Silver is the New Black

WEARING: MANGO METALLIC PLEATED TOP | 
BDG TWIG SLASHED HIGH-RISE CROP JEAN | CALVIN KLEIN RUBY PATENT SLINBACKS | 
BLUE NILE STATEMENT POLISHED STERLING SILVER HOOP EARRINGS 

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Happy Hump Day! Silver is the new black, right? Immediately after seeing this Mango top online, I rushed to the store to get it, thinking one, they'd probably be all out in my size, and two, they'd probably be sold out to begin with! The metallic pleated top alone inspired the theme to my next editorial video; dancing and grooving to disco-y, R&B electronica vibes. Though I won't be at Coachella this year, I will be there in spirit! We hope our video puts an extra pep in your step!

Other outfit details include the ruby patent slingback from Calvin Klein, BDG high-rise jeans, which my favorite part of the jean are the ends, and big J-Lo-styled sterling silver hoop earrings from Blue Nile. 

What's coming up next on the blog? Stay tuned! In the meantime, please subscribe to our YouTube Channel and shop the look down below!

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photos + videography by Gilles Decamps | director, styling, hair + mua by Suzanne Spiegoski

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The KimKraut Dog

Happy Monday! Not a fan of today? I've created a new Korean-fusion inspired recipe to zap those Monday Blues away! Inspired by both my Asian and Eastern European heritage, I wanted to combine the two worlds in a dish, but also something that would be simple and easy to make for a manic Monday. 

Okay, so by now you're wondering, what is KimKraut? I've seen many and have tried a variety of Korean hot dogs. Some even have added bulgogi on top of the hot dog, some more kimchi-oriented. And some more Americanized. I wanted to make something a little different; something that resonates with who I am. So, I decided to mix kimchi and sauerkraut together and BAM! There you have it, folks! KimKraut! I used cabbage kimchi to keep the vegetables consistent together, though, I'd be down with trying other forms of kimchi, such as cucumber or radish.

The KimKraut Dog

Ingredients:

Recipe + photos by: © Suzanne Spiegoski

4 bratwurst sausages, grilled
4 hot dog buns, toasted
4 tsp mustard
2 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp white vinegar
1/4 tsp salt
4 tsp ketchup
1 tsp sriracha sauce
1/2 cup chopped kimchi (cabbage)
1/2 cup chopped sauerkraut
2 tsp rice vinegar
2 tsp honey
2 green onion, chopped
black sesame seeds, for garnish

Directions:

1. Mix mustard, soy sauce, sugar, white vinegar and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.
2. Mix ketchup and sriracha sauce in another small bowl. Set aside.
3. Combine kimchi, sauerkraut, rice vinegar, and honey in a small bowl to create KimKraut. Set aside.
4. Grill bratwursts. Toast buns at 350°F for 5-7 minutes.
5. Prepare hot dog with sausage, KimKraut, mustard and ketchup sauces, chopped green onion and black sesame seeds.
6. Enjoy!

When I had first met my husband and sheepishly confessed that I could cook, he wittingly replied, "Sure, you can. What can you make, just kimchi & kielbasa?" Boy, was he mistaken! He's now my #1 guinea pig. And happily so! I adore cooking for the people I love and I also love sharing stories, especially anything involved with food and cooking! (And maybe my husband.. ha, ha!) This recipe was definitely inspired by my hubby's sense of humor. And yes, kimchi paired with any kind of sausage is absolutely delicious!

I didn't want to Americanize the dish by squeezing regular mustard and ketchup sauce on the hot dogs. Since the dogs are meant to be Korean-fusion based, I also kept the flavors in the sauce. I mixed regular French's mustard with a tiny bit of soy sauce, sugar, white vinegar and a pinch of salt. The ketchup was combined with some sriracha sauce, to add an extra touch of heat in with the kimchi spices. These sauces really gave every single bite packed with tangy and meaty flavor! Lastly, I garnished with chopped green onion and black sesame seeds. Coming up next on the blog? A whole new lookbook series with another style video! Check out my Instagram for a teaser. Stay tuned...

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The Black and Orange

The Black and Orange Cocktail

Serves 2

Ingredients:

All photos by © Suzanne Spiegoski

1.5 oz. Scotch
.5 oz. Amaro Meletti
.5 oz. Yellow Chartreuse
.5 oz. fresh lemon juice
1.5 oz. fresh pressed carrot juice
Fresh ground black pepper for garnish

Directions:

Shake all together with ice and strain into a Collins glass filled with ice.
Grind the black pepper on top to garnish.

It's Thirsty Thursday and I couldn't help but make another cocktail! Like I've mentioned before, I'm not even an occasional drinker. I might have a few drinks within an entire year, but I've been so into mixology as of late! Since the first couple of cocktails I created were mostly focused on Korean vodka, I wanted to change it up to a different kind of liquor and to make a cocktail fitted for the spring season. Created by Rob Krueger from Brooklyn's Extra Fancy, the Black and Orange pulls in lemon and carrot juice for a drink that's entirely refreshing. Also with a scotch base, this cocktail takes its cues from Yellow Chartreuse and Amaro Meletti, which lift up the brown spirit in a delightful way.

My favorite part of this drink? The fresh ground black pepper as a garnish! It really gives the drink a pleasant palette, along with a stimulating aftertaste. I received an Ozeri electronic pepper grinder and a set of 4 Curva Artisan Series Double Wall Beverage Glasses and Tumblers in order to facilitate a review of their products. The Ozeri pepper grinder is not only electronic but gives you 3 set ways to grind the pepper. From fine to coarse, all it takes is one push of the top button and voila! I wasn't a fan of picking up 6 batteries for the darn appliance, though! That was the only setback in my opinion. The cups I received as well are handmade, double-wall thermo glasses, each glass boasting a unique curvature that holds 8 ounces. They are small, but what's great about these beverage cups is that they can be used for both hot and cold drinks! I love kitchen products/appliances that can be used for more than one task. In this case, these are my new favorite drink cups! You can find both the cups and pepper grinder at Amazon. Next on MaQ + Suz? A brand spanking new Korean fusion recipe! Stay tuned...

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Grey Tones

WEARING: H&M LONG GREY SUIT JACKET | H&M LONG SLEEVE GREY SHIRT
FOREVER 21 STRETCHY HIGH-RISE SKINNY JEANS 
STEVEN MADDEN NOBLE STONE PEEP TOE SHOE BOOT | GUCCI DIANA SATCHEL

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One of my ultimate dreams in New York City has come true! It was so hard to keep it hush-hush for about a week now, but I am delighted and very excited to finally be able to tell you guys all about it! Sometime last week, I was having a very rough start to my morning and was really feeling under the weather, but I like to start my day by taking walks with MaQ, especially when I'm feeling down. Just the two of us roaming the streets of New York never fails to inspire me to keep going.

That morning was kind of cold. You know, those spring mornings where it's only slightly warm being in the sun. I was going to keep it a brisk walk and take MaQ out for a longer one later on in the day, as I had so much work to do. But, because I wasn't feeling 100% and the fact that I walk around to clear my head, I opted for a longer route and went to one of his favorite parks in New York City, Washington Square Park. He loves to find sticks to chew and play with, accompanying me while I people-watch and take snapshots. Suddenly, a deep male voice from behind said, "Excuse me, do you mind if I take a picture of your dog?" But before I could reply, he graciously continued. "I run The Dogist... I'm not sure if you've heard about us..."

My jaw dropped to the ground and I was beaming. Ever since Elias Weiss Friedman had created The Dogist in October of 2013, I've been following him religiously. With nearly 2 million followers on Instagram and over 10,000 photos of dogs from around the world, he's got my (well one at least) dream job, chasing dogs and traveling. I just never saw the man behind the camera! We had a blast shooting with Elias and his assistants, MaQ took his role as a supermodel VERY seriously. Come take a look at his AMAZING portrait shot HERE!

To see more incredible portraits of dogs by The Dogist, go to thedogist.com

Lastly, here's my look of the day! Grey tones meet casual chic with a long suit jacket from H&M, Steve Madden open-toe ankle booties and Forever 21 skinny jeans. It's one of my favorite comfy go-to looks. You can totally keep doing your #GIRLBOSS thang in this outfit. Sadly, due to grey tones not only being a part of this look, the weather did not allow us to film this look for the week. Boo, to rain! But don't worry, more to come soon, soon, soon! Stay tuned...

Photos by Gilles Decamps

Styling & Editing by Suzanne Spiegoski

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Spicy Kimchi Bloody Mary

Spicy Kimchi Bloody Mary

Serves 8

Ingredients:

2 cups kimchi
46 oz tomato juice
1/4 cup Sriracha chile sauce
2 tablespoons Worchestershire sauce
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Salt
Freshly ground pepper
2 cups Soju (Korean vodka)
Ice
Celery stalk, olives, radishes, pearl onions and cornichons for garnish

Directions:
Combine tomato juice, Sriracha sauce, Worchestershire sauce and vinegar. Puree kimchi with mixed juice, working in batches. With a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl, strain the kimchi puree, pressing firmly on the solids to get as much juice as you possibly can. You can save the solids for another use. Chill combined juice thoroughly, then season with salt and pepper. Stir in vodka. Serve over ice garnished with celery stalk, olives, radishes, pearl onions, and cornichons. Enjoy with a staple New York City brunch!

Sunday Funday equals brunch and cocktails. And this spicy kimchi Bloody Mary's will knock your socks off! It's got a kick to it and will definitely have any pre-brunching game going strong. The heat from the kimchi gives the traditional Bloody Mary new, pungent flavors. Combining other varied spices from the sauces,  such as Worcestershire and Sriracha, and counter-balancing it with a splash of vinegar, creates the perfect leisurely yet unique cocktail. Korean soju also has a distinct taste, putting a twist on the usual vodkas used in Bloody Mary's.

What's your go-to brunch cocktail? Are you a Bloody Mary enthusiast? More of a mimosa kind of gal? Or bellini's? Screwdriver's? Why not try this recipe today? It's super easy and a great changeup to your usual brunch hangout. Sometimes it's nice to just chill at home or have a small get-together rather than hustling through the crowds to grab a table at a restaurant. Especially when it's April and it feels like 30° outside! But whatever you plan on doing, I hope your Sunday is nothing but enjoyable. Until next time! Love. Always, love. ❤️

LOVE & XX'S,

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