Bun It Tutorial Video

Check out my first YouTube tutorial on how to get a perfect Bun It! I'm not very tech savvy so here is the link below since the add link button doesn't seem to be working. Just copy and paste the link below to watch the video! Let me know if you find it useful, tips, questions or anything! http://youtu.be/mbqUdq6KfD4

youtu.be/mbqUdq6KfD4

Bun It!

Probably the second most common thing I get asked about is hair. I don't even know when i started but over the last few years I started really getting into doing my own hair, then slowly, with some confidence, other people's. But I'm no expert! I have no professional training so any advice I give please take with a grain of salt. There's a wonderful store in New York City called Duane Reade. Although Shoppers in Toronto is almost the same, like everything else in America it is ten times better. I was shopping for lord knows what and came across this weird looking doughnut that had a picture of a girl with an amazing bun on top of her head which I can never do well. I took it up but it had little to no instructions and I gave up on it but for some reason held on to it. Then just a few months later these amazing giant buns were all over from the red carpet to the work place! I had to figure out how everyone was doing it! A co-worker at my internship came in with this great, clean, chic look and I asked her how she did it. She vaguely explained that she saw a YouTube video of a girl making a sock into a doughnut shape and then voila had a bun! I didn't understand but when I went home that night I saw my doughnut Bun It and realized I had the tool all along, I just didn't know how to use it! So I watched a YouTube video, which had much better instructions then whatever I bought, and started to practice.

 Here I'll give you my steps and tips:
-I find this works best with day old hair so it has some texture to it. When my hair is too silky I can't do it.
-I bought the Bun It but from what I understand you cut the toes off a sock and then roll it outwards so that you are left with a doughnut shape.
-Put your hair into a pony tail. -I have found that every height works and looks great depending on what look you are going for but to start try as high as possible so that it's easier to learn the technique.
-Take your doughnut in one hand and pull your ponytail through then tuck the first inch of your hair under the curve of the doughnut.
-Then sort of twist and pull the doughnut downwards bringing more and more hair, continually tucking in the hairs, eventually all around the doughnut.
-Keep pulling it down and down until it is a tight and secure bun on your head.
 -Don't worry about loose ends, you shouldn't have any by the end, and if you do, just tuck them under or pin them.
-If you have layers like me sometimes hairs won't make it into the doughnut when you first put your ponytail through but that's okay continue to roll the doughnut down then when that layer is long enough just tuck it into the doughnut hole and roll it down with the rest of your hair.

Arielle Wasserman putting this post into practice!
Looks awesome!

   Personally I think it looks really curl with naturally curly hair too for all those curly haired girls who think this style isn't for them. Pish posh! The key to this look is effortless, messy but chic.
   You can wear it high and perfectly tight (this takes practice and as I found strong arms) for a glam or 60's vibe.
   Or wear you naturally place your ponytail for a generally better looking bun, my everyday choice.
   Or I think it'd be gorgeous worn low, at the nape of the neck or to the side, and let bangs or layers frame your face either naturally or curled for a fancier occasion. I'm going to try and make a video of me doing this but until then there are plenty on YouTube. And practice, practice, practice!

BJCC - Best Jym

I just joined the new (and highly improved) BJCC at Rutherford and Bathurst. While I know for most people in Toronto that is "like a million miles away" it really isn't so get over it. The gym is amazing loaded with weights, dumbbells, kettle bells, bars, treadmills, bikes (with virtual screens that you can race your friends on!), strength training machines, a jacob's ladder and some rope pulling thing. They offer lots of classes at various hours and 2 indoor pools with lap hours and 1 outdoor (which of course is only good for, what? 3 months in Toronto. But still!) Last night I planned on going to the gym, after 4 days of working out, except for Sunday, I didn't want to break my streak. Plus Thursdays are my weigh in day so who doesn't want to do all they can the day before?? But no, I got home a little later then expected, had dinner late, and got caught up watching So You Think You Can Dance 2 hour performance finale. And I knew the next day (AKA today, Thursday) I was not going to be home much besides to eat dinner and wouldn't have/make time for a work out so what's a girl to do?? I can't even believe I did this but I did my chores and went straight to bed (10:30pm) in my work out pants, woke up at 5:30, walked the 10 minute walk to the gym from my house, attended a Hatha Yoga class from 6:15-7:00am then walked back home, showered, got dressed and went to work for 9am (a 1 hour drive from my home with traffic now). I felt great! Who the heck thought I could do that?! I didn't! It was great. just 3 other people in the class, I was able to bend and twist at my own comfort level but still push and challenge myself. Definitely broke a sweat (those damn planks!) And had a great start of to my day. And tomorrow is a Friday, never a good work out day for us Jews, but now that I know I CAN get up that early if I go to bed early enough, I pretty much have no excuse! So although I have a birthday party to drop in to tonight I can't stay for very long cause I want to go to the Spinning class at 6-7am (since the 7am class for something else doesn't end till 7:55am which is too late to get to work and I don't think I'm motivated enough quite yet to just get on a treadmill for my own set time lol. I think I need the stability of a class setting, like with a buddy.) I hope tomorrow will be just as successful and energizing as this morning was. I could get used to that. I actually wrote this post LAST Thursday and I might as well update here: I did in fact go to the 6am spinning class, my first ever. And yes, my ass was killing for the next 2 days. And no, I don't think I'm addicted but I did like the sweat and soreness. I would do it again but I'm not sure I want to tomorrow! The class was half full of middle aged people who were mostly all in better shape and more experienced spinners than me. I was clearly the child, the amateur. But we'll see, maybe I will try it again. For now, I'm sticking with my yoga and Zumba!

Addressing the Questions

For those of you who know me can probably tell that I've lost a significant amount of weight. The compliments have been out pouring and (mostly) very loving and supportive. People have asked me how I've been doing it especially because I used to be such an open book when it comes to weight loss struggles. Over the last year or so I think I've become much more introverted when it comes to this subject because it is so personal and individual. I did not do it all on my own and had a lot of help and the exact plan is not for everyone so I will not be laying out exactly what I have done/am doing. I would suggest consulting with your doctor, nutritionist, and personal trainer, to figure out the best plan for you! Mine is to my specifications, cravings, BMI, height and age. But of course I will continue to share lots of tips and pieces of advice I've picked up on from the many, many years of dieting and excersizing. I am very excited to say that I used to weigh 250lbs and today I weighed in at 191. Woo hoo! Breaking out of the 200s and into the 100s was surreal and I didn't really believe it would last. Believe me, it hasn't been easy and there have been minor lags but I only started this blog two days ago, so just trust me :) It's been mostly strict dieting and cutting my meals in half. I have learned that it is true what they say, "You can have it all, just in moderation!" While I was getting at least 30 minutes a day of walking or an hour of swimming I have been wanting to kick up my work outs and really start breaking a sweat! Plus, as kindly as possible, people have asked if with so much weight loss if my skin has become flabby. Ew! Gross! I want to avoid that as MUCH as possible! If that's not motivation I don't know what is! God was I in for a shock. I might be down 59lbs but my stamina is embarressing! Not to fret, this will not get me down, only motivate me.

Welcome!

Hi Everyone and welcome to my newest blog All Things Aliyah! I loved blogging on my old site but I found it was too constricted to just one subject matter. My friends ask me all the time for tips and videos on hair, make up, clothing, all things wedding planning ETC! Which I take as a huge compliment and I take it humbly. I thought a new fresh blog with room for lots of different subjects would be just the thing. I also hope to post writing pieces to stretch my writing muscles as I hope to get into the writing field so maybe this could even help with getting a job in that field. Any takers? No? Not yet? Alright, then in the mean time let's begin!