Bargain Jewess

Archive for the ‘Advice’ Category

Looking for ways to cut costs and save money on basic things around the house? look no further than here at Bargain Jewess; the following tips are useful recession or not.

Makeup cleansing wipes are a great quick way to remove dirt and makeup but even generic brands can become pricey. Try using baby wipes instead. They cleanse just the same and 80-120 will set set you back 3-4 dollars for the store brand.

Have blackheads and want an inexpensive way get rid of them? Try plain old Elmers glue or any non toxic glue. Slather a little on your nose let it dry and pull off and voila a cheap, effective, way to rid your nose of blackheads.

Out of coffee filters? a paper towel can subsitutue. just rip off one sheet fold into the filter area and add your coffee. Works like a charm I never use filters anymore. The best are the half sheet paper towels.

A good way to get full, shiny, hair? Rinse it beer, just make sure to rinse it out well to rid the hair of beer smell.

Want glowing skin? Try this Indian at home recipe. 1 tbsp gram flour otherwise known as chickpea flour, 1/2 a cucumber peeled and crushed and 1 egg or 1 tbsp vegannaise. Slather on face for ten minutes and wipe off for tighter, smoother, more radiant skin.

Vinegar and lemon are fantastic amazing products of nature. Both can be used to clean the house and get rid of stinky odors. Lemon is great at ridding your hands of smells like fish, or garlic and onions. Vinegar is fantastic for cleaning mirrors and counter tops and can be a great substitute for Windex. Also Vinegar keeps your drains from clogging. Pour it down once a week to keep clogs at bay.

I love hearing new tips and tricks that save money so please leave comments with any tips you’d like to share.

I wanted to give some more information on kipa falls and how they work. Today it seems that every frum Jewish girl covers her hair with a sheitel when getting married. Every time I’m in Brooklyn the five towns Teaneck etc it seems a new sheitel place has opened. For those happy with sheitels great. For those unhappy and uncomfortable there are other options.

When I decided to start covering my hair again this year i began to do a lot of research on sheitels and the various types that existed. I cam e upon the kipa fall and realized this was my solution.

The kipa fall was originally made for women with thinning or bald spots to cover the crown of the head and add volume to their hair. It is referred to outside of Jewish circles as a topper, mini fall and sometimes a wiglet.

I had my kipa fall made from a regular fall which will make two kipa falls. I have a friend who did it also and is super happy with it.

If you fell that every strand of hair must be covered then a kipa fall is not for you but if you wear hats with your hair hanging out then a kipa fall may be your answer.

I also personally find that kipa falls are a lot more tznius than the perfect sheitels I see. Sheitels are usually blown and curled and super sexy. Kipa falls usually look like your hair on a regular day. They are a lot less glamorous.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. If i can make3 the mitzvah of kisui rosh more enjoyable for anyone it will be my greatest pleasure.

All the best,

Arielle AKA Bargain Jewess

We live in an Internet society. We all use Facebook, and Twitter, Gmail and Google. Most people search for jobs via Careerbuilder, or Monster or various other job websites and half the time their resume goes in the garbage. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Internet and think it’s great for so many things, but in today’s job market one must be inventive, and creative if you really want a job.

I was laid off a little over a month ago and was really starting to get itchy not having a job. My parents taught me that hard work is good for you and I hate to have nothing to do. ( I choose to ignore cleaning my house) I made up my mind that today I would indulge in the forgotten art of pounding the pavement. I called my dad and asked him where the big fashion companies resided. I ran to Kinko’s, printed out a bunch of resumes, and was on my way.

I stopped into the closest building and started searching around for the directory. The doorman saw me looking lost and asked if I needed help. I figured why not tell him my story and make a friend, worst he could do was nothing. Turned out making friends is always smart, because the doorman had the hookup of all the companies hiring. I basically now have a job plus two other potential jobs in the bag and I only hit one building.

If you feel like the Internet search is getting you nowhere, get off your butt, make a ton of resume copies and hit the places you want to work. People love go-getter’s and if you’re a charmer all the better. Learn the art of talking to random strangers, people are frequently nicer than you think especially in this city with the unfriendly reputation.

Don’t get discouraged if they just take your resume and then turn you away. Plenty of places just took my resume and sent me on my way but I kept going. Remember that you are fabulous and have everything to offer. It’s all in the attitude. Hope my words of advice inspire and give hope to those searching. I know how rough it can be.

XoXo

Arielle Aka BargainJewess

According to Malcom Gladwell in his bestselling book The Tipping Point, networking is the key to getting you a great job. Most of the people with the fabulous jobs got them through networking or so he says.

I have yet to prove Gladwell’s theory, but I do think that in today’s economic situation networking is an extremely important tool in finding opportunities and meeting the people who can steer you in the right direction.

You can find networking events in almost any field, let the Internet be your resource. A fabulous new networking event is called Parnasafest. They have had two events in New York, one last night, as well as one in Washington DC. They will also be hosting an event next week in Woodmere. Initially I went to Parnasafest to help my husband one of the founders, but I have found that it can be a great resource for me as well. In fact last night I made a great connection.

Although you might think these things are a waste of time, and sometimes they will be, overall these are tools to help you beyond the job search websites. Another way to put yourself out there is through the use of Social Media. Get yourself on Linkedin, Twitter, and Facebook and start networking.

Linkedin is a strictly professional website that allows you to post your work experience, connect with colleagues and those you’ve done business with and you can also search for jobs.

Facebook started as a a tool for kids on college campuses to connect but has become a way for just about anyone to keep in touch with people they would otherwise have no contact with. Facebook is great for promoting your business or events and keeping in touch with those who may be able to help you in your job search.

Twitter is the most interesting of the bunch and probably the most lucrative. Sign up with a username and start tweeting about anything and everything. You can follow a lot of job websites and I happen to know people who have found jobs through twitter.

The most important thing is to put yourself out there. Don’t get discouraged if your resumes go unanswered and the future seems bleak, because somewhere out there is a fabulous job for you. I just know it.

Best of luck in the job search.

For more information check out the following websites:

Http://www.parnasafest.org

Http://www.Linkedin.com

Http://www.Facebook.com

Http://www.Twitter.com

XoXo

Arielle Aka BargainJewess

In my fledgling days of advising people on what to wear I’ve come to realize that a very important aspect is knowing your body. What do I mean knowing your body? Well you need to know the good the bad and the ugly. Say you have a tiny waist but a big butt. The goal is to draw as much attention to your waist and keep the attention off our bottom. In that vein here are a few of my suggestions on how to flatter your figure. If you’ve got an hourglass shape you know that finding clothes that properly hug your curves is no easy task. Hourglasses tend to have a big bust small waist and big hips. They also tend to be shortwaisted making them appear even bustier. V-neck sweaters shrink your bust and hug your curves well. Stay away from anything ribbed, ruched, or horizontally striped it will only make you look top heavy. Those with hourglass figures need to wear fitted tailored clothing. Men’s shirts are also great if you love button downs. They won’t gap like women’s shirts just make sure you have the sleeves shortened and the shoulders taken in. Avoid empire styles which can make you look pregnant. Pencil skirts, wrap dresses, full skirts, v-neck cardigans tailored nipped in jackets all suit you. Also make sure to invest in good foundation garments such as bras that properly support you. A well fitting bra can make you look pounds slimmer. For the pear you’re skinny on top with thin arms, and waist but your bottom half seems to be taking up way too much space. To compensate wear brightly printed tops with solid bottoms. Bootleg or flared pants with a crease lengthen the body and make thighs look slimmer. Try wearing interesting fun tops that draw attention to your upper half and keep the bottom simple. Stay away from overly full bottoms which will only make you look bigger. Try wearing a skirt, tights, and shoes all in the same color. This will give the illusion of a long lean line and make you appear taller and slimmer. Stay tuned for my next post on the apple and straight/banana body types. Embrace your body and learn to clothe it properly. When you dress for your body type you’ll learn to love all the things you used to hate. If you need help shopping for a big event or just to buy a new wardrobe check out my page on Bargain Jewess Consulting. I can help you achieve any look at any price. Arielle AKA BargainJewess

So as you all know I always try to find ways to do things on the cheap. I’ve been doing my own nails now for awhile but I always end up smudging them, plus they are always breaking. I figured I’d buy nailtiques a really great nail strengthener that works. Thing is the Rite Aid I stopped at on my way home didn’t have it. I decided to try fake glue on nails. I was thinking they’ll always be perfect and they’ll last awhile. What I didn’t realize was that the glue bonds and bonds fast. In the best of times I’m not the neatest of people and this time was no exception. I glued on pinky, ring and middle finger successfully. I had some glue around the edges but nothing that couldn’t be fixed. When it came time for pointer it just wouldn’t stay as I tried to hold it down with my thumb and right pointer my fingers bonded from the glue on them and before I knew it left pointer and right thumb were glued together.

Lucky for me I knew a quick remedy. I called my husband who was washing dishes in the kitchen, because as you can imagine I couldn’t do so much with my hands. He poured nail polish remover in a dish for me and I soaked my fingers till they came apart. I still have gray glue remnants on my fingers but at least they’re not stuck together. Although I usually always recommend a DIY in this case spend the money and get a manicure it isn’t worth the headache. Although my nails do like nice….

On another note I tried a new product last night and it’s really fantastic. Loreal came out with a new line of shampoos and conditioners for color treated hair. It’s called Everpure and is vegan, not tested on animals, and free of sulfates and salts which dry the hair. I bought it for my wig, but used it on my hair and it’s really great. It gets the bargainjewess stamp of approval.

It is a consistently amazing phenomenon to me the power that we as women hold. We as mothers, wives, sisters, caregivers, are endlessly compassionate. Women around the world are the voice of reason the voice of kindness. Many of us can remember the cool touch of our mother’s hand on our hot foreheads, or the calming balm of embrace of a friend or sister in difficult times. With the situation in Israel escalating Jews the world over are engaging in vigils to say tehillim-psalms for the safety of the Israeli soldiers and Israel.

Today in my office we had such a service. One employee an-Israeli transplant-spoke of the call she received from her brother for him to say goodbye. His unit was being deployed to Gaza and he would be out of contact for three weeks. He did not know if he would return home. I looked around the room. It was mostly filled with women; women whose eyes, were swimming with tears. Who silently cried as the tehillim was read responsively. I suddenly realized that if only we, as women banded together we might be able to change the world. For thousands of years women have been trying to keep men from sinning. In the bible when the Jews are all set and ready to make the golden calf- they run to their wives demanding their jewelry. The wives refuse. In their honor they were given as a holiday Rosh Chodesh- or the festival of the New moon which takes place once a month.

In more recent times women are assuming power in countries stained by slaughter and tragedy. In Rwanda a country who saw a genocide that killed 1 million people. Women now nearly half the seats of the lower parliament and more than 50% of small businesses are owned by women. Chile a vehemently patriarchal society has recently elected Michele Bachelet, a single mother who is a self-describer agnostic in a very Christian country. After having many leaders who turned a blind eye to the suffering of many of its people, the people spoke and chose a woman.

Standing in that room today made me realize that we as women have the power of change. We have all heard the stories of Jewish women and Arab women forming friendships. Deep down all of us aspire to peace, to love, to harmony, to live a life rich and full. I call on Israeli women, on Palestinian women, and all women to join together and end this fighting. It is in our power to do so. We as women just need to stand together and remember we are fighting the same fight for good to win and evil to be vanquished.

May we see peace in our days; may we see the safety of Israel, its citizens, the IDF, and all innocent women and children who are used as pawns in the games men play.

In our culture there is the ever increasing search for the mysterious fountain of youth. On the gossamer whispers of there being some magic essence that might keep us young, the beauty industry sells thousands of products and makes billions of dollars. The thing is, is it our physicality that makes us young or our minds? There is no doubt that our bodies age, based on our DNA and how we have treated it and that this is one aspect of whether you look young or old. Is it possible though that our minds play any role in our youthful countenance? Can a youthful outlook keep us looking and feeling young?

I was looking at an event on Facebook. As I looked at the girls going I thought about the fact that they are all older than me. Then I thought about how even though I am a college graduate, with a real job and married almost two years I still think of myself as a girl. My mindset in how I view myself and those close in age to me,  to the context of the world has not changed. That’s not to say that when I turned 24 on October 15th I didn’t feel old or worry about what I was doing with my life, since most people my age are in grad school, or graduating from grad school. If anything though maybe that’s what has added to my feelings of youth. The fact that I am still unsure of myself, that I have yet to become disillusioned with the world or think that any of my dreams are not possible. I still entertain the idea that I will be wealthy, famous, and successful one day.

The people I know who look the youngest, are those who act young, who enjoy life. They may have laugh lines or gray roots but in their eyes is the spark of life, of fun. In their smile, the joy of dreaming.  So if you’re looking for the fountain of youth, stop searching because you already posess it, in your mind.

Social Media has learned a really great trick that marketers have used for years- targeted advertising. In the past few months every time I log onto Facebook there are always ads targeted to me; they range from discount shopping, Israel and Jewish related ads and this new site called Lifebooker, which offers beauty services at fairly decent discounts. I tried one of their salons once for a Brazilian. They did an OK job but they left all these little hairs and my aesthetician left the room to converse in Chinese with her friend/co-worker mid-wax. Plus people kept looking in not the experience you’d want. Needless to say I complained because even with the discount it wasn’t super cheap. Amazingly the place did not charge me and apologized so I got a free, albeit crappy Brazilian.

I’ve checked the site recently and they do have some great prices for various services. I’ve seen single process color for as low as $30 and highlights for $75. Half hour massages at Sothy’s Institute, will run you $30, a pretty great bargain. I suggest checking them out the next time you want to book a beauty treatment. http://www.lifebooker.com

If you really want things done on the cheap consider local beauty schools such as the Aveda institutes here in NYC. You can find them by Googling them. They’re super cheap although you will be working with a student and not a trained stylist. You can also call all the chichi salons and make an appointment for their training nights. The following is a training night list of New York’s best salons.

Antonio Prieto Salon
Cutting classes are Thursdays at 8:45 am, $20. Color appointments are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11pm-7pm. $20 for single-process, $50 for highlights. Clients must sign up and pay in advance and in person; cash only.
• 25 West 19th St., 212-255-3741

Arte Salon
Training sessions held on Tuesdays at 10am. Cut and color, free. No appointment necessary.
• 284 Lafayette St., 212-941-5932

Aveda Institute
Appointments with supervised students are Tuesdays through Saturdays. Colorings, 9am or 1pm; $30 to $75. Cuts, 9am to 3:30pm; $15. They also hold advanced classes for which models are recruited, free of charge.
• 233 Spring St., 212-807-1492

Bumble & Bumble
Model calls are Mondays from 5 to 6pm. To find out more about the program potential models should call 646-282-1008. They can also sign up for a model call invitation on the web site.
• 146 E. 56th St., 212-521-6500

Dop Dop
Wednesdays at 6:30pm; cut and color classes alternate by week. $35 for color, $20 for cut; cash only. By appointment only.
• 170 Mercer St., 212-965-9540

Frederic Fekkai
Tuesdays at 6pm. $40 for cut or color; cash only. Stylings are determined by the class director, so call ahead for a schedule.
• 15 E. 57th St., 212-753-9500

John Barrett
Wednesdays at 7:30am, except during August. $35 for cut or color. Models are selected for an appropriate class based on the information they provide about their hair and on a first-come, first-served basis. In the fall, they will be offering training classes for children’s hair. Call for an application.
• 754 Fifth Ave., 9th Floor, 212-872-2700

John Sahag
Tuesdays at 6:30pm, except during the month of August. $40 for cut, $60 for color; cash only. Call on Mondays to book an appointment.
• 425 Madison Ave., at 49th St., 212-750-7772

Kim Lepine
Tuesdays at 5:30pm. $25 for cut or color; cash only. Book in advance.
• 667 Madison Ave., near 61st St., 212-832-6529

Louis Licari
Wednesdays at 5:30pm. $45-$75 for color, $30 for cut; cash only. By appointment only. They also offer appointments with assistants free of charge when available.
• 693 Fifth Ave., at 53rd St., 212-758-2090

Mark Garrison
Wednesday nights, color at 5pm, cuts at 6pm. $40 for color, $30 for cut; cash only. By appointment only.
• 820 Madison Ave., between 68th and 69th Sts., 212-570-5820

Oribe at Elizabeth Arden
Mondays at 11am; cut and color weeks alternate. $45 for highlights, $30 for cut or single-process color; cash only. By appointment only.
• 691 Fifth Ave., between 53rd and 54th Sts., 212-319-3910

Paul LaBrecque
Mondays at 6pm. $20 for cut or color. By appointment only; East Side location only.
• 171 E. 65th St., 212-595-0099

Peter Coppola
Tuesdays at 6:30pm. $40 for cut or color. Call in advance to leave name, number, and service desired.
• 746 Madison Ave., between 64th and 65th Sts., 212-988-9404

Prive Salon
Model cuts and color are done by assistants as available Tuesdays through Saturdays. $25 for cuts, $20 for single-process color, $40 for highlights; cash only. Call to request service, and a stylist will call back with availability.
• 310 W. Broadway, 212-274-8888

Salon Ishi
Cutting classes are Wednesdays at 6pm, color on Fridays at 5pm. Services are free. By appointment only.
• 70 E. 55th St., 212-888-4744

Space
Tuesdays at 9:30am for color, Wednesdays at 9:30am for cut. $25 for color, $15 for cuts. By appointment only.
• 155 Sixth Ave., at Spring St., 212-647-8588

Vidal Sassoon
Wednesdays at 6:30pm. $14-$18 for cut, $25-$50 for color; cash only. Stop by on Wednesdays at 6:15pm for a consultation for the following week.
• 90 Fifth Ave., at 14th St., 212-929-9668

For those of you living outside New York, I suggest calling up the hottest salons in your town and asking about training nights. Most good salons will have them and haircuts and color will be a lot less than normal. Just make sure that the stylist working on you is properly supervised as I have heard of disaster stories. Hopefully you’ll get lucky and discover the next Brad Johns or Orlando Pita.

Every girl has a dream of what her wedding will be like. Some  want small and intimate while, others want a big over the top blowout. Some may want a designer gown complete with cathedral veil while others prefer a simple sheath, with loose flowing hair and flowers intertwined. whatever your dream there is a way to make it happen.

1. Time Counts: Unfortunately the time of year you get married dictates many things, most importantly the price of your venue. Anytime between may and September will be pricey with prices declining from there. The least expensive time of year is December through March. I got married in February in a beautiful country club for a fraction of the price. The pitfall is that you will deal with snow as we did but our wedding was still rockin’. If venue is not important than you won’t have an issue because certain places are affordable year round. More ways to cut costs is to eliminate the wedding cake, have a smaller smorgasbord or cut it completely and opt for chicken only as opposed to a choice. I wanted an elaborate wedding so I gave up my June wedding for February but had a beautiful place, a huge smorgasbord, free flowing liquor and three entree choices. You really need to decide what is important to you.

Some venues to check out:

• http://www.cresthollow.com
• http://www.themarinadelray.com
• http://theedenpalace.com
• http://www.grandprospecthall.com
• http://www.foxhollow.com

One of the most reasonable venues in New York is the New York city parks. In my neighborhood at fort Tryon park I have seen some beautiful weddings. This is obviously easier if you are not kosher but I’m sure there are vsome parks where kosher food is offered.  Another option is the Rotunda at Cuny Kingsborough located on the beach. Http://www.kingsborough.edu/center/rotunda.html This is truly a magnificent setting as the college is on the beach and possibly affordable as well.

2. Flowers: Flowers can truly be an exorbitant expense. If you get married certain times of the year such as spring you may have more options but florists will jack the price way up. One way to be cost effective is to choose one type of flower for the centerpiece. A really striking flower clustered in a bunch together can be exquisite especially if it’s showy. Add flashy greenery like ivy and different grasses along with tall branches to really make a statement. if you like tall centerpieces see if your florist will rent you the vases. Most should. Just make sure the Maitre d’ is aware that people can take the flowers only. If you would like to use the centerpieces for the ceremony make sure they are in floral foam so they can be moved into smaller containers. Another way to save is to wildflowers in baskets, have votives with small mini arrangements clustered together. If you’re really on a budget scatter rose petals on tables with votives or tapers, and  buy two small arrangemnts for the bride and grooms table.

Chuppahs are expensive no matter how you slice it. Sometimes you get lucky and the place does it for a lower fee than a florist. Their are also gemachs that do this check out the bridal secrets website for more info. http://Bridalsecrets.com

3. Gowns, Veils and Tiaras: These can cost multi thousands or sometimes hundreds it all depends on what you want. It also depends on material beading etc. I payed on the lower end for my gown and it still cost 2,000 dollars. Natural silks, and lace are the most expensive. Polyester satins are relatively inexepensive and can really look beautiful. If you cand find a good reasonable dressmaker it can sometimes save you a lot as opposed to buying from a bridal salon.

Filene’s Basement has a huge bridal sale every year. This year’s takes place February 27th in their manhattan location get there early to get the best selection.

Kleinfeld’s the fabulous designer bridal outlet holds their sale on February 5th. Look for designer names like Reem acra, Monique Lhuillier, Priscilla of boston, kenneth Pool and Many more. Gowns start at $499.

In your local bridal salon be honest about what your spending know what you want and tell them that. Don’t look at things out of your price range only to have your heart broken. Also ask if it’s an older style say from last season, if the sample is for sale. A friend of mine got a $2,000 dress for $800 doing that.

What is a bride without a veil? When I got married I was super shocked at how much they wanted for a simple piece of tulle. My friend loaned me hers but my mother-in-law’s cleaning lady threw it out. Do not ask. I ended up finding a beautiful cathedral length veil to match my train with three layers:blusher, fingertip, and cathedral. It cost me $20. So I seriously advise checking eBay. Also look into rental places or gemachs they usually have a nice selection for far less. if you’re really crafty consider making one yourself. You can find instructions by googling it.

Tiaras, Hair clips and Ornaments- one of the best places to find these is in the garment center btween 36th stree and 5th ave and 40th street and 8th avenue. Look online as well because you can find many affordable things on the web. If you are looking for something really unique check out gemachs and rental places. I got the most magnificent tiara from a gemach in Boro Park for get this nothing. It was really and truly out of this world. Be creative. My new favorite look is one side swept back with a jeweled feathered clip. Tres Chic.

4. Liquor: I discussed this earlier but i feel it needs it’s own paragraph. A good way to have liquor but cut costs is to wither only serve it at the smorg or have wine bottles on every table. This will significantly cut your liqour costs.

Weddings done on a budget can be really beautiful. It’s just how you go about doing it. For more tips feel free to contact me.

Stay tuned for Part Two.

May we only have happy Occasions.

Bargain Jewess