Wednesday, July 3, 2013

First Blogger Interview, Starring Naznin Azeez and INT giveaway

Dear All: So excited to introduce my first blogger interview! I met Naznin recently, and we really hit it off! I really love her and her blog, so I figured, why not host her on mine!

A little paragraph about Naznin Azeez

Hello all! I am so pleased & honored to be featured here on Christina's blog, Ensconced in YA. I am an Indian by birth but I consider United Arab Emirates to be my home, considering the fact that I have spent 22 out of my 25 years of life, here. I love to blog about random things that come to my mind. I love to bring variety in my blogging topics. So I do DIYs (skin care/ haircare / crafts), book reviews, cosmetic reviews, occasional hauls etc. I would love you to check out my blog!

Naznin's blog
http://nazninazeez.wordpress.com/

Interview with Naznin

1. Can you tell us a little about how you realized you loved to read and secondly, what prompted you to start a blog?.

A: My love for reading started since I was in high school. They had a lovely library there and the teachers encouraged us to read a lot. It did earn me a pair of eye glasses as early as 1998! I still need them, though I have fashionably upgraded myself to contact lenses. Along with the love for reading, my desire to write started in school too. I took part in Essay Writing/Story Writing competitions, and the certificates that followed encouraged me a lot. Last year, I decided it's been a long time since I did any kind of writing. Blogging looked perfect to me as it accomplishes two things that I love: Sharing my thoughts on just about any topic with anyone in this world and [obviously!] writing. Thus began my blogging journey!

2. What have been your top 5 YA reads in the past year or two and why?

A: My favorite genre is Suspense/Thriller. Sadly, I have only read three YA books so far, all of them, in this very year. As all three of them earned 5 star reviews on my blog, I would like to name them as my top 3. They are : The Stone Guardian by Theresa McClinton, The Chronicles of Trellah: The Perpetual Rain by T. S. Graham and Escaping Darkness by Theresa McClinton. The authors of these books have captured the essence of youth, successfully created plots that are unique and intriguing. I am so glad to include two of those books in today's giveaway.

3. What movie should we all see?

A: No one should miss seeing The Pursuit of Happyness. I just love this movie so much. I have so many other favorites and must-watchs but don't wanna go on and on!

4. What superpower would you choose if you could have it?

A: The power to read other people's minds. I think that would be super cool!.

5. Who is your favorite author?

A: Oh Christina!... It's criminal to ask this question to a book lover. I will have to name a few here. I really can't choose just one. My favs are James Patterson, David Baldacci, Sydney Sheldon, T.S Graham, Theresa McClinton and Frederick Lee Brooke. 

6. What is your favorite mode of communication- email, handwritten letter, text, etc?

A: The one that I mostly use due to it's convenience is the email. However, my favorite mode is the handwritten one. There is nothing more beautiful than your loved one's penned words on a piece of paper. The fact that they have taken the time to write a letter to you is simply adorable.

7. What do you do for a living?

A: I am a homemaker. I used to work with Singapore Airlines as a Ticketing agent until 2011. I resigned after I got married and settled in a different city in UAE. Ah!. I used to love working and earning!

8. Give us one of your favorite quotes.
My favorite quote is "If the other person's lawn is greener, then let him/her worry about mowing it". This quote has much significance about how you perceive happiness and being content with what you have. It's always good to count your blessings instead of counting other's.

I thank Christina for having me here. It felt awesome being here, and thank you to everyone who spent some of their precious time reading through this interview :)

Naznin, thank YOU! Please enter her awesome giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

55 comments:

  1. Christina, I think this in an awesome new addition to your blog. I've already learned about a new recipe! lol

    I went by Naznin's blog and looked around. There are some interesting posts in it, like the Sinfully refreshing drink one. I might give it a try one of these days since it's really warm here too. I'll have to use the yogurt substitute.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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    1. Thank you Ari for taking part and for visiting my blog!

      Naz :)

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  2. I love her favorite quote, it's funny yet so true!

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    1. It's been my favorite for a long time. I believe in it so much!. Thank you for reading through the interview, Ariel!

      Naz :)

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  3. I have to say, Naznin, you are so beautiful! You have such a great smile! I really enjoyed getting to know you better! Where is UAE? Is it called a sarong...the scarf kind of thing you wear? I wish that it was more fashionable for American women to wear them because I have ALWAYS thought they looked so pretty! I love yours! I am thinking that I may buy one or two and just try them out! I have to google what exactly they are called though! I checked out your blog and I really like and am now following via email! I remember when I satrted reading on my own! I used to read The Babysitter's Club, Boxcar Children and Goosebumps! I feel because i have read since forever that my vocabulary is a little more extensive than others who do not read. You really learn a lot don't you!

    Thanks so much for the blogger interview, Christina!

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    1. Hi Jovon!. Thank you so much for your compliment. You put a smile on my face with your comment. UAE is in the Middle East. I am wearing something called a churidar, which is a three piece set. The scarf like part is called a shawl. Oh I still love Goosebumps. I seriously agree with you that the boost, reading gives in developing your vocabulary is real high. Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment!.

      Naz :)

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    2. Churidar! Cool! I haven't read goosebumps in a while but I have seen a couple of the movies! Have you! And you are very welcome!

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    3. I haven't seen the movies!. Thank you for replying :)

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  4. Thank you Christina, for featuring me on your blog today. I really appreciate it!. I am so glad I met you over cyberspace. That's the best part about blogging. You get to meet awesome people whom you wouldn't have otherwise known in your life. Love you and you are amazing, Christina!

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  5. I love your favorite quote! :) I'll have to tell my husband about it. He hates mowing the lawn!

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  6. I really enjoyed this interview and the history behind it.

    cenya2 at Hotmail dot com

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  7. Her favorite quote is great. It is funny and soooooo true at the same time. I can not resist a great quote, they say so much just in a few words.

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    1. You are right, Becky!.. I love quotes that hold a lot of wisdom and meaning in it..

      Naz =)

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  8. Her favorite quote is great. It is funny and soooooo true at the same time. I can not resist a great quote, they say so much just in a few words.

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  9. What a wonderful post! And it's funny because The Pursuit of Happiness is also one of my all time favorite movies!

    I can't tell you how thrilled and honored I am to have such a wonderful fan, blogger, and now friend voice her love for my books during an interview. It's truly the best reward an author can have.

    I'll have to convince Naz to send me a few of those beautiful outfits for my own personal enjoyment! Aren't they stunning?! The colors knock me off my feet.

    Thanks for the blog, Christina and Naz. You guys are a great team! Can't wait to share this interview on my FB/twitter pages. :0)

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    1. Theresa, you are simply the best!. Loved your detailed comment. Thank you for sharing it on your social media sites. Thanks about my outfit ♡

      Naz :)

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  10. Such a wonderful interview. I enjoyed also finding a new insightful blog to follow. Thank you both so much.
    8)Michelle Hofacker

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    1. Thank you for stopping by and choosing to follow me, Michelle ♡

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  11. I haven't seen "The Pursuit of Happiness" but I think now maybe I shall :)

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    1. You really should watch it!. It's amazing and inspiring..

      Naz =)

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  12. I really enjoyed the interview and absolutely love your blog. Your favorite quote is awesome and one I am going to use. It is perfect.

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    1. Thank you Jacquelyn!. That means a lot to me..

      Naz ♡

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  13. *has finally collected her thoughts* This is such a great interview, Naz! Who knew that the idea of making a blog had so much history behind it :) I also like handwritten letters (though it seems like email is the new 'thing' nowadays) and being able to read people's minds (but that could lead to some bad situations O_O ).

    And I love your favorite quote! It's a bit funny and meaningful at the same time <3

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    1. Hey Lottie!. Thank you so much for reading through my interview ♡.. Surely, reading other people's minds might create disastrous situations but still that power can be used in a good way. It appeals to me.

      Love,
      Naz

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  14. I really enjoyed reading this interview. It is amazing how blogs allow us to get to know wonderful people from all over the world! Thank you for sharing with us, Naz!

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    1. Thank you so much, Brooke!. I sure agree with you. It's the most rewarding experience ♡

      Naz =)

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  15. Beautiful Interview!! I enjoyed and inspired.
    Thank You, Naz :)

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    1. Shristi, you are a sweetie!. Thank you for the comment..

      Naz ♡

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  16. It's always fun to read more about bloggers lives. I love her quote!

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  17. I loved reading as a child too! And that is a great movie!

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    1. Reading as a child builds such a fundamental base from where you can develop more!.. It's nice you had that habit as a child =)

      Naz :)

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  18. Such a sweet comment!. Thank you =)

    Naz ♡

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  19. OMG, I love that quote and am so using it in my life :)

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    1. That's sweet, Jolene!. It sure is a powerful quote and thus my favorite ever =)

      Naz♡

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  20. I love the quote. My husband s a greenkeeper

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  21. what an interesting interview since i'm such a bookworm myself as well! or actually, it happens that as life gets busier i tend not to find time for reading anymore, and i totally long for it.
    having a mom who works as a librarian, i grew up with books. although, we have quite a different taste, i think i never read more than one thriller! i've always loved fantasy, but i guess i should try some of those authors! and i'll definitely going to watch that movie as well, it's so interesting to explore other people's favourites! :)

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    1. Hello!. Thank you for that nice comment. Thrillers are so exciting and for some time I go to that thrilling world, leaving the life behind which can get boring at times!. I love fantasy too. Do watch that movie :)

      Love,
      Naz =)

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  22. I'm a huge thriller fan too. Those are some interesting looking book you've mentioned. I'm going to check it out now.

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    1. Thank you, Ashfa!. Great to hear you are a thriller fan too. Do check out those books. You won't be disappointed!

      Naz

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  23. I would love to be able to read other peoples minds too but I seriously doubt that I have think enough skin to take all the negative things people think on a constant basis about others around them so that would be a tricky power to have!
    It must have been pretty fun to work for an airline!
    Great Interview!
    Dayna

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    1. That's true, Dayna!. But still that power seems attractive to me. Sure was fun working with Singapore airlines. Thank you so much for reading through my interview ♡

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  24. hello, your blog is perfect you chosse so great books to review, i love this so much, read minds will be the best power ever

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    1. Thank you Dicran!. Such a sweet comment..

      Naz =)

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  25. Cool idea about the interview. I think the superpower choice is right on. Thank you and congrats on your first interview, it went great!

    Name on rafflecopter: Amanda Sakovitz

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    1. Thank you for taking part in the giveaway!

      Naz :)

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