My mailbox has never been more psyched — thank you RocksBox!
RocksBox is a membership-based jewelry styling service. Members pay a flat rate of $19/month to trial unlimited designer jewelry, sent in sets of three at a time. (Check below for a special 50% off discount!)
I received a 6 month RocksBox gift subscription courtesy beauty blogging hub, iFabbo, and so far it’s been unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Not to mention so much fun.
Here’s how it works:
First you fill out a personalized style profile. Then you receive 3 handpicked pieces mailed to you; all prettily packaged and with a prepaid return shipping label.
You can keep the pieces for up to 60 days, or return them as many times as you’d like, and get a new set of 3 pieces mailed to you. Plus - if you fall in love with an item in your box, you can purchase it for a members-only discount of 20% off the retail price.
Nothing beats the feeling of getting a fresh box of surprise jewels picked just for you… and getting to send them back for new ones when you get bored!
This service is a great way to try out new jewelry styles without the commitment.
This is what I received in my past two RocksBoxes. Can’t wait to see what else comes in the mail next!
Urban Gem Leather Resort Cuff in Brown ($35), Viento Art Deco Earrings in Rhodium and Black ($85) , Gorjana Daphne Hoops in Amazonite ($95)
Gorjana Taner Dagger Earrings in Rose Gold ($35), Bing Bang Baguette Studs ($50), Trina Turk Elephant Charm Necklace ($95)
RocksBox also has a great referral program where you can earn credits towards new jewelry if you refer friends. (So if you do decide to sign up please link from Bellabusta!)
And finally - the 50% off coupon code!
Use the promo code FABB for 50% off for 3 months. Which means - just $9.50/month for doorstep delivery of unlimited designer jewelry!
Click here to check out the RocksBox website and take the style profile quiz to see all their fabulous gems.
Let me introduce you to a beautiful product, 21 Drops. I do consulting work for this this modern aromatherapy line and have a lot to share about it!
This all-natural product works with the power of essential oils. Some of these blends contain the same fragrant ingredients that were in the ketores!
Check out the highlights from my latest Jewish Press article on 21 Drops and the special scent of ketores:
Scent is one of our most spiritual senses. You can’t see it, you can’t feel it, and you often can’t describe it - yet its presence can be felt strongly. Our sense of smell has the power to inspire, to uplift and to transport us.
Consider the ketores, the sacred incense burned in the Bais Hamikdash. There was more to this fragrance offering than just a sweet smell.
Why did God choose these particular 11 ingredients to be included; what special qualities do those aroma materials possess?
To answer this question, I consulted with an expert. Cary Caster, the founder of the modern aromatherapy brand 21 Drops, is a clinical aromatherapist trained in the art and science of using plants to help us feel better and be better.
Cary Caster, clinical aromatherapist and founder of 21 Drops.
I work with Cary as a marketing consultant for 21 Drops, and I find this unique approach to essential oil therapy fascinating.
21 Drops is a line of twenty one all-natural essential oil blends that were developed to target particular concerns and aspirations. For example, 18 Sleep utilizes sandalwood and ylang ylang flower to help you rest easy.
As a clinical aromatherapist, Cary maintains that plants can effect real physiological changes in our bodies as well as on our emotional and mental states.
Cary honed in to the powerful physical properties of the ketores components as well as their spiritual qualities. She asserts that the fragrant oils in the ketores help to strengthen the immune system as well as open the mind on a deeper, more spiritual level.
For example, the fourth ingredient of ketores listed in the Torah is frankincense or levona. This oil is an ancient remedy used to quiet the mind, soothe the soul, and support focused attention and tranquility. For this reason, Cary uses frankincense oil in her modern aromatherapy line. The healing blend 13 Carry On and 11 De-Stress contain this special scent.
The fifth ingredient in the ketores is myrrh, or mor in Hebrew. Myrrh is prized for its strength in combating illness. Myrrh has antibacterial and expectorant properties, making it of great use in treating colds and coughs. In addition, myrrh was used throughout the ancient world to promote peacefulness and meditation. Cary infuses myrrh oil into her aromatherapy blends 08 Pain Relief and 15 Decongest.
Many of the other plants used in the ketores, such as cinnamon and possibly cloves, have natural therapeutic properties in addition to being beautifully scented.
Of course, today we can’t fathom the ambrosial fragrance of the holy incense or the spirit it infused throughout the Beis Hamikdash. But, like everything else in the Torah, there is more to it than meets the eye (or in the case, nose). Just as the korbanos were more than just meat, the lechem hapanim was bigger than just bread — the ketores was more sublime than just a smell; it was the scent of spirituality.
“When I design, I always imagine the woman who will wear the garment, and whether she will find it easy to walk around in. We should enjoy our clothes to the point we forget we’re wearing them.”
-Esther Goldberger, Dellasuza designer
A frum fashion designer from Montreal, Esther has a new line of easy-to-wear modest dresses and some sage style advice to share with us all.
1. How was it attending fashion school as a frum woman?
Fashion design is not for the weak of heart. It requires strength; physical and mental. For frum Jews it also requires a lot of schedule planning and organization because of Shabbat and Chagim. For married frum Jews who have to get home and cook, do the laundry and entertain guests… wow… only love can explain why I did it.
2. How does designing for frum women differ than the general population?
Black is so convenient and easy to accommodate in our lifestyles that sometimes people just forget that there are colors out there. But colors and prints can be so figure-flattering and modest.
If find that Orthodox women love beautiful, feminine clothes and crave comfort. I know that wearing layers and layers of clothing during summer is challenging… that’s why I created my Dellasuza line of dresses.
The body shape of the frum woman… I always had the impression that we are mainly Apple and Pear body types. Perhaps just a personal impression of mine? Time will tell…
3. What style advice do you have for frum women?
- I believe the source for Orthodox women’s doubts about fashion is our complex of the black skirt. The black skirt occupies a huge space in our comfort zone. But we can get out of this fashion rut by challenging ourselves to try something new.
- Not many people are born with an innate understanding of fashion - but anyone can learn! By developing your curiosity and experimenting with what works for you, you can learn a lot.
- People think fashion is just a vanity that should not be taken seriously. I don’t agree. When we ally fashion to our inner personality, we create a beautiful harmony that brings out the best in us.
Esther sent me a blue maxi wrap dress from the line to review. Ladies - if you’re looking for something easy and comfortable, this is it! The comfort of the fabric is unparalleled any dress I have ever worn before. It is so easy and soft, it’s marvelous. I also love that the fabric is slinky, but not clingy or see-through at all.
Visit the Dellasuza website here to see all of these pretty, lightweight and affordable modest designs. (Plus - use the coupon code FASHION15 for an additional 15% off)
It’s bee venom.
That’s right. New high-end skincare products have been cropping up with this ouch-inducing ingredient.
The toxic venom supposedly tricks your skin into thinking it’s been stung. This stimulates a reaction that renews and tightens the area.
This may sound drastic. Or maybe not.
After all, the use of toxins are not new gateways to attaining youth and beauty. Take Demi Moore’s leech therapy (warning: not for the faint of heart). Or your run-of-the-mill lip plumpers (which contain irritants to make your lips feel collagen-enhanced and pouty). And of course, the Queen of Beauty Toxins - Botox.
Personally, I’m going to stay away from the sting and stick with my traditional skincare regimen.
Would you try a product with bee venom?
Forget black and white.
Strike a modern match and pair color with… more color!
Bellabusta’s Tips for Monochromatic Dressing:
- Build your outfit based on one color, or hue. But — vary the tones in the outfit from light to dark (i.e., a hot pink skirt with a baby pink sweater)
- Accessorize in neutral color (i.e., white, beige or black)
- OR go bold and choose one or two accessories that contrast completely from your base color (i.e., rock an orange belt with your hot pink skirt and baby pink sweater)
This is how I styled my single-hued outfits:
Look #1 - Balance a bright blue skirt with a paler version of the color in the top. Denim is just awesome with cobalt. Pristine white accessories pull it all together.
Look #2 - A sunshine yellow dress is so pretty with a buttercup layering top. The shoes echo the creaminess of the shell, while a small dose of shocking purple creates a fabulous contrast.
Which is your favorite look?
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The latest Bellabusta giveaway - three $10 gift cards to Leelach.com “The Home for Art Created & Designed by Israeli Women”
This beautiful shopping concept brings together unique fashion and accessories designed exclusively by women from Israel. It’s a wonderful way to support the talented women of Israel - and get something special for yourself in the process.
Here are some of my personal picks from Leelach.com:
The Jerusalem of Gold headband This tiara is exquisite and beyond breathtaking. Makes me want to get married all over again - in Jerusalem, of course :)
Black floral dress So simple and chic: no layering required.
Gold & Red Tichel This is something you would definitely get compliments on! So refreshingly different.
And now… it’s giveaway time!
Just leave a comment with your choice of A, B or C. Three winners will be chosen at random on Monday, April 15 from all the entries received here and on Facebook.
Good luck!
This contest has ended.
Casually flipping through a fashion magazine, something catches my eye:
A pair of lucite chunky heeled sandals. They would look so perfect with patterned tights. They’re not too pricey. They’re cute for summer. And winter. They’ll elevate the style factor of everything in my closet. They’ll make me look like I have all the time in the world to put myself together. My makeup will look better. My hair will look better. My smile will become wider, my teeth whiter. I will glow with the radiance of a truly happy person.
“Ahem”, my rational brain intruded, knocking me out of my dreamlike trance. “You’re being absurd. These shoes will not complete you. They will not perfect everything around you. They’re just shoes. And besides, they’ll probably give you blisters.”
And so it goes, the exercise of leafing through a fashion glossy. A burdensome back-and-forth between head and heart, rationale and rashness, sense and, well, nonsense.
What was the last objet d’art you found yourself bestowing magical qualities upon?
This Pesach, why not try a new way to cover your hair? Judith de Paris specializes in selling beautiful and elegant headscarves imported from Israel and France. And from now til Pesach, everything (including the new spring collection) is marked down 10%!
Me in one of my favorite “yom yom” headscarves. I love the height that the special volumizer underneath provides. Black + gold combo = understated elegance.
I first discovered Judith de Paris a few months ago (Read the original Jewish Press article here) and have been experimenting with the unique headcoverings she sells since. I’m going to be receiving a couple of complimentary items from the new collection to sample soon, but I wanted to put this post up now to give all of you the chance to take advantage of the sale and get something beautiful in time for Pesach.
My favorite items from the Spring 2013 collection:
The color and pattern on this scarf is so vibrant! The Yom Yom is my absolute favorite style - this particular scarf can make an entire outfit.
This veil turban is a perfect starter piece - it’s simple to tie and to wear, and is a beautiful change from a black snood or Israeli tichel.
This is called a Kaly turban - the pink plisse is very chic and you can customize the head jewel yourself. SUPER easy to put on (trust me on this one - I can’t stand tying anything complicated!)
The key to the sophisticated look is wearing a volumizer cap underneath these scarves. This season, there’s a new volumizer available that I haven’t tried yet but sounds pretty cool. It’s adjustable so you can arrange it to the size you prefer. Personally, I’m very prone to headaches when I wear constricting things on my head so I’m looking forward to sampling the new adjustable volumizer to see if it’s more comfortable.
Check out the Judith de Paris website and Facebook page to see what’s available now - and keep checking because there are new scarves being added all the time. Make sure to order by Thursday March 21 at noon so you’ll receive everything in time for Pesach.
Good luck and let me know what treasures you find!
I find that one of the hardest things in preparing for Passover is the uncertainty. Each year I’m like “wait, am I supposed to cover the fridge shelves?” or “does regular coffee need a special pesach certification?”….and the list goes on.
And when it comes to cosmetics on Passover, it can get confusing, too. One the one hand, there’s the opinion that if it’s not food, it doesn’t make a lick of a difference what’s in it. On the other hand, there are companies championing their “kosher for Pesach” makeup lines.
So here’s the deal:
The OU lists cosmetics (with the exception of lipstick) shampoo, conditioners body wash, perfumes and lotions in their tally of non-food items that DO NOT NEED CERTIFICATION on Pesach. So this year, I will not pore of over the ingredients of my foundations, eyeliners or body products to ascertain whether or not they contain wheat or oat products. In fact, when I have done this in years past, I don’t recall ever finding chometz ingredients in those products.
What I will do, though is:
a. Buy a new lipstick and read the ingredients to make sure there is no chometz in it. (Yay! I actually wait all year to have a guilt-free excuse to buy yet another tube of lipstick.)
b. Check and see if I have any body care products (like lotions or shampoos) that tout their oat/wheat-based ingredients. Examples I’ve seen - Johnson’s Vanilla Oatmeal baby wash and Aveeno lotion with oatmeal. Chometz ingredients are a lot more common in natural/organic products, too, so I’ll be checking those as well.
The overt oatmeal in this product makes it something I would definitely sell on Pesach.
Of course, I must disclaim that I am not a trained Rabbi, but all of the above info does have a Rabbinic source.
So what will you be doing with your makeup and toiletries this upcoming Pesach?
