not always eating properly (I'm just a firm believer in the pleasure of food that I can't restrict myself to the enjoyment, even if that includes consequences!) But since incorporating Activia into my everyday diet, I have little to no stomachaches leaving me with a content belly. Lastly, reading first thing in the morning, whether the news or magazine article, blog post or a really satisfying book such as 1Q84. Haruki Murakami is one of my favorite writers and I have read many of his books. If you are a fan of complicated love stories & time travel - he's your guy.

Why not give Activia a try today?! Click here to get yours where you can also get an ibotta offer and save when buying the products at your local Walmart! Don't forget to drop your favorite flavored yogurt and if any Activia experiences you'd like to share with me and our readers in the comment section down below :) Wishing you all a very awesome Wednesday!

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP ACTIVIA YOGURT

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Pawther's Day with Michelob ULTRA

June 10, 2018

This post is sponsored by Michelob Ultra but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

We all know that living a life of balance isn’t easy. Balancing work, staying healthy, and spending quality time with the people we love is a major accomplishment in today’s society. Most of us fall short of achieving this balance, and often the many aspects of our busy lives supersede family time, especially with our dads. But there’s one time of year that we take time to give dads the appreciation they deserve: Father’s Day. Which is why this year I'm giving a major shoutout to my husband; the father to our dog, MaQ, who is just the best pawrent ever! Continue reading to see how we will be celebrating this year.

My father passed away in 2012 and though I have many 'father-figures' in my life that inspire me, no one comes in as the first runner-up other than my husband. He's not just my partner in business but is my best friend. He is the most loving, gentle father to our German shepherd, MaQ and definitely has stepped up with the pawrent duties since the blog has taken off. It's really difficult balancing everything in life, but with him by my side, there's nothing we can't do. I'm truly grateful for his love and support, through it all. And trust me, we've been through A LOT. The end of this month will be 12 years together! Maybe an anniversary post of getting to know us better is in the making? Stay tuned... :)

Whether it’s your brother, friend, co-worker or your own father, let’s toast to the #ULTRADAD who inspire us to live full lives and make better choices. And what better way to celebrate them than on the golf course, grilling in the backyard or just hanging with friends/fam with an ice cold Michelob ULTRA? All of these are simply better together – especially when both are shared with your dad and Michelob ULTRA. What are you doing to celebrate this Father’s Day/Pawther's Day? ✨

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP MICHELOB ULTRA BEER

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

What it Takes to Rule an Empire

June 7, 2018

This post is sponsored by USA Network but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

A new favorite TV show of ours is Queen of the South. Have you guys seen this series before? If you enjoy strong female leads and empowering, passionate, and action-packed stories, this is definitely a show you'd love! In today's post, I'm sharing what's coming up for Queen of the South and also what it takes to rule an empire. Because it takes one boss lady to another to know how much goes into it, let alone remaining on top. Continue reading for my top three pieces of advice to what I think is key in order to rule an empire.

1. BE UNWILLING TO COMPROMISE

In matters of ruling an empire, I believe the best way is by being pretty savage. Okay... correction: VERY savage. You have to be merciless and cannot have anything get in the way of your goals/ambitions. Many will want your time, will want to use you for their personal gain, will want your attention, but you have to remember that to rule and stay on top, you're not here to be anyone's best friend, and if anyone or anything is going to be standing in the way, you have to make the necessary sacrifices sometimes. This also means no compromises.

2. BETTER DO YOUR HOMEWORK

You think the greatest of anything became that way? Nope. Lots and lots of training, experiences, and more. And then more again. Oh, and let's not forget all the uphill battles along the way to climb your way to the top! You better be ready to give your blood, sweat, and tears... literally! Ha ha!

3. BEING A BIT CRAZY DOESN'T HURT EITHER

One does have to be a little insane to want to rule an empire (of any kind) so I do think it takes someone who's a tiny bit nuts to want to do that. Also, this is all kidding aside, but perhaps someone who is slightly a sociopath would tie in to not just being ruthless, but also having no time for any real human emotion, like remorse, fear, sadness. It's not like it wouldn't hurt or work in favor when it would come to ruling an empire. :)

Queen of the South returns for season 3 and Queenpin/Boss Babe Teresa Mendoza (Alice Braga) is finally on top and has seized the throne. While seasons 1-2 showed us Teresa’s start from the bottom and her rise, season 3 focuses on Teresa becoming Queen of her own drug empire. Although she’s obsessively hunted by Camila (Veronica Falcon), Teresa refuses to hide in a hole, continuing to live the luxurious lifestyle of a Queenpin. No longer the apprentice, Teresa enjoys being boss and the power that comes with it. After experiencing betrayal and heartbreak, she soon realizes the best way to rule is by being ruthless.

Queen of the South premieres Thursday, June 21st at 9/8c and will air each week on Thursdays at 9/8 c!

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP THE LOOK

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FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Aqua Seafoam Chanel and Yellow Florals

June 4, 2018

WEARING: SAKU NEW YORK YELLOW FLORAL PRINT DRESS | CHANEL BAG | 
KOIO SNEAKERS | VINTAGE SUNNIES

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY REBAG AND SAKU NEW YORK.

Us girls have heard of a few stores that offer a discount for a previously used luxury handbag. But not many matches up to top trends and top quality other than Rebag. Besides becoming a destination to find this season’s It bag for less than the retail price, Rebag has streamlined the process of buying and selling gently loved luxury handbags by simplifying the peer-to-peer sale process. Plus, for those in New York, the brand also recently opened a concept store so customers can experience the site in an IRL setting. (Aside from their app, which is awesome btw). Continue reading to see how I styled this beautiful aqua seafoam Chanel handbag with a vibrant yellow floral print dress, oozing retro 70s vibes with both European and Californian flair.

You know when you put on a dress and it just hugs you in all the right places; feeling so comfortable yet stylish at the same time? This long sleeved floral print dress with a deep yellow hue is it for me. I never ever want to take it off Seriously though, I love when you come across a designer that makes clothes that fit so well on you. Being a petite woman, it is hard sometimes to find pieces that fit right then and there without having to tailor them! But never in the case of Saku New York. This dress could be styled in so many ways, but I'm such a big time sneaker gal.

The yellow color inspired me to style the dress with aqua-colored accessories. Something just as rich in color but with a contrast that would complement well with each other. And colors that bring out the mood of summer. Well, to me at least. I find this outfit to be an inspiration between the Amalfi Coast of Italy and the West Coast of California. The aqua color reminds me of the sea, the shades of the ocean along with the yellow being the bright warm sun. I'd link these sunglasses in the post but they're one of a kind and I bought them on the streets of SoHo in one of the markets for $20. You know, one of those happy finds. How would you have styled this aqua seafoam Chanel bag?

If you have bags you don't use anymore, Rebag is a company that actually sells your bags for you. Perhaps you have a Michael Kors, Kate Spade or Coach bag you don't wear anymore, but you know it is in great condition. You can take some pictures of the item, submit it to Rebag, they'll give you a quote, let you ship the item to them for free and then pay you within 2-3 business days. As someone who normally sells things on Poshmark (that almost seem to never sell), it is amazing to know that there are companies that just pay you upfront for the item and sell it on your behalf. If you are interested in trying Rebag, use my discount code: SUZANNE for 5% off your purchase.