New Blog Addresss

Hello everyone

Zara's Favorite Things got a makeover & upgrade. Check out the new blog page:

ZarasFavoritethings.wordpress.com


Follow the link & subscribe

All future posts & giveaways will be on the webpage listed above.


Thank you

I hope you enjoy the new page.

Coach Factory Sale Online

Hey Lovelies,

This is a quick post about an upcoming sale that I wanted to share with you guys. The Coach factory store (Coach outlet) is having an online sale! You will get an additional 30% off the already reduced prices.

The sale begins on June 22nd and ends on June 24th. You must pre-register online by June 19th in order to receive the official invitation to be able to shop on June 22nd.

To pre-register for the sale go to : coachfactory.com/onlinesale   

The promo code you need is FF226320.

Happy Shopping!!

Don't forget to Pre-register by June 19th.

My latest Giveaway

My latest giveaway!

The winner of this giveaway got a lot of goodies. There is a Kiehl's Creme de corps, Kiehl's body polish, Kiehl's Lip balm & tons of Kiehl's samples. Some of the samples are eye creams, cleansing masque, toners & more. 

This is a great selection of some of my Kiehl's favorites. I hope my subbie enjoys!

In order to be entered to win giveaways you must subscribe to my blog by clicking follow.

The next giveaway will be my biggest yet, so subscribe & comment. 

Weekend Shopping plus Kiehl's & MAC haul

Hello Lovelies, 

I had a fabulous weekend and I am kind of sad to see it wind down.  Oh well, although the work week is upon us the weekend will be back before we know it. Then it will be time to do it all over it again. 

Ok so I had a pretty busy weekend. I attended a beauty shopping event at Nordstom's on Friday. As I previously mentioned I love Kiehl's product for skincare. So I picked up a couple of my staples that I needed. I got the Kiehl's body spray in the Forest Rain scent. I love this scent it smells very fresh and its a unisex fragrance. FYI  I was sad to learn on Friday that Kiehl's is discontinuing this scent. So if this is one of your stables you might want to re-up before they are gone forever.

I also got Kiehl's Creme de Corps with SPF 30. This is a light weight version of the original creme de corps. However, I decided to try it for summer because this formula contains SPF 30. So we will see how that goes.

I also re-upped on my facial cleanser, which is Kiehl's blue herbal facial cleanser. I will be doing a review on this product because it is a miracle worker. I will also be doing a post on my skincare routine soon.

I also picked up some more MAC makeup. Ok MAC is my favorite makeup line. I got the stackable pigments from the new surf baby line. The name of the colors are summer stash. Guys, I thought this was an amazing value. Ok a MAC pigments retails for $19. So this stackable pigments includes 4 pigments for only about $30. So if you are into pigments you might want to check these out.

The best part of my Nordstrom shopping trip were the freebies I got. I got a bottle of creme de corps in the original formula ($30 value). I also got a nice tote bag with tons of great samples. ( I might be giving this away to one of my subbies). 

Earlier today I went shopping in Philadelphia on South Street. I stopped by a few great shops and got some pretty good things. 

I went to Beadwork. A store that sells beads (of course) & supplies to make jewelry, I got a couple beads for my Pandora bracelet. I loved this store. I gotta go back I am going to make myself some earrings and a bracelet. Maybe I will get into jewelry making.

Then I stopped by a few jewelry boutiques including Pnk Elephant and picked up a few unique pieces. I can't wait to wear them.  

I also did some consigning this weekend. I got a vintage Dior, that I love.

Well that's all for now. 

Oh Friday night I went to NegriI's Village in NYC & I had a blast. The food was amazing and the ambiance was great. After dinner I danced all night in the lounge that is downstairs. It's a great spot, if you are in the NYC area, check out it.

Well, that's it for now. I hope you all enjoyed this fabulous weekend. 

Take care

Product Review: Kiehl's Creme de Corps

Hello Guys, I hope all is well.  The weather has been beautiful lately.

Now that summer seems to have officially arrived. I thought I would share my absolute favorite body moisturizer for the summertime. My go-to summer lotion is Kiehl's Creme de Corps!

Creme de Corps is a light- weight unscented lotion. Although it is a light-weight lotion it is very creamy and goes on smoothly. I love the fact that it is unscented so it does not interfere with whatever fragrance I am wearing.  I never wear scented lotions during the day for this purpose. I use heavily scented lotions for bedtime moisturizing only. 

Anyways, back to Creme de Corps, the best part about this lotion is when you apply it your skin glows! I know it sounds cheesy but honestly your skin is left with this beautiful shine to it. It makes your skin glow as if you are sun- kissed. I love it. When I apply this to my legs and arms they literally are shining all day. 

Now I can imagine what you are thinking, if a lotion provides that much sheen it must be greasy. Nope, not all, this lotion quickly observes into your skin after application. However, it leaves your skin ultra moisturized and glowing. You do not feel sticky or greasy at all.

Creme de corps also comes in a light-weight formula and it also comes with SPF. The price ranges from $10 for a 2.5oz  to $72 for 1liter. You can purchase this item from a Kiehl's store or at a Kiehl's counter in select department stores.

For more information visit:  www.kiehls.com

In order for you to see how wonderful this moisturizer is you have to try it for yourself. One of my subscribers will be receiving a bottle of Kiehl's Creme de Corps (2.5oz). I will also be giving away 3 samples of Kiehl's products, a face cream, toner & a cleansing masque. Kiehl's is my favorite brand for skincare so I hope you enjoy the goodies.

Till next time

AveYou.com: Online Beauty Store

Hello Everyone,

I wanted to briefly discuss my new favorite online shopping site for beauty products - AveYou.com.

Ok, as you may have noticed I love shopping. I do truly enjoy get new things and trying new stuff but not only do I enjoy shopping & getting new stuff. I enjoy the experience of shopping. The experience itself for me includes, excellent customer service, convenience, product selection & great pricing. I am pretty picky about where I shop, because I look for a place that offers me all of theses things to make my shopping experience as pleasant as possible. AveYou.com really surpassed my expectations & it takes a lot to impress me.

I started shopping here a few months back. I have had such a great experience, I thought I would share it with you guys. Ok so AveYou.com is basically a beauty store. They sell hair care, skin care, cosmetics and more. This store has a variety of products as well as a great range of brands. So I am sure everyone can shop here. Great product selection.

Secondly, the shipping is lightening fast! AveYou.com as the fastest shipping, hands down. Each time I have placed an order, I received my shipment within 24 hours. Granted AveYou.com is based out of NJ, where I live, but it is still super fast. My order is processed and shipped within 15 minutes of me placing my order. That is the fastest order fulfillment ever! I love it! The customer service is excellent and if you need to contact them for any reason they reply very quickly. They also have flat rate shipping and $1 shipping if you spend $50 or more.

The best part for me.... coupon codes! AveYou.com  is always running some coupon code. This is great because I get access to some beauty products that otherwise I might not be able to get at a discounted price. Currently they are running a coupon code to receive 15% percent of your order. The coupon code is FIVE.

So treat yourself and indulge in a little online shopping.

Blog Updates

Hey Guys

I just wanted to give you guys a quick update of what's to come for Zara's Favorite Things. Ok, I know there has been a brief hiatus, but I am back! With summer right around the corner, I have tons of tips and fun discussions on dining, travel & shopping. I have several upcoming product reviews! I have tried some great new products and discovered some ideas. Also with product reviews comes giveaways! I have some goodies on deck ready to go so stay tuned.

Feel free to ask questions. I would love to hear from you guys.

Have a beautiful day!

Free Stuff at Sephora Today!

Hello Beauties

This is just a quick post to let you know how to pick up some free goodies today. This offer is open to Sephora's Beauty Insiders  (their reward program).

Ok here it is the event is called the Ojon Trade-in Event - Trade in 1 and Get 2 Free!!! This event is running today May 12, 2011 only at certain Sephora locations.

Ok all you have to do is bring in any empty shampoo or conditioner bottle and you will get a full-size of Ojon Damage Reverse Shampoo and Conditioner. The shampoo comes in a 8.5 oz bottle and retails for $24. The conditioner also comes in 8.5 oz and retails for $25. You will get $49 worth of products for free!

 *Ojon also offers these items in a 2oz travel size for $10, but Sephora indicated they will be giving away the full size!

Participating Store locations:

• 5th Ave
• 34th St
• 42nd & Madison
• 67th & 3rd
• 76th & Broadway
• 86th & Lexington
• 99th & Columbus
• 150 Broadway
• 711 Lexington
• Columbus Circle
• Flatiron
• Soho
• Times Square 
• Times Square 42nd & 7th
• Union Square

So if you are in New York City be sure to stop into a Sephora & hurry these won't last!


Till next time
Stay positive & productive 

Here comes the bride...

Hey everyone,

Is it me or is everyone getting married? It seems as though so many people I know are planning their wedding this year. Several people have approached me and asked for advice in planning their big day. When I got married I was in love with the process. I really enjoyed being a bride. It was so exciting for me to see my dream wedding come to life. My wedding day was exactly, no better, than I envisioned it.

Lots of my family & friends asked me how I was able to bring my dream wedding to life so effortlessly. I was not a stressed and worried bride. I was determined to truly enjoy the experience of getting married and planning the big day.

Since it seems as though there are so many brides out there struggling with the plans and all the pressures, I thought I would offer some advice on how to manage it all.

When you first start to plan your wedding day, it can be overwhelming. There is literally a million things to do. Some brides struggle with figuring out what wedding style they want. My advice is when you start to plan your wedding, go dress shopping first. Go looking for your wedding gown first is very important for several factors. First, the wedding gown is important to every bride regardless of her bridal style. Shopping for your wedding gown is a very emotional and happy event. It is a great way to set the tone for the rest of your wedding preparations.

Most importantly, I think that your wedding gown ultimately defines what kind of wedding you will end up having. For example, if a bride chooses a cinderalla gown, then obviously that dress would work in a very formal setting. Therefore, something like a beach or destination wedding may be ruled out. Your gown is the backdrop of your wedding, it's important that it goes with your overall theme.

Another piece of advice is when determining your budget, do not cut corners on your photos. There is a lot areas that money can be stretched, your photos are not one of those areas. Be mindful about that, because they are going to be documenting your day and that can be considered priceless.

To all the brides out there, enjoy this time. It will be one of the most joyous times of your life. Even if things do not go according to plan, smile anyway. Finally, never loose sight of what the day is really about.


Feel Free to ask any questions you may have.

Product Review: Eco Styler Moroccan Argan Oil Styling Gel

Hey, I just wanted to do a quick product review. I recently purchased the new Eco Styler gel with Argan Oil. This gel is very inexpensive, I paid $1.99 for the 12 oz. I purchased it at my local beauty supply. Eco Styler is available at so many locations. I am sure you can find it in your local drugstore, grocery store or beauty supply; if not you can order it online from numerous vendors. 

The products reads that it will add shine to your hair, while giving you max hold.  The hold on this product is a 10 the firmest hold that this company offers. The gel is very thick, it has the consitency of a paste. 

The gel goes on smooth, however the thickness of the product made it a little difficult to distribute throughout my hair evenly. Although the gel feels heavy it did not weigh down my hair. As it was going on my hair it smelled like pure rubbing alcohol. I hate that... yuck. 

As the gel dried it did give me curl definition, however it was drying very crunchy. In order to minimize the crunch. I applied some Jane Carter Nourish & Shine to my hair after it dried. This step completely eliminated the crunch and decreased any frizz. The final results... My curls were defined, bouncy & weightless. 

As for the ingredients, don't believe the hype, Argan oil is the second to last ingredient. So this gel contains very little Argan oil. The plus about the ingredients however, is that this gel does not contain silicone, which is great.

Overall, this product is pretty decent. I will rate it a 3 of 5 stars. I will use this gel again, mostly for doing my hair to run out for errands or something. (when I want to preserve the good ish). This gel cannot replace some of my other gels. However, the fact that this can even compete with a $20 dollar gel, say it a lot. 

GIVEAWAY WILL BE:

MISS JESSIE'S PRODUCTS (A FEW OF THEM) 

STAY TUNED.

Vegas... Anyone?

Hey everyone,

I wanted to discuss one of my favorite travel destinations... Las Vegas, NV. Now when I go to Las Vegas my agenda is to enjoy the exciting nightlife and amazing entertainment. Las Vegas is not really a place you can go to stay with the intentions of relaxing and escaping it all. My joke is once I get home from Vegas then I need a real vacation to relax and catch up on sleep.

Las Vegas is a very fast pace, high energy city. The Las Vegas strip is constantly busy. There is so much to see and do, the possibilities are endless. So let me give you my personal tour of Las Vegas and why I enjoy it so much.

Accommodations:

Unlike Atlantic City, the casino/ hotels in Las Vegas are much more inexpensive. The rooms are made so affordable, so that people will go spend money elsewhere like in the casino. Also I find all the casinos / hotels on the Las Vegas strip are either new or newly renovated. This means no matter where you chose to stay you will enjoy all the modern comforts and upgrades. 

On my last trip to Las Vegas I stayed at Harrah's which is directly across from Caesars. Harrah's was a great choice because it is smack dead in the middle of all the action on the strip. Now my room at Harrah's was great. My room was newly renovated and I had all luxuries and amenities as a 5 star hotel without the high price. I had a gorgeous view overlooking their pool and the Las Vegas strip, which was just breathtaking at night. I had flat screens in my bathroom. I mean the Ritz Carlton did even have that. So I bet you are wondering how much? Well I stayed in Las Vegas for 6 nights and the total cost of my room was just under $200. THAT'S IT! I got a fabulous room and even more fabulous price.

So when you are booking your hotel in Las Vegas do your research, and trust me there is always someplace else offering the same thing for less. 

HOW TO GET MORE DEALS....

When you check in at your hotel, always ask about what is comped? Las Vegas is the capitol of comps. There is always some freebies floating around. You just have to ask and the right people. What can you get comped??? Everything.

From dinner, to a VIP table at a club to a free night's stay at a casino. 

NIGHTLIFE

My favorite Las Vegas nightclubs are Pure, JET & Tao. FYI all of these were in walking distance from Harrah's. Ladies I know what you are thinking ( walking in heels, how far?) but I literally mean either right across the street or next door. Harrah's location is absolutely perfect. 

Ok some quick info on the clubs, Pure is the best in my opinion. Pure is located in Caesars Palace and its divine and the ambiance is unmatched.  If you are in town, you must check it out. 

Also entry to these clubs can be very pricey and long line to get in is even worse. However, if you show up at the club during the day and look for the guys in suits with a clipboard. You can put yourself on the VIP list for that evening, its that simple. Then you show up that night and you are instantly VIP, no waiting on line and no paying. I love it.

Remember to grab a few free drinks in the casino before you hit the clubs.

DINING

The dining options in Las Vegas are endless. However, briefly I will tell you about my two favorite spots. For a lunch you have to check out the Burger Bar. It is located in Mandalay Bay. As you might have figured out they make burgers. However, the cool thing about the burger bar is you can order your burger ANY WAY you like. You can anything on your burger from caviar to fried eggs and its all amazing. Every time I go I get the Kobe Beef burger with sweet potatoes fries.  This place has never let me down.

My other favorite place to dine to Rao's. Rao's is located in Caesars Palace. Its the best Italian I have ever had in my life. Rao's originated in Harlem, NY, but no one can get reservations there, they are booked up a year in advance it ridiculous, but that is a testament to how good it is. So for me the next best thing is  the Vegas location.  If you enjoy Italian you will not be disappointed.

YOU MUST...

While in Vegas there is just a few things you must do. Here is my top five must do things.

5. See the Water Show in front of the Bellagio. ~Its Breathtaking and the best Free show on the strip.~

4. Stop by a Pool Party. ~ Very Interesting Stuff~

3. Ride the Roller Coaster at New York, NY. ~Its attached to the building, why not free fall and see the strip in a whole new way (upside down).~

2. See a REAL Las Vegas Show.

1. Don't sleep, ~You will miss all the action~

Enjoy

Product Review: L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream

Hey

Ok so this is my very first product review! I am excited to be discussing my all time favorite hand cream. The L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream. This cream has been mentioned in a previous post, What's in my Bag. I must say I never leave home without this product. This is the most moisturizing cream I have ever used. I usually apply this cream once throughout the day and my hands stay moisturized all day, even after washing my hands. When I use other hand lotions or creams I have to constantly re-apply during the day to keep my hands moisturized. This cream has wonderful ingredients such as, shea butter & honey. The scent is heavenly it smells sweet but its very subtle.

The cost:

1oz tube is $10.
5.2 tube is $26.

I always buy the 1oz tube because I use it for travel and to carry in my handbag.
This product is very rich. Its is an ultra thick cream, therefore when applying to your hands you only need a pea size amount. The 1oz tube lasts me between 6- 8 weeks.


You can buy this product at L'Occitane or at your local department store that sells L'Occitane products.

Feel free to ask Questions...

I will be doing a giveaway of a L'Occitane hand cream to one of my followers. If you are the lucky winner, I will be contacting you shortly.

Enjoy

Rickys NYC

Hey Everyone,

This is just a quick post, because I wanted to share a coupon code with you guys. As I previously mentioned I wear my hair natural. I do a lot of my hair care shopping at Rickys NYC. They have 26 locations and their store is pretty much an one-stop shop. They have EVERYTHING. Currently if you are in need of anything involving beauty from hair care to makeup, check out RICKYSNYC.COM.

They currently have a coupon code running that will give you 15% off of any purchase. The code is B15. Also if you spend $50 you will get free shipping.

So Happy Shopping!

My First Deva Cut ~The DevaChan Salon~

Hey Everyone,

I am very excited to report that I had my very first Deva Cut yesterday at the DevaChan Salon in Soho, NY. It was an amazing experience and I am soo happy I did it! I have been wearing my hair naturally curly since September 2010. Since then my hair grew tremendously. However, it was not in a style or shape and I had a lot of straight ends. The straight ends were due to years of strengthening my hair and excessive heat damage. When you are wearing your hair naturally curly, it is very important that you have a good shape and style.  In order to achieve this you HAVE to cut your hair. So I finally decided to do it.  This was my mini chop!!

The Salon:

The Devachan Salon is located in Soho, NY. It is a beautiful Salon. I absolutely loved the ambiance. The atmosphere is so relaxing. You instantly feel pampered. At Devachan they specialize in curly hair. So during my time there, I was given a wealth of information about how to care for my curly hair. I was impressed that the staff was sooooo knowledgeable. Everyone was an expert.

I really liked my stylist. She was great! When we initially met, she really took the time to understand what kind of look I wanted to achieve. She instantly understood what I wanted. This gave me complete confidence in her. At this Salon they have their own technique for cutting curly hair. They cut your hair dry in its natural state. Therefore, you are actually seeing the shape of you hair as they are cutting. This was very impressive to me.  I had several inches cut off my hair. I had my hair cut into an angled bob with my longest pieces towards the front around my face. I love it!! 

I also had a deep treatment, which was also amazing. My hair was instantly soft and almost transformed. I was really impressed with how well their products worked in my hair.  Another thing I loved about my experience was the wash station. The wash station is setup so that you can lay down while they wash and condition your hair. They also have this canopy around you so it feels as though you are getting your hair washed in complete privacy. 

As for styling all that was used in my hair was conditioner and small amount of gel that was scrunched into my ends, that's it! My final results were breathtaking. I love it, my hair was soft, and my curls have never been so defined. I am so happy that I made the choice to go to the DevaChan Salon. I loved it so much I have decided to have my hair exclusively cut at the Devachan Salon. 

If you have any questions please let me know.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
www.devachansalon.com

If you make an appointment, tell them Zara Daniels sent you!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

What's in My Bag

Here is a snapshot of the inside of my purse. It contains all my essentials. 

1. Louis Vuitton Wallet - I love it. It is very slim so it can easily fit it all my bags big or small.
2. iPhone 4-  I never leave home without it. This is my ultimate gadget.
3. Chanel sunglasses - I love my Chanel shades. They add a certain level of sophistication to any look. 
4. MAC studio fix powder -  It is a foundation powder that gives full coverage with a matte finish.
5. MAC lipglass VIVA GLAM VI -  This is a beautiful lipgloss that can easily transition from a glamours daytime look to a sexy evening lip.
6. L'Occitane Shea butter hand cream - The most moisturizing hand cream I have ever used.  My hands feel amazingly soft when I use it.
7. Hand sanitizer -  I have a 4 year old so this is another must-have. Who wants to catch a germ? 
8. Marc Jacobs lipstick pen - It is cute and tiny and the red lipstick is a pen cover so no pen marks end up on the inside of my bag. 

DC Getaway: Stayed at the Ritz Carlton

Hi everyone,

It has been a while since my last post. I  took a much needed vacation in January. It was just a quick getaway, but sometimes that is all you need to relax, release and be refreshed. I took a family vacation, with my husband and son. We went to Washington DC, for 4 days.

We actually stayed in McLean, VA at the Ritz Carlton at Tyson Corners. Our hotel was just 15 mins, outside of DC. I loved our hotel, for the obvious reasons of course. You receive the best service at the Ritz, I identify the Ritz as a home away from home. The Ritz truly makes their guests feel welcomed and comfortable. I enjoyed a day of pampering at their heavenly spa. I did not want to leave.

The location of Ritz was great. The hotel is next to a luxury mall. The mall connects directly to the hotel's lobby. The hotel offered a lot of dining options from PF Chang's to Legal Seafood. It also offered tons of luxury shopping from Saks to Gucci to Chanel. I loved it! 

This made our evenings very simple. Everyone knows traveling with a toddler has it challenges. However it was such a breeze to walk over to the mall for dinner. 

Now I love the Ritz Carlton but I also love getting a deal. So how did I stay at this luxury hotel without breaking the bank??? 

This Ritz location is mainly used by people doing business in DC. Therefore on weekends and holidays the hotel is not busy and as a result they offer fabulous rates. My suggestion is when you are traveling do your research on hotels in the area. You may find that you can save money and get an upgrade at the same time. 

Flaky service / Fabulous iPhone

Hey

I wanted to share with you guys my must-have favorite gadget. My iPhone! I literally can manage my entire life with this gadget and I absolutely adore this device. 

Here is the back story to my iPhone dilemma. I was a loyal Verizon Wireless customer for 8 years. I love VZW, I must admit they are the best wireless carrier, hands down. They offer the best service, and outstanding customer service. Lets not much the freebies I have gotten over the years... but thats another topic for another day.

So last year this time I had a blackberry storm and was in the process of upgrading to the blackberry storm2. Unfortunately, although I had the latest smartphone being offered on VZW, it did not even compare to the glorious iPhone. So basically although I hated to leave VZW's service; I left for AT&T's flaky service and fabulous iPhone.

So I have been a iPhone user for almost a year and I am enjoying all the perks of having the best cell phone on the planet. However, I have a dropped call almost every time I have a conversation. Literally my iPhone drops calls ALL the time. I hate this, especially of years of perfect service with VZW. I immediately dreamed of the idea resolution to my dilemma.... A VZW iPHONE!

I have hoped all year that VZW would release an iPhone and then I would have the best of both worlds. What's so exciting right now? I believe we are on the eve of witnessing one of the best business deals of all time.

Tomorrow during a press event in NYC, VZW is set to make a big announcement. Of course I hoping this is the launch of the long awaited and much needed VZW iPhone. All rumors and signs confirm that this is a strong possibility for tomorrow's press event. 

I can't wait to finally know the fate of VZW's iPhone. If it is unveiled tomorrow, there is no need to say it but I will be first in line to purchase mine and port my number right back to VZW (where it belongs).

To be continued on 1/11/2011 at 11am 

Stay Tuned

About Me... About my Blog

Hello Everyone,

My name is Zara. I decided to start this blog to share my tips, inspirations & fab secrets with women everywhere. This blog is not about one specific topic. I will be sharing my faves on everything. I will be discussing beauty products, hair care, restaurants, vacation, gadgets, and so on... I will basically be discussing everything I love. 


I am a 26 year old, mom of one, wife of 6 years, grad student, social worker, daughter, sister, aunt & friend. The point is I juggle many roles. I work every hard and invest 110% of myself into everything. Along the way I established several tricks of the trade to "luxuriate" and enjoy life. 




Generally, our role as a woman surrounds the idea of caring for others. Many times we are so geared towards fulfilling these roles that we may neglect or ignore our own needs or desires. My hopes for this blog is to remind women how important it is to pamper ourselves. We all deserve the best... and I want to share my ideas of how to achieve the best. 


Stay Tuned for tons of goodies