maevworldny

[maevworldny]

OOO: Guide to dog friendly getaways near NYC

We know the city can be a lot, and no matter how much we love it, getting out every once in a while does a lot to change your perspective and your mood. Same applies to your dog. 

It’s still February and pretty f’ing cold a lot of days, but a weekend getaway with new smells, new sights and fresh air could be the perfect ticket for the two of you to get back to feeling like yourselves. If you’re the type who prefers warmer weather, bookmark these spots and save them for spring break getaways or summer jaunts.

Here’s what’s at the top of our list. 

// Vacation in the Catskills

Give your dog a chance to run through rocks, water and the woods with a trip up to the Catskills. It’s best to get there by car, but you’ll be so happy you did when you can take it to hike the views at Overlook Mountain or Echo Lake! 

They call the area “rustic” and it’s about 20 minutes out from town attraction, Woodstock. Good news is Woodstock is artsy and very dog friendly with lots of outdoor cafes and little shops! 

Also check out Scribner’s Lodge if you’re looking to treat yourself to an incredibly curated stay. They’re dog friendly and you’ll want to instagram every corner of the property!

// Head to the beach at Amagansett 

This one is perfect for the summer - head 2.5 hours out to the Eastern edge of Long Island and you’ll find a laid back town with plenty of fresh air and beach to spare. There are plenty of Inns and Airbnbs to stay at but the prices might be a bit steep in the summer months so keep that in mind when you’re planning to book. 

With all the cute cafe spots to enjoy and free run at the beaches before 9am and after 6pm for your dog, it actually comes out to kind of free?

// Camp out at Glen Highland Farms

Think of it like summer camp but you can bring your dog, and the cost proceeds goes to charity. The property fits 26 humans and their dogs at a time on its 175 off-leash acres. That’s plenty of meadows, creeks, hikes and forests to explore! 

Besides the epic landscape there is reason to socialize with other guests in their huge common outdoor eating area equipped with wood aged grills and the like. It’s truly an authentic outdoor weekend away that will have you and your dog coming back to the city refreshed as ever!

// Make it to Montauk Everyone knows and goes. We don’t need to explain, but here is a helpful list of dog friendly fare once you get there!

[maevworldny]

Dating with a dog in New York City

When you’re already in a committed relationship, but trying to find another one…

Dating with a dog in New York City is sort of like this: you’ve just gotten out of an incredible morning workout class. You make it to the showers first. The water is still hot(!), and once you’re out, it’s straight to the expensive lotion for an extensive lather. You’re blissed out and it’s not even 8 am.

But then someone who did not make it to the showers in a timely fashion starts banging on the door. Your hands are dripping in wet lotion and you’re far from ready to get dressed. Everything is sticky and cotton is the enemy. You pull on your pants, which may as well be on backward. You grab your things and rush out, eyes downcast from the door banger.

Oh, and you’re pretty sure you’re going to be late for work.

For me, this is what dating with a dog in New York City often feels like. It’s great ’til it’s not.

For all the amazing things our dogs give us every day (Love! Unbridled affection! Puppy eyes! My God, the puppy eyes), they also dole out their fair share of inconveniences. Exhibit A in my book is dating. And okay, okay, dating with a dog in NYC often starts off alright… but far as I’ve ever known… the sticky-lotion, late-for-work-feeling is always just around the corner.

The Logistics

Let’s look at an example, shall we?

You work in Manhattan, but live in Brooklyn (collective hand raise). You’ve been talking to this person from Hinge or raya, or the DMs, who knows… and they ask you on a date for tomorrow evening in SoHo. The spot is close to your work, and you were really hoping they’d ask you out! Win-win. Hell ya.

Even though you plan on taking a trip to the park in the morning before work, and you’ve already scheduled a walker for midday, pup’s going to need to go out before 7… which just so happens to be when your date starts. In a perfect world, you’d hang around the office looking like the star employee you are until your date. After all, it’s literally on the same block as the office! But… no can do.

You head home at 5:30 on the dot. Pup is freaking stoked to see you (unbridled affection!); they do their business on a 30-minute stroll during which time you decide what you’re going to wear to said date. But suddenly it’s 6:00 and you really need to book it home to throw on some makeup, change, feed pup, and get on that damn L train back into Manhattan before it decides to stop running.

By God’s grace herself, you are back on the Island of Manhattan and inside of the agreed upon bar at the stroke of 7:00. Your date, meanwhile, has begun their first drink, and looks cool as a cucumber. Must be nice.

This is dating with a dog in New York City. It is, for lack of a more astute explanation, just really hard. As if being a human being wasn’t difficult enough, add city-dwelling onto that, and then another life for which you are solely responsible and… good luck.

Haven’t gotten enough? Want to know more about what it’s all about to date in New York City… with a furry friend? We’ve got you covered here.

[maevworldny]

Introducing your dog to your significant other

Introducing your significant other to your dog is really interesting if you take a step back and think about it. The moment is actually rather huge because in no other circumstance will you just expect the two most personal relationships in your life to automatically form their own relationship so you can live happily ever after. There’s a lot going on, especially on your dog’s end.

For me, my dog Bruce does this bit where he stares at my suitors from across the couch and places one very deliberate (albeit cute) paw on my knee to say “she is mine.” It’s super sweet and of course no relationship will ever change our bond, but I don’t want my dog to think there isn't enough of me to go around. I can’t help but wonder how we can make this whole relationship thing fun for all of us?

Here are some ideas from my own experience on how to make the intro as positive as possible - for everyone involved.

// Meet each other in a neutral place

Sometimes it’s a bit overwhelming to have a new person enter your dog’s territory, aka your home, especially when you’re dealing with close quarters in a huge city like New York. Meet at the park or even a coffee shop and establish a positive relationship in a place that your dog has zero ownership over. They’ll feel less threatened and that’s a way better foot to start off on. 

// Let your dog be the one to approach

No one likes anyone all up in their grill from the get go - including dogs. Let them decide when they feel comfortable enough to sniff out the situation and approach. In some cases perhaps your dog is on the defensive and acting as a barrier between you and your date. It’s cute that they’re protective, but it’s not good for them to feel the stress that comes with that especially when there’s no danger involved. By making it a practice to acknowledge them on your terms it will help alleviate some of their stress to gain control over the situation. 

// Have special meet and greet treats

Dogs make sense of the world through associations. For example, if he can associate “when this special person is around, I get a special treat. I like those special treats a lot!” then suddenly they’re so on board with your new found love too! Giving your dog the special treat shouldn’t just happen the moment they arrive though. Make sure to reward them every time they show signs of acceptance like eye contact or asking to be pet.

// Let them go on a walk BY THEMSELVES

I know whenever I let anyone leash my dog he is very confused. He’s constantly looking for me wondering if I’m leaving him. Because that level of concern is a little unhealthy anyways, I do want him to learn to trust others that we spend lots of time with. Have your partner take the reins next time you go on a walk. Show them that when this person is around they can trust that you won’t leave because this is your wolf pack! If you’re feeling really confident down the line, let your love take them for a walk by themselves. That way they can establish a deeper one-on-one trust and ultimately their own relationship!

[maevworldny]

Mornings Around Here: Liz and Lego

Welcome back to our series on morning routines where we highlight women around the city and talk to them about what their morning routines look like with their dog. No two mornings are alike and they shouldn’t be! A lot of people hope that dogs will help to bring routine and structure into our lives, to bring joy into mornings, to get up early, to lounge a little longer - whatever it is, it’s your sacred ritual. It’s designed to fit your life and your dogs’s. We’re just here to show how many different faces it can take on.

This week, we chatted with Liz, one of the fabulous models from our shoot about life in New York with her playful and hilarious puppy Lego and work as a graphic designer at Myro. Liz has a tattoo of a lego on her wrist, but you’ll have to find out for yourself which came first - the puppy or the tattoo. Let’s get into it.

Liz and Lego

“It’s funny, as a kid I spent most of my time building with Legos… how fitting right?”

How long have you been in New York? 

Well technically I grew up in New York on Long Island, but I’ve lived in Bushwick for 5-6 years now. 

You’re a graphic designer - have you always been a creative person? What drew you to graphic design in particular? 

Oh yeah, for sure – it runs in my blood. My parents were both creatives; my dad worked for Hearst Magazines in their print management department for 25 years, and my mom was a medical copywriter for several of the big name advertising firms in the city. 

It’s funny, as a kid I spent most of my time building with Legos… how fitting right? Legos made me obsessed with the ability to create. It all kind of just went from there. 

You’ve worked at a bunch of different places and you currently work at Myro, a plant-powered, refillable deodorant brand. What do you love most about working in a startup environment? 

Yeah, I’ve worked for a few startups at this point; Plated, sweetgreen and now Myro. To be honest, my favorite part of the startup life is the culture. I am able to do what I do and LOVE what I do because of the people I work with.

Graphic design requires a pretty creative mind - where do you go when you’re looking for inspiration in both your professional and personal life? 

The best place to find inspiration in my mind is just walking around the city. I always see something that catches my eye, whether it be the outfit on the person walking in front of me, or a wheatpaste ad posted up on the green walls of a construction site. 

When we had you on set, your outfits mixed patterns and colors and textures in really fun and interesting ways. Who are you style icons and fashion inspiration?

It’s a real mix for me. I’m really into this one influencer Suzie Riemer’s(sweetsuzieq) style, and eclectic mix of wild graphic tee’s and color patterned coats/bottoms. At the end of the day though, I feel like my coworkers influence my style a lot as well. We’re always sharing the latest drops of clothing from different brands like pleasures and braindead.

Let’s talk about Lego because that puppy is so f’ing happy. When did you first decide to get a dog and how did you go about that process?

I’ve been in Bushwick now for over five years, and felt that I needed a change in my life. It was either move across the country or get a dog. I first started seeing bernedoodles in the street around the time I decided to get a dog and immediately became obsessed with them. I kept checking adoption agencies and finally came across Lego’s profile on pet finder. I fell in love at first glance and had to meet him. 

On set, Lego was so curious and happy and probably the most social dog we had there that day. How would you describe Lego’s personality?

Lego is such a sweetheart, I’ve never met a more passionate, cuddly, quirky pup in my life. I also would like to think that I had something to do with his personality being so great. ;)

Alright, let’s talk about Lego’s name. I noticed you have a lego tattoo on your wrist. What came first - the tattoo or the dog?

The Lego tattoo came first – it was my first tattoo. My dad actually gave me the idea to name my first dog Lego… little did he know I was actually in the process of going to meet Lego at that point. 

Lego is clearly beyond obsessed with you (and it’s obvious the infatuation goes both ways).  In what ways do you think the two of you complement one another? 

We’re each other’s hype man for SURE. We’re also the perfect cuddle buddies. So many people have told me that Lego always seems to be on the same page as me, almost as if he could read my mind… I wish.

Lego’s still technically a puppy. What’s been the most unexpected part of puppyhood?

In the beginning when I first got him, it was so painful to crate train him. The look he gave me when I would shut the crate door, was just the most depressing thing. And then the crying… yeah, it wasn’t great. 

And New York isn’t the easiest place in the world to raise a dog. What’s been the hardest part of having Lego with you in New York City?

The hardest part for me is planning ahead. I can’t be as spontaneous as I used to be with grabbing drinks or hanging out after work because most places aren’t dog friendly in New York. 

What are some of your favorite activities to do together on weekends or when you have a bit more time on your hands?

Now that it’s off season at Rockaway, I like to bring Lego to beach 90. He LOVES to dig in the sand.

What time do the two of you wake up every morning?

We wake up at 8:15, sometimes earlier depending on how playful Lego is when he wakes up.

Are you guys early birds or night owls?

On the weekends, we are total early birds!

Does he sleep in your bed?

Of course! He loves to snuggle with me, although he doesn’t stay that way for long, as he likes to move around a lot throughout the night.

What's the first thing you do every day?

I’m such a millennial, I check my phone :(

And what's the first thing you two do together every day? We play for a few minutes before I actually need to get up for work.

What's for breakfast?

For me, it depends on my mood. But for Lego, he has Wellness Complete Health Chicken, Oatmeal and Salmon dry kibble, with a few small pieces of Stella and Chewy’s freezer dried lamb patties.

Walk before or after breakfast?

Before breakfast!

What do you listen to while getting ready for the day?

As of late, I’ve been listening to Mark Ronson’s new album “Late Night Feelings”.

Healthiest morning habit:

Going to a morning workout class.

Worst morning habit:

Going back to bed.

One word to describe your mornings:

Productive

I never leave home without…

My headphones!

If you had one extra hour in the morning, how would you use it?

I would go workout OR take Lego to the dog park.

The best part of mornings with my dog is:

When he sees I’m waking up and comes over to snuggle with me.

Our morning routine series is designed to showcase the diversity of experiences that come with having a dog in the city in all the ups and all the downs.

If you and your dog would like to be featured, text ‘ritual’ to 29071

[maevworldny]

10 ways to celebrate Valentine's Day with your dog

Valentine’s Day is either met with total excitement and anticipation or sheer dread. There is no in between. Whether you’re in your forever relationship or currently a party of one, might we suggest still celebrating this holiday with your dog? Yes, it sounds strange to make a big deal out of Valentine’s Day to just spend it with your dog, but it also sounds pretty awesome. No one nagging you. No unmet expectations and disappointment. Just an excuse to indulge with your person and embrace this weird holiday for all of its quirks. 

Here’s where we’re starting with our dogs this year…

// Calling all New Yorkers! Stop by the Sweethearts Bazaar with your dog and shop vintage fashion, gifts, sweets and eats from locals. It’s an indoor/outdoor fair and the best part is 100% of the profits are donated to four local public schools. Win - win. 

// Who needs fancy reservations when you can take the morning off and take your dog to a leisurely brunch at Barking Dog Restaurant on the Upper East Side.

// It’s not drinking alone if the dog is home. Pick up a bottle that benefits homeless dogs! Just add pizza. 

// Perhaps you and your dog appreciate the finer things in life… leashed pets are allowed in the William Secord Gallery on the Upper East Side. Take an evening stroll through the gallery and grab an ice cream for two on your way home!

// Why match with your significant other when you can match with your dog…

// Take a ferry ride with your four legged pal to get a good view of the Statue of Liberty. Bring a small picnic along for the journey and you have yourself the best date in NYC!

// Retail therapy is real. Grab your dog and hit the shops as most are dog friendly in the city! 

// Maybe you’re interested in treating yourselves to a staycation? Book a night at any of these dog friendly hotels in NYC!

// This is way better than anything you’ve ever posted to the gram, trust us. Book a session with “Petographer” Jim Dratfield and capture this moment in time with your best pal forever. 

// Spend some morning QT with your number one in Central Park. Treat yourself to a latte and let your dog roam off leash between 6-9am. Now that’s happiness!

[maevworldny]

I carry a lint roller everywhere (and why if you're around dogs that shed, you should too)

If you open my trusty Timbuk2 backpack (Timbuk2, I love you, sponsor me!) at any given moment, you are always bound to find a few things.

My wallet. Duh.

My inhaler. I’m wheezy, what can I say?

Hand lotion. Maybe more than one travel-sized tube, in fact. 

Benadryl (for my other ailments. Read: peanut allergy!).

A lint roller.

Now, as if my Silicon Valley-looking bag of choice didn’t already say “nerd”, this list should further suffice as undeniable proof. However… there’s one item on here that I’d bet roughly 95% of the population—even those who enjoy toting multiple tubes of conveniently-sized hand lotion!—would squint at. Of course, I’m talking about the wallet.

Just kidding. It’s the lint roller, people!

After all: who carries a lint roller around with them? In a city where you often leave the house at 7 am and don’t make it home until a good 14 hours later, where do I get off carrying an 8-inch wand of sticky parchment wrapped up toilet paper style?

Easy. I don’t want to smell like my dog all day, nor do I want to carry him around with me quite literally everywhere I go.

And yeah, I said smell. Maybe this is a big dog thing, but my 85-pound husky shepherd’s hair doesn’t just have a bit of an odor when on his body. No, no. I truly can smell him whenever there are one too many hairs of his (and they do often come off in clumps, mind you) on my person. It’s not that it’s a truly negative smell, either. It’s just… I don’t know, I spent good money on that Le Labo, people, and I want to smell at least a little bit like it throughout my day, ok?

Moyo’s hairs burrow their way into quite literally every single piece of my clothing, find their way into my food (gross, I’m sorry), and, well, really just come along with me everywhere I go… and aside from wanting to smell more like my perfume than my dog, I don’t always want everyone with whom I come into contact to know I share my bed with a dude named Moyo, plain and simple.

This ‘Carrying Around of the Lint Roller’ began when I lived in LA and dated someone with a cat. I’m severely allergic and would always ask, non-rhetorically, “just a quick roll, ya?” before letting her into my car. Insane? Whatever. If dogs’ hair smells, cats’ hair stinks. Plus, the cat was long-haired and whatever entered my vehicle wove its way into the cloth seats of my car like some hell-sent cat embroidery. But I digress. Alas, this is where my lint rolling reality truly began.

When I moved back to New York last year, my closet went from decidedly white and bright (LA, baby!) to black and… more black. And although my dog’s hair is a third black, a third brown, and a third tan, the tan seems to prevail. And it’s. On. Everything.

I’ve taken to lint rolling myself when I first get dressed, right before leaving the house (obviously), sometimes once I’ve dropped Moyo off at daycare. Then maybe again once I’ve gotten to work, especially if I’m monochrome black or navy. Forgettttt it. And sometimes, dare I say, on the L train. In front of everyone.

But honestly, I’m kind of keen on this weird habit. Do you know how many times someone else wearing all black (read: every New Yorker ever) has looked at me sheepishly, their hands in their pockets, animal hair clinging to the lapels of their wool blazer, and grinned sheepishly? Okay, it’s only happened twice, but both times I’ve reached out with my olive branch, I mean lint roller, and both times it was accepted! Twice a hero sort of!

Call me crazy, but maybe my public-displays-of-lint-rolling is going to get me places? Or, if nothing else, if you see me on the subway and are in need of some freshening up… just know that I’m your girl.

[maevworldny]

Mornings Around Here: With our cover stars Shelby and Lyria

Welcome back to our series on morning routines where we highlight women around the city and talk to them about what their morning routines look like with their dog. No two mornings are alike and they shouldn’t be! A lot of people hope that dogs will help to bring routine and structure into our lives, to bring joy into mornings, to get up early, to lounge a little longer - whatever it is, it’s your sacred ritual. It’s designed to fit your life and your dogs’s. We’re just here to show how many different faces it can take on.

This week, we chatted with our cover girl Shelby about life in New York with her amazingly calm and confident rescue Lyria. When we met them on set, it quicky became clear their relationship is pure magic. Honestly honored to have them in our shoot and to know them as poeple in our lives. Let’s get into it.

Shelby and Lyria

“Lyria compliments my interior aesthetic, funny enough. My whole apartment is white and pink and so is she.”

How long have you been in New York?

I’ve been living in New York City for almost ten years, which kind of feels like forever.

You’re an interior designer here in the city. Can you tell us a bit about how you got into that and what the day to day is like?

I moved to the city to attend interior design school at the fashion institute. It was a very rigorous but rewarding program which prepared me for the “real world” of design. When I graduated, I worked at a small hospitality design firm of five and traveled abroad a lot designing hotels in Paris and Berlin. I stayed at the firm for less than a year because the hours were insane. Since then I’ve been on the in-house interiors team at a large coworking firm. The firm I’m at is incredible with some of the most innovative minds I’ve come across in New York. It’s been wonderful and because of the fast pace of projects I’ve been able to see twelve projects that I designed come to life in the last three and a half years.

What do you love most about what you do?

I love watching people’s reactions to my designs. When people move into the spaces I created, hearing them express awe and wonder over my work is the most rewarding. Being able to play a part in how people live and work, and making a difference in people’s day to day lives is the best.

Interior design requires a pretty creative mind - where do you go when you’re looking for inspiration in both your professional and personal life? 

When I’m craving a dose of creativity I usually end up at a used book store. Vintage books on architecture and interiors are so cool. Right now I’m really into 80s interiors. Truly, everything comes back into style after enough time has passed - kind of like fashion.

You told us on set that you love monochromatic looks and looser fitting clothing. What’s your style inspiration and how has your style evolved over time?

My style has gone through so many weird phases. In college I was a bit of a hippie and only wore massive grandma sweaters and floor length skirts. That eventually transformed into the typical all black New York ensemble. From that I really dove into menswear, inspired by an ex of mine who owned a skate shop and was constantly giving me old clothes. Lately I’m super into monochromatic looks, it’s easy to create a daily uniform that way. Currently really digging the all brown carhartt vibes. I stick to shopping in the men’s section, I think that habit is with me for life now.

We were lucky enough to meet Lyria on set and she is honestly the chillest, calmest dog. So chill in fact, that she was willing to sit in a tote bag on the subway on the way to the shoot despite not being a compact size whatsoever. When did you first decide to get a dog and how did you go about that process?

I’ve grown up with dogs in my family my whole life. I’ve always known I wanted to get a dog someday but knew I had to have enough space and enough money to care for a living creature. Let’s be real, having a dog in New York is basically like having a small child. I am fortunate enough to have found an amazing apartment in Brooklyn that I can afford on my own. Once I settled into my spot and saved up money for a while, I went to an adoption event for Pupstarz rescue in Union Square. I had sent in my information and was preapproved to adopt. I had my eye on a tiny chihuahua until I got there and saw Lyria. And that was it! I knew she was going to be mine.

I called Lyria the chillest dog ever. Is that accurate or was that all for show that day? How would you describe her personality?

Lyria has so much personality. She’s super chill around new people, every time I have friends over they’re always shocked by how mellow and zen she is. However, whenever we are alone she’s her true self. She follows me everywhere and has a case or two of the zoomies every day - especially if I give her a bone. She won’t chew it for at least a half hour because she spends that time running around it like a maniac. When she gets really excited it’s my favorite thing to watch.

Lyria is a really unique name. What was the inspiration behind it?

Lyria was given a name by the rescue, Leria. Her foster mom was calling her Elinor, which I didn’t think suited her. I researched into the name Leria, apparently it’s the name of a minor character in Star Wars. I liked the name a lot but not the spelling, so I changed the E to a Y. It really suits her but is tricky to enunciate to new people.

I have to say, you guys are a perfect fit - you just make sense together. In what ways do you think the two of you complement one another?

Lyria best compliments my interior aesthetic, funny enough. My whole apartment is white and pink and so is she. It was meant to be!! On a more serious note, I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety since I was a teenager. Lyria has been instrumental in my mental health journey. She is always by my side, ready to walk or play or just take a nap. She’s always thrilled when I come home, she’s a loyal companion. She compliments me in every way, I couldn’t ask for a better match.

Lyria’s not a tote bag dog by any measure. What’s been the hardest part of having her with you in New York City? 

The hardest part of having her in the city is the inability to just walk into stores and shop or go into a restaurant and eat. Mobility is a huge issue, and people are still hesitant of her breed. We spend so much time wandering around, and I wish I could take her more places and expose her to more things. Unfortunately, New York isn’t very dog friendly. Taking her on the train is a whole process, and there are very few places she can attend with me that aren’t completely dog centered.

What are some of your favorite activities to do together on weekends or when you have a bit more time on your hands?

I love getting her together with her best friend, Ruby. Ruby is also a pit mix rescue and the two of them run around the apartment like wild banshees. I also like bringing her to the Brooklyn Cider House or Sage because she can meet new people and be exposed to new things. We also participate in a neighborhood “pack walk” called the Bushwick Dog Pack. There are a lot of rescues who need socialization and doing a pack walk exposes them to other dogs in a safe environment. We also spend a lot of time at a local park in the summer. I bring a big blanket and a book and Lyria immediately knows it’s time to chill and enjoy the sunshine. We spend hours in that park just chilling.

What time do the two of you wake up every morning?

We wake up between 7am and 10am. Usually more around the 7am mark.

Are you guys early birds or night owls?

We are night owls, mostly because I’m not a morning person. But the best thing is she doesn’t ask me to have long conversations in the morning - makes being a morning person easier.

Does she sleep in your bed?

Yes! She sleeps in my bed. It’s the best. I think she thinks my bed is actually her bed.

What's the first thing you do every day? 

The first thing I do every day is rub her belly. She likes to be woken up that way and it’s such a calm, happy start to a day. 

And what's the first thing you two do together every day?

The first thing we do together everyday is eat breakfast and take a walk. We have a good routine down, it helps her to understand if it’s a work day and I’m leaving for a while, or if it’s a weekend and we are gonna have more time to hang together.

What's for breakfast?

I usually have a coffee and that’s it.. not a huge breakfast person. She eats dog food and I drizzle salmon oil on it if I’m feeling lazy. If not she gets chicken too.

Walk before or after breakfast?

We walk after breakfast. If she doesn’t eat prior, she is more keen on the Brooklyn street snacks people leave around

What do you listen to while getting ready for the day?

I usually listen to podcasts while I’m getting ready. It’s a chill way to get my mind started before work.

Healthiest morning habit: 

Healthiest morning routine would probably be the walking aspect. I like to have a quick coffee and be out the door.

Worst morning habit: 

Worst morning habit is the no breakfast part, I’m sure

One word to describe your mornings:

 My mornings are quick and routine. Not much changes during the weekday. On a weekend it’s better because we go on extensive walks and stop at a local coffee shop, Brooklyn Kava, and take our sweet time doing nothing in particular.

I never leave home without…

If I’m with her I never leave home without training treats. They’re an integral part of her perfect behavior ;). If it’s just me I never leave home without headphones. Nothing like a sunny walk listening to good music.

If you had one extra hour in the morning, how would you use it?

If I had an extra hour in the morning I’d sleep in.

The best part of mornings with my dog is: 

The best part of my morning with Lyri is first waking up, being warm and cozy under the covers and snuggling. She’s the best snuggler.

Our morning routine series is designed to showcase the diversity of experiences that come with having a dog in the city in all the ups and all the downs.

If you and your dog would like to be featured, text ‘ritual’ to 29071

[maevworldny]

Welcome to Maev and to all the stories that got us here

A little over a year ago, Katie and I decided to go all in on Maev and today, though it still feels wildly surreal, it’s finally out there in the world.

I was never someone who aspired to found a company. It wasn’t an ambition of mine nor was it something I could really fathom. And so I didn’t go out into the world looking for that big idea or that one opportunity. 

But with Maev and with Katie, it just fit, and it’s exactly where I want to be.

From the very beginning, I’ve been consumed by stories. I’m a liberal artsy writer and dreamer who loves hearing about where people come from and why they do the things they do and live the lives they live. And at Maev, it was clear to us that stories were at the heart of it from day one.

They weren’t our stories, but stories from real women around the country in real conversation. What started off as conversations about her dog transformed into extremely complex and nuanced narratives. We heard about early morning walks and 5th floor walk ups. We heard about cramped apartments and convoluted roommate dynamics. About balancing social lives and pursuing professional lives. About careers in transition and relationships in flux. About immense joy and great anxiety. They were stories about getting grounded and gaining perspective. We heard about lives in cities where we’re all just doing the best we can with what we have, and stories about a dog who was there through it all, who connected her to the world around her. 

And it was because of those stories that we even pursued this. Because it was never really about us - it was about her journey with her dog, and it was about two immense and conflicting spirits that kept creeping to the surface in every conversation. The first was a profound freedom and independence. In what’s often one of the most uncertain periods of her life, when everyone around her is telling her, “No, you absolutely should not get a dog right now. Do not do it, do not pass go,” - she did it anyway. It wasn’t out of stubbornness, but rather because she knew what she wanted for herself. And that independence combined with a deep trust in herself to tell her, ‘Yes, I can figure this out.’ Getting a dog would be her choice with her best friend on her path that she would figure out without outside input. 

And at the same time, there seemed to be a counterbalancing part of her that deeply desired grounding and connection. While in so many parts of her life she relished in doing what she wanted, there was this desire to have someone there with her through it all in a city that can feel isolating. There was a craving to have someone to bring you out into the physical world, to help you get to know your neighborhood, to help you belong to your community. In the midst of chaos and transience was a desire to feel tethered to something - to belong to someone. And in so many ways, her dog became her anchor. 

Everything you see here is the physical, digital and written representation of that spirit - fun, free, independent and sophisticated, but also grounded and honest and real.  Having a dog in a city is a uniquely challenging experience, but insanely rewarding. Without stories, we’re just products on a shelf. So for us, every product, every line of copy, every image here at Maev is meant to reflect those stories and the stories still to come.

Really incredible brands have the ability to tap into something within you that make you see parts of yourself in them. And so I hope people see themselves in this - both parts of who they are today and parts of who they want to be. I hope that when people land here they see all the perfect imperfections and the small quirks we’re still ironing out, and that they see this is still a work in progress, not a finite project. 

This is the most deeply personal thing I’ve ever worked on or been a part of. It’s still hard to put it all into words, so these are just the first. And this is our first pass at it, and I’m sure we’ll learn and change and evolve, but we do this every day because of stories. Because we want those stories of women living in cities with their dogs and making it all work to be seen and heard and reflected in what we do here at Maev. That’s the part that makes this worthwhile.

It’s only the beginning, but here we go.

[maevworldny]

Le List: Big things dropping

Hey, how's it going? How's your Sunday been? Actually, how's your weekend been overall? Alright, not going to lie, this is a very special Sunday for us (and not just because Katie's hometown Kansas City Chiefs are playing in the Superbowl tonight - GO CHIEFS), but because this is the week we're finally revealing everything. Everything that's been going on here at Maev over the last few months. THE WHOLE THING. So be on the lookout for emails from us all week as it all comes together because we're excited and we hope you are too - we're doing this all for you. In the meantime, here's an offering from around the web for the week. Take what you want, leave what you don't and have a restful Sunday. And oh yeah, did we mention? Go Chiefs.

So without further ado…

LE LIST

// You can have it all on paper and still be sad, angry and restless for more... which maybe isn't such a bad thing // Let's be careful of the gospel of the new minimalism. Getting rid of stuff for more streamlined, organized and expensive stuff isn't a path to salvation  // Speaking of consumption, get to know the new trophies of domesticity for the urban millennial. I still don't have a stand mixer.  // Tomorrow is officially the kickoff to election season with the Iowa Caucus. Rather than talk politics, maybe we should  talk about why we're not excited about the future // But really let's talk politics for a second because The Daily did a sitdown post mortem with the NYT Editor about their coverage of 2016, and they put themselves on trial // One of my favorite shows came to an end this week. The Good Place left us with thoughtful questions - what happens when life is good forever? Maybe it loses its meaning // I know we're all bashing Silicon Valley these days, but here's one more piece while we're at it because the Silicon Valley economy is here and it's rough // For those of us living in New York, here's a sneak peak into the new MTA subway cars // This guy is cooking every single Ina Garten recipe ever. He's already halfway there at 650 // I used this trick to revive stale bread this week. I was super skeptical, but it worked, so don't look at me like that

[maevworldny]

How my dog helped me make community

I have a friend Noel who has a large German Shepherd named Bodie. She has a small stature like mine and is closer to my mother’s age than my own. You can spot her from a mile away every morning because she’s already waving at you. Noel goes out not only to walk her dog, but to mingle with every neighbor along the way. 

We first started interacting a year ago when we would take turns pulling off to the side to distract our reactive dogs from seeing the other. She’s super social though, so we became fast friends when one day she asked if we could stop when we pass so as to teach her dog to be chill around other dogs. Now it’s our tradition: Bruce and I always stop and she regularly updates me on her golf game, we share neighborhood news and she even offers me some of her best recipes. In a way they’re just small fleeting interactions, but in other ways, they make me feel like for once in my adult life, I belong to a real neighborhood apart from the one I spent my childhood in.

It happened slowly, but now chatting with neighbors is a part of my morning routine with Bruce.

After Noel, there was Jeff who wears a consistent uniform and always keeps his head down and his dog in check as he passes by. I’d wave hello to him in passing and he would nod in acknowledgement, but he never stopped to talk or say more. I didn’t understand his standoffish attitude - everyone else had been so friendly. Come to find out one day from Noel that Jeff’s uber focused disposition is all in an effort to keep his dog under control. I suddenly understood him on a whole new level - it was nothing personal, we were just two people trying to make the best morning we could for our dogs! 

The other day when we passed Jeff, he finally said something. “Oh good I thought we got out late this morning.” That’s when I knew Bruce and I were a staple of their morning routine as well!

Then there’s Kathy. She’s the sweetest woman who despite not having a dog, heads out every morning at 6:30 with a pocketful of treats to hand out to the dog she passes. The morning is her social hour and all she wants is to pet all the dogs! Bless her. 

Kathy and I exchanged numbers early on after she gave Bruce a treat one morning. She calls me occasionally when we haven’t run into each other after a while and she’s not shy in asking me if there is something neighborly I can help her with. It’s strangely one of the most feel-good calls I can get. It’s easy to feel like we’re floating through the world, but when Kathy calls me, it makes me realize I’m a reliable member of my community. And that’s pretty cool for someone in her mid-20s when dependable isn’t the first word that comes to mind. 

I could keep listing the things that led to the evolution of creating a life, home and community for myself, but at the true center of it is my dog Bruce. Adopting my him is the seminal moment that I stopped just living in a neighborhood, but actually belonging to it.

[maevworldny]

Life Hack: Best Email Newsletters to stay informed across the board

Staying informed in 2020 is not necessarily hard, but it can definitely be overwhelming. Updates of all sorts and topics from all categories fly at us from every direction until our anxiety levels spike. What am I missing? Have I consumed enough content? Who do I trust? So here’s something that’s worked for me: editing - trimming down the content that comes my way. I simply want to make sure I’m covering all the news bases and that I control what I allow to enter my energy forcefield. 

After years of refining and finding different avenues to stay up to date, I’ve managed to narrow my list down to six amazing email newsletters that quickly and efficiently cover almost anything and everything. Here’s what I recommend about each one, you’re welcome...

// The Skimm revolutionized the news industry in 2012 by taking big stories and condensing them into snapshots that are easy to read and come straight to your inbox. Their subscriber base is 4 million strong so you can trust that the news you’re getting is the real deal. 

// For when you need updates on all things trending in women’s lifestyle, The Newsette is the go-to source. Girl boss moments, techpreneurship, featured influencers and Instagram roundups, celebrity news, interviews and more.

// The Good Trade harkens their whole mission as “start your day with something good” and we are all about it. Every day they send a thoughtful newsletter with tips for sustainability, enriching podcast episodes, recipes and more. This is an email that will actually make you feel good!

// “Become smarter in just 5 minutes” is not an understatement when it comes to reading The Morning Brew. They cover a wide variety of topics whether it’s markets, media, industrial, workforce, events all with a side of sarcasm that makes it easy to breeze through and stay informed across the board. 

// Girls Night In arrives every Friday and it’s the first thing I’m excited to dive in to before my eyes are fully open. Content shared is for those of us that would rather stay in after a long week on Fridays and consume some self-care tips, interviews with boss women and other smart reads. 

// To be informed in my industry, I find it important to be informed at least a tiny bit in others. The Hustle helps me do that by sharing Silicon Valley, startup, tech and business news in entertaining tidbits told straight or as they say - no bullsh*t.

// BONUS! *Not a newsletter, but a way of controlling them* The app Unroll.Me will do wonders for controlling your inbox and keeping miscellaneous emails at bay, but not abandoned. I love their ‘round up’ feature that puts everything you don’t need to individually like sales in one simple email to skim over. Inbox zero will no longer be a myth!

Also, did we mention that we have a MaevWorld newsletter? Subscribe and see what we send each other on Slack that peaks our interest during the week!

[maevworldny]

How to Get Rid of Your Dog's Aggressive Behavior

Having a pet dog is an exciting and fun hobby for its owner. Dogs are naturally close to human beings. Lovable pets that dogs are, they show so much loyalty to their owners and in fact, cases are known where dogs save their owners from untoward incidents, sometimes even to the point of sacrificing their own lives. There is a truth to the saying that "A dog is a man's best friend."

Raising and caring for your pet dog are in some ways similar to raising your own kid. Your pet needs your time, attention, provision for material needs, and yes, it needs your love, too! You can expect your dog to show emotions such as joy, excitement, and sadness. Your pet is sensitive to its immediate environment just as much as you are!

There are times that it may show an undesirable behavior. It doesn't mean, however, that it is what your dog wants to show or do. You can actually control your dogs behavior when it shows undesirable traits or do unwanted actions.

In agility trainings, for example, the crowd and the intensity of agility sport can cause your pet so much excitement and stimulation. Such stimulation may cause it to be restless and begin exhibiting undesirable behaviors ranging from being reactive to its handler and being rude to other dogs. In such a case, what steps can you take to control your dog's behavior?

Read More: How to Get Rid of Your Dog's Aggressive Behavior