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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How I'm Helping Break My Diet Coke Habit

July 12, 2018

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

Happy Thirsty Thursday! To say I'm attached to Diet Coke is an understatement. On average, I have one to two cans a day. I know, not healthy in the slightest but everyone has to have at least one vice, right? I heard about Sparkling ICE from a couple of friends who completely raved about it and I figured maybe it could help me kick my dirty little soda secret. Continue reading to learn more about my new favorite refreshment while on the go in the sweltering heat here in New York City! There's literally a rainbow of assorted flavors to choose from!

TASTE

Sparkling ICE Water comes in 16 different flavors.
My favorite is lemon-lime and kiwi strawberry.
Amazon has different variety packs to choose from, and if you're a prime member you get free shipping!
The flavors are made from natural fruit juices.

PRICE

They are around $2.00 here in NYC
They sell them individually or in bundles
Amazon has a great price - you can usually get a 12-pk for $10.37. (view the deal)

INGREDIENTS

First off, these refreshments are not a water substitute by any means. I've been choosing Sparkling ICE over Diet Cokes to help with my habit. I love carbonated drinks and these have vitamins, anti-oxidants, and real flavor. Did I mention they contain zero calories?! It's been a really great soda replacement.

Want to know more about these fruit-flavored waters? Well, #GetFizzy with it! Click here to shop while also saving up to 15% plus get free delivery if you subscribe & save as a Prime member on Amazon! Learn more about Sparkling ICE at sparklingice.com and facebook.com/sparklingice

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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June Beauty Favorites

July 5, 2018

BEAUTY FAVORITES: BROOKLYN CANDLE STUDIO MAUI ESCAPISM CANDLE | 
JESSICA JOHNSON BEAUTY 3N1 HYBRID FACE OIL | JESSICA JOHNSON BEAUTY T3 HYDRO-ACTIVE 
SPRAY SERUM | ISLE OF PARADISE MEDIUM SELF-TANNING DROPS | KNOURS. BODY + V ZONE SOAP | 
KNOURS. GEL CREAM | PIXI GLOW-Y GOSSAMER DUO DELICATE DEW & SUBTLE SUNRISE | 
MELTMORE PORE REMOVER DUAL PRIMER | URBAN DECAY COSMETICS BORN TO RUN EYESHADOW 
PALETTE | bAREMINERALS MATTE FOUNDATION BROAD SPECTRUM SPF 15 GOLDEN BEIGE 13 | 
bAREMINERALS MINERAL VEIL | bAREMINERALS BEAUTIFUL FINISH BRUSH

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY URBAN DECAY AND bAREMINERALS BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Hi, everyone! Hope you had a wonderful Fourth of July (to those who celebrated.) We kept it very low key since we both still have a lot of work to finish up on this week - plus we've never been the type to go away when everyone else does. The traveling is awful and everything is more expensive so we like to go away when less people do. Along with keeping up with my work, I always take advantage of New York City when everyone's away. You get to go to restaurants you'd otherwise never have a chance to get into and in the mornings there's no street traffic to fight off! The city is very different when it's a ghost town. This is also the time I clean out my closet and get the apartment spic and span and totally cozy. What can I say, I'm old(er) and like to be home nowadays! And what better feeling that cleaning up your place and seeing how great it looks afterward? Hence the delay on my monthly beauty roundup! Sorry guys, I'm super late on this post, and with the holiday being smack-dab in the middle of the week, it made my content scheduling a bit wonky. Apologies for keeping you waiting, but I promise it's worth the wait because in my June beauty favorites I'm sharing my newly updated summer skincare and makeup routine. One huge change? Goodbye liquid foundation! Continue reading to learn more and also to shop the products!

The tide rises and falls on a secret beach on the island of Maui and, with it, notes of sea salt, sea moss, and driftwood evaporate into the air. A touch of zesty bergamot and soft ylang ylang round out aromas of the ocean. The Escapist collection takes you to our favorite places in the world, places we’ve traveled to that have a permanent place in our olfactory memories. Double-wicked and housed in white textured boxes and screen-printed glass tumblers, this collection will tug at the heartstrings of minimalists around the world. Hand poured by Brooklyn Candle Studio in Brooklyn, New York with 100% soy wax for a clean burn, a cotton braided wick primed with vegetable wax, and fine perfume oils and essential oils sourced from around the world. No phthalates, dyes, or preservatives. Volume: 13 oz Diameter: 3 3/8 in Height: 4 1/4 in Burn time: Up to 70 hours

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting Jessica Johnson from Jessica Johnson Beauty to check out their two new products being launched: a 3 in 1 face oil and a spray serum that is truly out of this world. I've been using these in my new skincare regiment and the results have been nothing but amazing! During the warmer months, my combination skin is far from flawless but since using these two products, my skin has never looked more supple, softer and full of that natural dewy glow we women all covet! These two products will remove your makeup, cleanse your skin, hydrate, strengthen, protect, nourish, and reduces inflammation. Think about how much time and cabinet space you save! Here's a breakdown of these two products:

3N1 HYBRID FACE OIL

This proprietary blend of 6 oils deeply cleanses, nourishes and hydrates. C02 Botanical Extracts of turmeric, calendula, & St. John's Wort that reduces redness and inflammation. For best results, use with their organic bamboo face cloths (so freaking soft!!!)

STEP 1: MAKEUP REMOVAL/MASSAGE/FIRST CLEANSE

Massage 4-6 pumps of oil over entire face, neck, chest and eye area. Using gentle circular motions, massage for one minute. Lay warm, wet washcloth over the entire face, take a few deep breaths and enjoy the relaxing effects of lemongrass, citrus, and sage essential oils. Gently wipe off oil, using circular movements, paying extra attention to the eye area to remove all makeup (completely safe!).

STEP 2: SECOND CLEANSE

Double cleansing at night is essential to healthy skin. Using 4-6 pumps of oil, spread evenly over face. Moisten fingertips with warm water and gradually add warm water to the face, creating a milky emulsion. Rinse well with warm water and pat skin dry.

STEP 3: TREATMENT

Moisten skin well with the t3 Hydro Active Spray Serum. Place 1-2 drops of oil in the palm of your hand. Rub hands together then evenly massage a fine layer of the oil into the serum. All creams and lotions are an oil & water emulsion. In this step, when you blend the two products, you are creating a lotion right onto your skin! How amazing is that?!

T3 HYDRO ACTIVE SPRAY SERUM

The T3 Hydro Active Spray Serum is packed with the powerful treatment ingredients found in intensive serums, but it's easily applied as a spray! To use, after cleansing the skin spray serum on skin. While skin is still wet, massage 1-2 drops of 3N1 Hybrid Face Oil over serum. Use as needed throughout the day or during air travel to keep skin hydrated and protected. Here are some of the key ingredients founded in this serum:

Sodium Hyaluronate: An intense hydrator that attracts and binds moisture to the skin.

Royal Jelly: Contains complex B vitamins, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, enzymes, natural antibiotic and antibacterial properties.

Olive Leaf Extract: Moisturizing fatty acids and antioxidants hydrate and protect skin.

Peptides: Softens the appearance of wrinkles, supports elasticity, reduces puffiness, anti-oxidant & anti-inflammatory.

Grape Cell Extract: A powerful anti-oxidant that protects skin from UV stress and helps maintain the cell characteristics of epidermal stem cells.

Pomegranate Extract: High levels of Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, helps speed wound healing, sun damage, supports collagen & elastin production.

Isle of Paradise Medium Self Tanning Drops n Self tanning water with colour correcting actives a green base for a natural golden glow with no streaks no smells or orange tones. Whether that s for the beach or brunch Isle of Paradise has got your tan covered! Formulated with Superbalance Complex to reduce redness, calm the skin and improve your karma :) I strongly recommend mixing these drops into your moisturizer WITHOUT your hands. Isle of Paradise has other products that are also recommended using a mitt with, so just a small piece of advice when using this brand. The results are great but you have to be careful... but with any self-tanning products, I strongly suggest a glove or mitt to blend it in. These drops are very subtle but you will still get a great sunkissed tan!

I came across Knours. in June while attending Foundermade for the second year in a row. It's basically a summit where emerging brands come together to network and connect with press, buyers etc while sharing knowledge and experiences. The founders of Knours. have always been inspired by clean living. Through a shared passion for exercising and eating right, it naturally evolved into skin care. Believing that everything has an effect on one's body, they sought to provide women with the best, clean beauty line that would help and not harm them during pivotal moments of each month. Thus, Knours. was born. An efficacious collection of 8 essentials dedicated to helping women feel beautiful and confident every day.

KNOURS. pH 5.6 BODY & V ZONE SOAP

Formulated with naturally fermented, Korean artisanal vinegar 'Hanega'Using a low-acid formula to match skin's slightly acidic pH, this soap is gentle on the skin and prolongs moisture retention. It removes impurities and excess sebum. It’s not only beneficial for the skin on the body, but also on hair and the sensitive V-zone. Your all-in-one cleanser.

KNOURS. GEL CREAM

A lightweight, soothing gel cream that keeps temperamental skin under control.This hypoallergenic, soothing gel cream will give your skin peace. Meditate on how good it feels.

Add a touch of light to your makeup with PIXI Glow-y Gossamer Duo in 'Delicate Dew' Or 'Subtle Sunrise', a highlighter duo with natural glow.The delicate, super-silky powders deliver natural-looking brightness to the complexion, creating lit-from-within luminosity. With a creamy, skin-like texture, the highlighters blend effortlessly onto skin, brightening and enhancing high points on the face, such as cheekbones and brow bones. Perfectly pigmented, the results will look natural in any light.

MELT MORE PORE REMOVER DUAL PRIMER CREAM & BALM

Meltmore is 100% formulated with ECOCERT certified, EWG verified all natural ingredients.
The worlds’ first pore specializing in cosmetics solely formulated with ECOCERT certified EWG verified all natural ingredients.

1. Formulated with no chemical ingredients for perfect cleans + zero trouble. All natural ingredients design to melt away perfectly. No remaining product is left behind to clog pores or cause breakouts, but this dramatically reduces the look of pores while smoothing your complexion. It's the ultimate blur balm.

2. Pore removing primer balm. Powerfully refines pores! Candelilla wax deeply purifies pores, while instantly working to help smooth skin while peppermint tightens the pores and leaves skin smooth and healthy.

3. Hydrates your skin with a flawless finish. The light texture cream refreshingly hydrates, smoothes, and blurs common skin concerns such as blemishes, redness, scars, bumps leaving you virtually flawless.

If you find yourself packing multiple kits for one look, Urban Decay's Born To Run Eyeshadow Palette is your globe-trotting go-to. When it's time to grab your carry-on and dash off to the next big adventure, you'll want to pack light. Enter Born To Run, an all-in-one eyeshadow palette that has everything you need to create neutral looks, add in pops of color and play with brights, no matter where you're going. With 21 of-the-moment shades - from jewel tones and modern neutrals to more colorful shadows - you've got every possible eye look covered in one sleek kit. Made from UD's mind-blowing formula that gives each shade its velvety texture, rich color and blendability, Born To Run's Eyeshadow shades hold tightly onto pigment that stays put.

Urban Decay Born to Run Eyeshadow Palette

I'm revealing my new way of putting on foundation and I'm kissing liquid-form goodbye! I've been using mineral foundation and Holy Cow! It's got the same full coverage as liquid! Here are my three current summer favorites from bareMinerals:

bAREMINERALS MATTE FOUNDATION BROAD SPECTRUM SPF 15 GOLDEN BEIGE

A mineral foundation with buildable coverage and a naturally matte finish available in 30 shades for all skintones. This foundation's weightless minerals buff and blend seamlessly upon application. Redness, imperfections, and fine lines and wrinkles are visibly blurred, while excess oil and the appearance of pores disappear with just one sweep across skin, and improve over time, too. Matte Foundation is dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic, nonacnegenic, and noncomedogenic so you can feel good about what you're putting on your skin, and it's available in an array of skintone-perfecting shades. It is formulated Without: - Parabens - Sulfates - Phthalates All bareMinerals® Foundations are oil-free, noncomedogenic, hypoallergenic, and dermatologist-tested.

bAREMINERALS MINERAL VEIL SPF 25

Get the ultimate flawless finish while protecting your skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays. Make the most of your makeup with Mineral Veil, a see-through but spectacular finale for any kind of complexion. Minimizing lines, absorbing oils, and softening your complexion, it gives you a flawless finish that's too good to miss. And best of all, it's utterly weightless. Just a bare veil of minerals that lock makeup in place and give your skin airbrushed perfection. Benefits: Protects skin from harmful UVA/UVB raysGives your skin a soft, airbrushed quality. Is entirely translucent, allowing for a natural look. Keeps your skin clear of preservatives, waxes, talc, and binders. Minimizes pores and fine lines for a youthful complexion. Absorbs oils to keep your skin looking fresh and clean. Prolongs wear of bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation, Lipcolor, and Eyecolor. Can also be worn on bare skin for a fresh, feather-light finish. Works beautifully for all skin tones

bAREMINERALS BEAUTIFUL FINISH BRUSH

This luxuriously soft, extra-large, patent-pending brush delivers fast, even, controlled coverage to reduce application time. Engineered with a unique convex center and waved synthetic fibers that hold powder like water to a sponge, it deposits more product with less effort. Its skirted silhouette fits perfectly into our proprietary ORIGINAL and MATTE Foundation lids to help capture (and contain) every mineral.

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 :)