Author Archives: Alison

From the Expert: Wedding Day Makeup

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Alison in From the Expert, Inside Scoop, Planning

Today we are beaming with pride to welcome Susie Chhuor of Susie Chhuor Professional Hair & Makeup Team! Thanks to Susie’s expertise in the beauty industry and her business savvy, she has developed an agency of artists who are at the ready for all your wedding and special events needs. Remember the bolero look book photo shoot that the Yentas produced in May? Susie was the lead makeup artist on the shoot and we know it was thanks to her hard work that the shoot looked professional, beautiful, and complete! Susie and her gals know their stuff, and we are excited to have gems of makeup wisdom coming from the queen of beauty herself!

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Let’s face it, we all know you’re already burning a hole in your wallet as you go down your wedding checklist and if you’re not, you must be spending a lot of time DIY-ing/stressing about everything. So that leads you to ask yourself the question, “Do I even need to hire a hair stylist and makeup artist for the wedding day?” You can just do your makeup yourself right? And curling hair, well that’s not all that hard. You can just watch how-to videos online and that’ll get the bridal look down, right? (so that’s what you think).

Well, that’s until you actually try it yourself and realize that 1. Wedding day beauty is a lot harder than it looks, and 2. It’s rather stressful having to practice so many times before the wedding and make sure that hair and face look flawless on the big day. No pressure, of course.

To be honest, there are some things that you can DIY and there are other things that would just be easier with a professional on board. Obviously, you wouldn’t just hand your dad the camera and ask him to be your photographer. It might save you thousands of dollars, but would the quality be the same as a professional wedding photographer’s? And in the same aspect, you wouldn’t just want to do your makeup or hair, especially if you’re not a regular in front of the mirror. So I’m here to help you decide why you should hire a professional makeup and hair stylist for your time to shine as a bride.

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1. Makeup stores are saturated with products and brands. What to buy and where to begin is rather overwhelming. No one person has the same face shape, skin type, and skin tone. This means that no one look will translate the same as it would on another person. Not only that, but buying new products itself will be just as expensive as hiring a makeup artist. A professional makeup artist will be able to help you with the right products, customizing your face with a picture perfect look!

2. Well, what if you already have all the right products? They can only get you so far. You may have the best products, but not the right hand for application. This translates to disaster! (and a waste of makeup — cha ching!). You simply cannot expect to look your best, just by having the best makeup, which is why application is also very important. A professional makeup artist is trained and experienced in makeup application, owning a steady hand and top-notch judgment. Professionals study and know what looks best with your features and they can see you from all angles beyond a mirror.

3. Okay, okay, let’s say you insist on doing your own makeup, but do you really want to be the one doing it on your wedding day? Do you want to stress out about the makeup? Even the calmest and coolest bride gets jittery on her wedding day. It’s a 24-hour adrenaline rush full of excitement and heart flutters. Doing your own makeup won’t help relieve the stress, and instead will just add to it. This is something that brides should really think about. It’s always easier on a day-to-day basis, but your wedding day is not just any other day. Let someone else go to you and provide you the pampering and comfort that you deserve on your wedding day.

4. Consider having a makeup artist help you because they are not afraid. Fearless, determined, and skilled, makeup artists will do whatever they can to make you look your best. When you’re doing makeup yourself, you are more likely to create your usual look, staying within your comfort zone. A makeup artist will not be afraid to go outside the box and do what looks good. Don’t misunderstand this statement by thinking that they will make it look over-the-top dramatic. It just means that they will be willing to add a little more or something different here and there — places you never thought you could apply makeup. Plus, it’s hard for you to know the perfect amount of makeup for the camera. This is another reason why it’s best to hire an expert who comes in and helps create a natural beauty without making it look visibly noticeable and obvious.

5. Lastly, having a makeup artist is possibly one of the best investments that a bride can make for herself. Hiring trusted vendors as your photographer, selecting a venue, and committing to a dress, you should feel just as confident in your hair and makeup artist. After all, what will be sitting on your bedside table? Images of your bouquet or you? What about when you send photos to your friends and family? Do you send pictures of the table settings or pictures of you and your new husband? You will be the focus of your photos, so make sure you are the best version of yourself. Keep in mind that you’ll be saving your wedding photos and sharing them for generations on end and what matters most is you and your new groom.

Don’t make your wedding planning experience tough on your mind and body. Consider having a makeup artist so you can look your best in photos, feel luxurious and relaxed on your wedding day, and still be your wonderful self!

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Susie Chhuor Professional Hair and Makeup Studio was established with the goal to provide the gift of beauty without changing a person. Instead, we use our artistic talents to simply enhance our clients’ natural beauty and encourage our clients that true beauty is within. We understand that each person has their own set of individual characteristics and preferences. No one person is the same. For this reason we recognize the need for diversity and uniqueness. Our team consists of highly skilled girls from all backgrounds and cultures. Susie Chhuor Professional Hair and Makeup Team is not just a team, but a family of women that share similar interests while absorbing new experiences and knowledge to become well rounded and personable artists.

Friday Favorites | Starring You!

Posted on December 17, 2010 by Alison in Friday Favorites

Tis the season for sending cards and exchanging annual updates with friends and family thanks to the good ol’ USPS. If you’re recently married, it’s likely you put a wedding photo on a printed card and mailed a bunch out. Or if you’re engaged, maybe you used an engagement photo or a shot from a recent occasion. Either way, it’s the time of year that you and your plus-one make your mark on a card.

But what if you just realized that — oops! — you forgot to order your cards and now it’s too late for regular shipping, and you’ll have to pay an arm and a leg for a rush order, but then deliver charges go up because you snoozed???

On the laziest day of the week — Friday! — we want to share one of our favorite online resources for cards and photos in one! Jib Jab was made famous by satirical talking animations of politicians and Hollywood personalities. Usually, they’re accompanied by a parody or a silly song. Well now, Jib Jab allows you to put familiar faces inside talking heads to entertain your friends! You can email them, post them in your Facebook profile, or insert them in your blog.

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Yes, we know it’s over, but as an example, here’s a Chanukah card that the Yentas made starring the Yentas themselves, Alison and Nicky, and co-starring their dogs, Princeton and Charlie. Oh, and the dancing logo was a strategic face filler (we had to have five faces so, um, a graphical representation of The Wedding Yentas took its place).

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

We encourage you to play around and send some cards to your list! If you’re looking for some holiday fun, there’s a great selection for all types of seasonal celebrations. If you are looking for something more general that you can send at any time during the year, we think there are a bunch of funny videos that will totally entertain! So no matter what you celebrate and when, there’s always a Jib Jab for any time during the course of twelve months and your friends will thank you for the laugh!

And on Fridays, who doesn’t like to laugh?!

Real Weddings | Sayville, NY

Posted on December 16, 2010 by Alison in Real Jewish Weddings

Dawn and Alan were married in the quaint town of Sayville on Long Island’s beautiful south shore. They were originally scheduled to have their wedding in May at the Atlantica out in Westhampton Beach, but it closed down. Sure, there may have been a little panicking after discovering this unfortunate news, but the bride’s mother used her resources and called the wedding photographer for advice on where to move their wedding reception. After a few suggestions, Lauren went to look at Land’s End, and the deal was sealed. It is such a beautiful place and the day way perfect thanks to blue skies and a warm sea breeze. See, we always say that something could go wrong to send your wedding plans in a frenzy, but your wedding vendors are also your unsung heroes who can help you put your pieces back together when you’re not sure what to do!

Dawn and Alan live down in Virginia, where Dawn works as a veterinarian. She loves all animal, of course, but her pup is truly the apple of her eye. It was only fitting then, that their own little four-legged member of their family, Tulip, walked down the aisle on the hand of the ringbearer. She even thought about bringing her bunny but he was at the rabbit vet over the weekend for a procedure. It wouldn’t have been as cute since what do you know? Tulip was all done up in a yellow chiffon dress of her own. This wedding, literally, went to do the dog(s)! Adorable!

Mazel tov Dawn and Alan! (And Tulip!)

Venue – Land’s End
Photographer – Photography Verdi
Officiant – Rabbi Andrea Frank
Entertainment – Music by Michael
Bridal Gown – Marisa Bridals
Ketubah – Modern Ketubah

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Friday Favorites | The Apple of My Pie…Dish

Posted on December 10, 2010 by Alison in Friday Favorites

Nothing says the holiday season like a warm apple pie. Sure, you could hit up your local bakery-restaurant and pay for Marie to bake you one of her pies, but there’s nothing like taking pride in your own work in the kitchen. And serving it in your fancy-shmancy pie dish really makes you look like a pro.

Don’t forget to add a cute pie dish to your registry for such kitchen adventures! We love the Emile Henry Artisan Ruffle Pie Dish from Williams-Sonoma that comes in three colors to complement any dining theme.

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But, what’s a pretty pie dish without a pretty pie inside? Cue our friend (ha! We wish!) Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa herself, who has created the ultimate apple pie recipe we want to make sure you stash away in your recipe box!

Oh, and the Yentas way to enjoy apple pie is to heat it up and dump a coop of vanilla ice cream on top. A la mode for the win!!

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Ingredients

* 4 pounds Granny Smith apples, peeled, quartered, and cored
* 1 lemon, zested
* 1 orange, zested
* 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
* 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice
* 1/2 cup sugar, plus 1 teaspoon to sprinkle on top
* 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon kosher salt
* 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
* Perfect Pie Crust, recipe follows
* 1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water, for egg wash

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Cut each apple quarter in thirds crosswise and combine in a bowl with the zests, juices, 1/2 cup sugar, flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.

Roll out half the pie dough and drape it over a 9- or 10-inch pie pan to extend about 1/2-inch over the rim. Don’t stretch the dough; if it’s too small, just put it back on the board and re-roll it.

Fill the pie with the apple mixture. Brush the edge of the bottom pie crust with the egg wash so the top crust will adhere. Top with the second crust and trim the edges to about 1-inch over the rim. Tuck the edge of the top crust under the edge of the bottom crust and crimp the 2 together with your fingers or a fork. Brush the entire top crust with the egg wash, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar, and cut 4 or 5 slits.

Place the pie on a sheet pan and bake for 1 to 1 1/4 hours, or until the crust is browned and the juices begin to bubble out. Serve warm.

Perfect Pie Crust:

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) very cold unsalted butter

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon sugar

1/3 cup very cold vegetable shortening

6 to 8 tablespoons (about 1/2 cup) ice water

Dice the butter and return it to the refrigerator while you prepare the flour mixture. Place the flour, salt, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse a few times to mix. Add the butter and shortening. Pulse 8 to 12 times, until the butter is the size of peas. With the machine running, pour the ice water down the feed tube and pulse the machine until the dough begins to form a ball. Dump out on a floured board and roll into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Cut the dough in half. Roll each piece on a well-floured board into a circle, rolling from the center to the edge, turning and flouring the dough to make sure it doesn’t stick to the board. Fold the dough in half, place in a pie pan, and unfold to fit the pan. Repeat with the top crust.

Yield: 2 (10-inch) crusts

Real Weddings | Escanaba, MI

Posted on December 9, 2010 by Alison in Real Jewish Weddings

They were walking out of a grocery store in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Scott put two quarters into a vending machine at the exit, receiving a ring in the capsule. Shortly thereafter, Katherine told Scott she didn’t need or want expensive jewelry, just one of those rings from the machine. Fast forward to a road trip to visit Katherine’s family for which Scott had picked out a ring that he brought with him. With Katherine’s thoughts in mind, he knew he’d need to secure an accommodating grocery store with a toy vending machine. Around 10:30 in the evening, Katherine’s mom told us she “needed” a twelve pack of Diet Coke — hey, everyone has their addictions — so the two headed for the nearest store to accommodate Mama.

Lickity split, they bought their 12-pack, and began to exit the store. While Katherine headed for the door, Scott walked toward the rack of vending machines. He casually placed a quarter in the machine, turned the dial, received a ring from the machine, and quickly placed it in his pocket. In the other pocket was a previously bought capsule, having the real ring inside. Walking out of the store, he pulled the old switcheroo and pulled the ring capsule out of his pocket. Katherine asked Scott what the surprise was in the capsule and with major stealth, he placed the real capsule in her hand. They walked outside into the parking lot and right then and there, Scott got down on one knee.

Thinking the ring actually came from the vending machine, Katherine looked to her love on his knees and asked, “Is this some kind of cruel joke?” “No Katherine,” he replied. “Open it up.” The ring tumbled from the capsule into Katherine’s hand.

Who says forever can’t start in the parking lot?

Mazel tov, Katherine and Scott!

Venue – House of Ludington
Coordination – Jessevent – Jessica Stewart
Photographer – David Jackson
Floral Design – Delta Floral and Gifts
Officiant – Rabbi Norman Roman
Bakery – Kakes by Kris
Rentals – Barry’s Let’s Rent It
Hair – Freya Salon
Makeup – Serenity Salon – Jill Liebel