Bargain Jewess

This past Sunday my husband and I participated in a wonderful dinner that took us to Cuba. Our good friends Yael and Josh Haller have started a Washington Heights cultural food club. We meet biweekly and choose a cuisine for which every one makes a dish. This week we did Cuban and the food was great. This is an inexpensive way to host dinner and enjoy your friends. Although we only did food, you can decorate your apartment/home in traditional decor from a party store and download some music that goes with your culture. You can also serve traditional alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages. 

There were some fabulous dishes like Pappas  Rellenas- deep fried mashed potato balls stuffed with meat, Crushed Cuban potatoes, and Cuban hamburgers. Dani and I contributed Arroz Con Pollo- Chicken with rice and for dessert Bunuelos- deep fried dough rolled in cinnamon sugar. The whole meal was amazing and there was lots more delicious food that I don’t know the traditional cu ban names for. The Arroz con Pollo was fabulous and I will include a link to it, at the end of the post.

Some ideas for cuisine:

Cuban

Thai

Japanese

Swedish

English

Australian

Chinese- Not what you get in an American Chinese restaurant.

Caribbean 

Italian

Spanish

Portugese

Russian

Indian

Greek

And the list can go on and on. With the economy what it is and this writer having been laid off yesterday I will keep updating you on fun, fabulous ways to have fun, keep your spirits up and still enjoy your life. 

Kisses,

Arielle AKA Bargain Jewess

P.S. Check ou this site for the recipe http://www.tasteofcuba.com/arrozconpollo.html

For most of us the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009 has not been much of a shopping year. With people losing their jobs at a rapid pace and everyone else fearing they will, most of us are holding onto our money as tight as can be. So how does the fashion forward reccesionista deal. One of the best ways to get new stuff without spending a dime is to host a clothing swap. Contact a few friends, have each of them bring a few items that they no longer want. Clothes, shoes, accessories, etc. Have a table or tables arranged with space for each item. Owners of items bargain over exchanges and choose who gets what. Size doesn’t matter invite all friends.

If you want to have food either the host provides or do potluck and have everyone bring stuff, in addition to the clothing they bring. This can be a fun way to get something new and interesting, that you don’t have to pay for. It can also be a great way to get your friends together, and make some new ones. You can also turn it into an opportunity to do good by taking any unwanted items in good condition and donating them to a good will, shelter, hospital or local chapter of dress for success.

A few ground rules.

Make sure you tell everyone that anything they bring must be in new, like new or very good condition. That means, no stains, no tears and no odors.

Everything must be clean.

Purses must be free of debris and emptied out.

Last but not least happy hunting.

A movie came out recently called “Loving Leah” that aired on the hallmark Channel. The movie is about an orthodox woman Chabad I think, who’s husband dies. His brother is still living and therefore yibum or chalitza must be performed. This is an age old Jewish practice that if a man leaves no heirs, his unmarried brother must marry his widow Yibum or perform chalitza a ceremony that absolves him of this obligation. From what I hear the movie wasn’t all too accurate in it’s portrayal of orthodox Judaism but that’s a separate issue. Susie Essman most famously known for her dirty mouth on Curb your enthusiasm plays the mother of the young widowed woman.

Recently she appeared on “The view” to promote the movie. When asked by Joy Behar “So what did you learn about the chasidic religion?” Essman replied “Well they’re not very good dressers, have you seen what some of these women look like half the time?”  I would like to tell you something Susie Essman, take a look in the mirror, because you surely are not anything special. Not only that but to make such a generalization that an entire group looks bad? That’s a bit rich. Especially since on the whole, chabad women are some of the hottest orthodox women. The funny part is the only outrage that anyone will express is within the orthodox community. Unlike when Don Imus made derogatory remarks, and every media outlet jumped on him, no one will say boo.  No one will say it but Susie Essman is guilty of ethnic stereotyping. Jews have been called ugly for thousands of years and no one cares. If anyone called a Muslim ugly for wearing hijabs they’d be bashed and berated the world over. ( I don’t think hijab’s are ugly by the way and I think many Arab women in hijabs are beautiful, it’s just an example.)

Kudos to Jonathan Mark, Associate editor of the Jewish week, a Jewish man who felt compelled to write in defense of orthodox Jewish women. Susie Essman should be ashamed of herslef for perpetuating a stereotype so old and untrue it should be buried with the myth that tomatoes are poisonous.Just because Jewish women cover their bodies and dress modestly, that in no way makes them unattractive.

Not only that, but I am so tired of hearing that women should only be judged by how they look and not the content of their character. Recently someone remarked to me that Michelle Obama should have breast augmentation in order to balance her proportions. I was taken aback a bit and responded that I think Michelle Obama is a beautiful woman first of all. But she’s first lady a brillant woman, not a model why should she have to look like one. I guess it’s stupid people like Susie Essman who need to create some publicity for themselves that perpetuate such terrible stereotypes. I have news for you Susie, before you open your mouth you should look in the mirror.  The so-called ugly chasidic women you speak of have nicer tucheses than your face.

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.

Facials are expensive but they can really give a lift to your skin. A facial is relatively simple to achieve at home, but leave extractions to the professionals.

First start out with some boiling water. Add some essential oils like Clary sage, Eucalyptus,- good for Acne and blackheads-Lavender, lemon oil, sandalwood, patchouli, you can also use chamomile teabags if you don’t have essential oil or cant find any, which can be bought at any local supermarket. Steep the teabags in the boiling water or drop in a few drops of oil and swish around. Place your face ten inches above the steam and a towel over your head and sit like that for 5 or ten minutes.

When you are done opening the pores and your face feels moist rub on a mask targeted to your skin, oily dry, blemishes, combination etc. this will either draw out impurities or ad moisture or basically accomplish whatever it is your ski needs. Masks can be bought at drugstores, beauty supply stores, department stores and upscale chains like sephora. Leave on for the specified amount of time and rinse with warm water.

You want to consistently use warm water because warm water opens the pores. If you’re skin is rough or scaly, smooth on use an at home micro-dermabrasion scrub (Garnier makes a great one!)  For those with blemishes use an at home peel either pads or a leave on solution. Rinse off after time specified with warm water. For those just looking to deep clean the skin skip this step.

Rinse your face again this time with cold water to close the pores.

After you have rinsed your face with the cold water pat dry leaving the face damp. Apply a mosturizer for your skin type and eye cream. Putting moisturizer on when the skin is damp allows the mosturizer to really sink in.

Regular facials should keep your skin clearer, smoother, and more radiant.

Here’s looking at you Gorgeous!

From the time I was a little girl, I was told women could do anything. There was no one who ever said -not parents, not teachers, not TV-that a girl couldn’t be anything she wanted to be. I grew up with so many aspirations. When I was really small I wanted to a Doctor till I my mom told me about bedpans. Which by the way mom, nurses change not Drs. Then I wanted to be an actress, a figure skater, a film director and always I was encouraged. When In high school I told my parents I wanted to be a lawyer they kind of laughed at me. Not because women can’t be lawyers, but rather because I was such a dismal student and they couldn’t imagine me working that hard. Thing is I happen to have done exceptionally well in college and suddenly my parents had new found respect that I could be a lawyer.

I on the other hand had become caught up in more glamorous career pursuits. I saw myself in marketing or advertising, not a lawyer wearing stodgy suits buried in legal briefs. I tried PR only to realize that in order to make it you must be both cutthroat and a backstabber, two things I just wasn’t capable of. I realized at that point that law school was the way to go. Thing is there was always this weird doubt in the back of my mind.

There was this part of me that loved to cook and make my own accessories. Who sometimes thought it might be fun to be a stay at home wife albeit one who ran a business from her home but a woman’s woman; engaged in womanly pursuits and feminine sensibilities. I was shocked when I thought these things. All my life I had been told I could do anything, that I was smart and competent as any man. I started to wonder is it ok to not want an intellectual career? Is it okay in my community to not want to make a $100,000+ a year? I mean are making money and a fulfilling job not possible? Better yet does being a woman today mean that one must have a career that is deemed challenging and stimulating?

So many women fought for the right to work; the right to be free of their husband’s domination. These women fought to be more than a secretary or somebody’s mother. So it’s not surprising that I feel guilty for wanting to be the next Martha Stewart or Susie Fischbein. The question I ask myself, is it ok to crave domesticity instead of the boardroom? Or am I setting women back by wanting to have the choice of having a high powered career or the opportunity to work from home at my own pace? Have we as women come to a place where it’s ok to be women? Or are we still struggling to keep up in a man’s world……

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.

For those of you who have been reading my blog you know that I have had my fair share of at home hair dying experiences. For those of you who don’t I refer you to some of my earlier posts. I have tried many brands of hair dye and have dyed my hair many colors. Recently I went back from being blond to a reddish-brown I used loreal preference and it was a great experience. The dye was extremely easy to use, just mix the color and developer together and voila masage it into your head and you are done.There are many hair dyes out there some are better quality that others. I have found that loreal makes a great product as does clairol. If you’ve never done this before you’ll need a few tricks:

• Put some face cream, or vaseline around your hairline and the nape of your neck to prevent any staining of the skin.
• Wear ratty clothes that you could care less about and have a ratty towel or two.
• Make sure to use a timer and start it as soon as you are done applying the hair color. This is extremely important because without you may over or underestimate your time and end up with bad results because of it. Kitchen timers work great for this.
• I have a white bathroom and at the corner of my doorway is a brown stain. If your bathroom is white find another place to do it, or cover surfaces with newspaper, because hair dye always splatters.
• A way to really have the color set is to pat a plastic shower cap on your head. The heat helps the color sink in.
• Most importantly monitor the color, each type of hair is unique some take the color faster some take it slower. Don’t be afraid to leave it on for an extra few minutes.
• When dealing with bleach don’t freak out if some pieces get really light, thats ok they’ll blend. Don’t wash the bleach off before you’ve bleached the whole head properly.
• Make sure to use color safe shampoo and conditioner. Blondes and redheads especially should use color depositing shampoos between colorings as well to keep color vibrant.

Last but not least if you end up with something you are not happy with, remember hair color fades give a few days you might love it. If not wait a few days and try it again. If anyone has tried perfect 10 by Revlon let me know I hear it’s really great.

Here’s to being a blond, brunette or redhead by choice. You don’t have to be born with it to work it.

Bargain Jewess.

With the economy crashing and burning faster than you can say recession people are opting more and more to conduct beauty treatments at home. Many companies are now putting out do it yourself products with salon results. In my ever increasing motivation to be a resource of bargain knowledge I am going to try out these products and review them for you here to help you weed out the good from the bad and save precious dollars that can be used for necessities.

First on my list is the manicure pen. When I went to Scandinavia in may my nails were atrocious. I had heard about the new OPI nail pens and picked one up in a fabulous shade of hot pink. All you do is press a button-like a ball point pen or mechanical pencil and onto the brush flows nail polish. You then polish your nails regularly. The pen allows for more control and a steadier hand which leaves you with less smudges, and a more professional look. I suggest using a base and topcoat to get a truly professional look, but for the $5-$7  they cost it’s totally worth it. Considering I went and got a manicure with a friend last night and with the tip it cost me $14, save your money and invest in doing your own nails.

Two to try :

Sally Hansen color Quick Fast dry Nail Color Pen

OPI Nic’s Stics Paint and Go Nail Lacquer.

Check back regularly for More DIY beauty tests.

Bargain Jewess

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.