Sunday Sporty Chic

WEARING: ASSEMBLY NEW YORK BLACK BELT COAT |
EXPRESS STRIPED ONE ELEVEN LONG SLEEVE RIBBED TEE | 
FOREVER 21 BLACK PENCIL SKIRT | LOUIS VUITTON BROWN MUSETTE TANGO BAG | 
AE CHAMBRAY WESTERN SHIRT | NIKE REVOLUTION 3 RUNNING SHOES IN BLACK

---

The hills are alive with the sound(s) of black on black, a little chambray and some Louis! Isn't this scenic backdrop straight up from something Julie Andrews starred in?! I'm still daydreaming over the New York Botanical Garden's views - it was out of this world and the perfect day trip. After spending the day enjoying the 'Orchidelirium' exhibition (and simultaneously walking over 5 miles in the process), the hubby and I ended the day outside where the light was absolutely gorgeous and with one last stroll through the gardens, we opted for some photos.

I'm big on black and black. Tell me one New Yorker who isn't! Pairing up my new favorite coat from Assembly New York with a black mattelassé pencil skirt from Forever 21 gives length and slenderness. And I call this coat my "confidence" coat. Whenever I wear it, I feel like the ultimate girl boss! Every woman should have a piece like this in her closet. I like to think of them as your lucky charms because wherever you'll go, you'll exude self-confidence, and then, of course, embodying total and complete empowerment. Girls, we run this motha (yeah!)

I knew we'd be doing a lot of walking, so I went with my day-to-day Nike kicks. They're the ultimate comfort and pretty much go with everything I have. Adding to the sporty chic vibe and to give texture & contrast, I chose a striped ribbed tee from Express and layered that with a Western chambray shirt from American Eagle. Final touches include a classic Louis Vuitton bag, accessorized with my most recent and favorite jewelry thanks to Rockbox. The Mother of Pearl necklace in ivory is from Kendra Scott, the marble triangle stud earrings are from SLATE and the Lixa ring is from Moon & Lola. Sign-up with my code suzannespiegoskixoxo to get your first month free of unlimited designer jewelry from Rocksbox! You'll love it! I'm obsessed, it's like having your very own personal jewelry stylist! 😊❤️

Coming up in the next couple of days will be part 2 of my trip to the NYBG, focusing more on the desert section of the exhibition. STAY TUNED...

Photos by Gilles Decamps

Love & xx's,

SHOP THE LOOK

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

The Way of Tea

80 bristles made of bamboo, this exquisite Matcha whisk is utterly sublime.

Next and last pick-up: a tea scoop (茶杓 chashaku)

Ready to be whisked!

Starting the process...

Almost finished...

Refreshment at its finest!

Gorgeous Japanese stoneware Matcha bowl from Teavana.

I woke up to some devastating, heartbreaking news. A friend of mine was killed in the line of duty yesterday afternoon in Euless, Texas. Officer David Hofer served with the Euless Police Department for two years and previously served with the New York City Police Department for five years, where during that time frame I met him at a Union Square bar, originally called Forum. He was a giant teddy bear with a quiet but confident demeanor. What first struck me about David was his never-ending wit and sense of humor. Being that I almost became a cop at some point in my life, I found this attribute to be rare and extremely endearing. I liked him immediately. He moved to Texas for a better quality of life and to embark a new beginning with his fiancée. He was only 29. 

I had planned to blog about my new favorite obsession with Japanese matcha tea this morning, but after hearing about David, I'm finding it difficult to write, let alone concentrate. This hits so close to home. Why do the good die young? You never really know when it's going to be your last day, so you better be doing something you abso-FU#*^ng-lutely LOVE. Nothing less than that. So in honor of my friend, I'm going to keep it moving and keep pushing forward. This cup of tea's for you, dude. (Since I don't drink very much alcohol, if ever.)

Did you know that powdered green tea was first used for religious rituals in Buddhist monasteries? Matcha, the Japanese ceremony tea has been around since the 12th century. The style of the tea preparation where green matcha powder is placed into a bowl, then hot water added, and finally the tea and hot water whisked together, was introduced to Japan by a monk, on his return from China. The little tea seeds he took back with him eventually produced tea that was considered to be the finest quality in all of Japan. I think they were onto something because ever since I've been drinking matcha tea, I'm more focused and energized and with an extreme appetite like I haven't had in YEARS. Especially in the morning after a run or rollerblading session with MaQ, that cup of tea makes me ferociously hungry for breakfast. Overall I'm feeling healthier and because I've been taking extra steps in taking care of myself, I have never felt better!

If you are into tea, matcha is the way to go. I'd strongly recommend purchasing a matcha whisk like this one from Teavana. It is carefully well-made with 80 bristles of bamboo, which won't misshape or break easily. You'll be whipping up a great, smooth cup of matcha every time. There's also a wide range of sizes and styles when it comes to tea bowls, and they're used for thick and thin tea. Shallower bowls, which allow the tea to cool extremely quickly are used in summer; deep bowls are used in winter. This beautiful white clay tea bowl, also from Teavana, was exactly what I was looking for when it came to my first real Japanese tea bowl. And the color of the stoneware complements with the green matcha color very well.

No one is getting any younger and in my opinion the earlier you start to think in terms of your body being a temple and that it should only be worshiped, the better you'll start to feel about yourself, both physically and mentally. Whatever you intake is also the final output of yourself. In everything you do. Botox won't take care of you. Neither will liposuction. That's only temporary and you're injecting your body with poison! Think in a non-materialistic way, such as eating right, drinking healthy goodies such as water, natural juices and tea, exercising and doing WHATEVER it takes to be at your best all-around. And don't do it because it'll make you into a skinny-mini or because it's some hot, new current trend - do it because you're genuinely interested in taking care of YOU or because you actually enjoy/love it! Whatever that may be, as long as you're not hurting anyone or yourself, you're good to go! That's the way I've always seen it. For example, I'm not even close to being Japanese, but the Way of Tea brings me peace of mind. And this has been my highest priority for 2016 because I believe everything else around my life will follow in this Way of Thinking. Taking care of me comes first. Mind. Body. And Soul.

Hug your loved ones a little tighter today. There is so much to be thankful for.

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP THE PRODUCT

Meisterdish

Incredibly easy dinner meal kits delivered on-demand, no subscription.

Everything is prepped, Meisterdish saves time in the kitchen for us busy New Yorkers!

Cherry, kale & walnut salad with radicchio, Pecorino cheese and pumpkin seeds. Yum!

Cherry, Kale & Walnut Salad with Lavender Steak on Pearl Couscous from Meisterdish in NYC.

This past week I tried out Meisterdish — incredibly easy dinner meal kits for New Yorkers delivered on-demand, no subscription. You can choose from a daily menu curated by top chefs. I went for the cherry, kale and walnut salad with radicchio, Pecorino cheese and pumpkin seeds as the starter and then for the main course; a lavender steak on a beet-reduction pearl couscous with green beans, leeks and cashew nut. Can I just say that I've never had lavender spice with steak and HOLY MOLY is it off the chain! And the beet juice rendered into the couscous was absolutely delicious. I'm still dreaming about it! 😊

I really love how the ingredients come washed, prepped and chopped, where I've heard mixed reviews on Blue Apron's prep time. Why bother getting a dinner meal kit when you have to do all the work to begin with? Sort of defeats the purpose, in my opinion, but with Meisterdish you can complete a complete, savory meal in 15 minutes! They've got a killer Korean bulgogi meal up this week but note that their menu changes on a daily basis, which was the only little thing I hope they'll be able to fluctuate in the future.

As a New Yorker who is crazy in love with cooking & food, my crazy schedule tends to make it nearly impossible to cook dinner every night. I don't even have time to prep in advance like some of my friends do! This is such a terrific option for those busy nights where you literally have only twenty minutes to whip something up in the kitchen. And no subscription required is definitely a plus in my book! I will definitely be trying Meisterdish again soon. If you're in New York City and into Blue Apron, I strongly recommend trying Meisterdish!

Get 50% OFF your first order by going HERE! Have a nice weekend, everyone. ❤️❤️❤️

Love & xx's,

Silver Fox

WEARING: H&M GREY SWEATER | MODERN VINTAGE ZAMARA BLACK ANKLE BOOTS |
GUCCI VINTAGE MONOGRAM PURSE | SAGA FOX SILVER FOX FUR COAT |
J BRAND JEANS MID-RISE SKINNY BLACK

Rock -n- roll chic. 🤘🎸

Lioness on the prowl. All photos by © Gilles Decamps, 2016.

You're so bootie-ful! 👢👢

Silver Fox. 🐺🐺🐺

Details: Silver fox fur & Gucci.

💋💋💋

Yes, honey? 😆😎

Do the Hustle! 🎶

Happy Friday Eve! Today's outfit is inspired by fur and vintage mixtures! I love having rare unique accessories in my wardrobe. I don't know a girl who doesn't dig this either. One-of-a-kind pieces are such great finds; treasure hunts if you will. My vintage Gucci bag I'm toting around today has been in my collection since 2007! I found this gem at Zachary's Smile, which has been closed since 2013 [insert sad face].

I know a lot of you are going to fur shame me, and you have every right to. But before you do, know that fur coats hold a special place in my heart because it relates with my mother and I's taste in style. When she passed, I was received several of her jackets. One in particular, a gorgeous rabbit fur bomber jacket that didn't make it after 2006 since it was not in the best of shape - and the fact that my ma used to party her arse off in it back in the 70's!

For the longest time, I had trouble with the idea of wearing any of her belongings. It just didn't feel right. Only until recently I've been starting to mix in her accessories with my own. While dating my husband, he gifted me a beautiful silver fox fur coat we had discovered while window shopping in Williamsburg during a casual Sunday stroll after brunch. I absolutely love it and that it's something I only wear on extreme frigid days. Can you believe this coat is almost ten years old?! The only real fur piece I own, I'm all about faux fur these days and since that day in Brooklyn, I no longer purchase real stuff. But I love the fact that my husband bought me a real fur coat in light of my Ma. All kinds of too much sweetness, there.

Oh, and those earrings were also my mother's. And also from the 70's! Feeling groovy.. 😉 How big are you with vintage pieces? Are you not a fan because the word antique comes to mind? Or you just don't like anything 'used'? I'd love to see what vintage accessories are hanging up in your closet, ladies! Let's go! Have a great Thursday. ❤️

Love & xx's,

SHOP THE LOOK

Wake & Unwind Body Scrubs

Oh my goodness! I'm so thrilled to work with SAVONBOX again! I did a full product review on their monthly luxury soap bars for December, (go here to read article) and today I'm reviewing their new line of body scrubs!

I'm always on the hunt for the next best thing in skin care, especially during the winter months where dry skin is more prominent than any other time of the year. And these body scrubs from SAVONBOX are the real deal. They are packed with vitamin e and linoleic acid - this helps repair skin damage that creates premature aging and improves tone and tightens skin. The dendritic salt is the purest salt with the finest grain to scrub away dry flaky skin, leaving you soft and perfectly primed to absorb healthy oils to nourish your body.

The grapefruit & mint Wake body scrub is perfect to the start of your day. The grapefruit essential oil's natural zing will have your skin refreshed and revived. It also helps to stimulate the mind, and is a natural antioxidant. It helps to keep skin clear and healthy, helping to fight the toxins that cause premature aging and wrinkles. The mint oil creates a gentle cooling sensation to help reduce stress. It helps to brighten and nourish dull skin, and improve the texture of dull and greasy patches. And with a touch of orange to add into the mix, you'll be smelling fantastic all day long!

The lavender & grape seed Unwind body scrub is preferably for the end of the day, especially after a long one. Lavender helps to naturally reduce anxiety, stress, and restlessness, and promotes peaceful, natural relaxation. The grape seed oil, a natural antimicrobial, helps detox and renew your skin. Suitable for reducing wrinkles, sun spots, age spots, and dry itchy skin. I highly recommend both, as one is for day and the other is for night. Check out below my before and after photos from the grapefruit & mint body scrub from this morning. I feel rejuvenated - my skin is incredibly soft to the touch and ready for the weekend!

If you want to grab a hold of these lovely body scrubs, go here or shop below.  Use my code SUZANNE216 for $2 off a body scrub. They are way too good to pass up! And your irresistibly smooth and scented skin will be thanking you for it. Naturally does a body good! 😉

Love & xx's,

SHOP THE PRODUCTS