Love Day: Warrior Queen Noor

Happy Valentine's Day! 

In the spirit of love, I'm here to share one of my favorite bloggers, Noor! This blog lady is so sweet and runs some of the most fun blogger social events - like the #socialblogger Twitter chat and the Grab a Friend Bloghop. Get to know this lady and give her some Valentine's Day love! 

1. What do you love most about yourself?

I (personally) think that I'm so kind. I hate disappointing anyone so all I do is to BE happy and LET everyone happy. It's my most favourite trait , as I think #wink

2.  What do you love about your blog?

I take my blog as a fun place. It's funny , entertaining , connecting in a way and a little bit of real. I'm so proud of where I've taken my blog . From passion to hobby , and even I can brag about my blog . I LOVE it , I blog and it's the most lovely thing about it.

3. Who or what is most important to you? 

Family. I am too close to my twin sister than any other person on Earth. Plus I have always been a kid who's always around family instead of any other party.

4. Do you have a favorite love song or quote?

Umm love song? I have been loving "Jai Ho" from Pussycat Dolls and "Story of my life" from One Direction. They both are a little fierce to be called a love song but I'm currently in love with them both. Even I take SOML as a mean-ish song . But chica , love is even mean sometimes.

5. You've  been posting all about the wedding love - what can you tell us about Pakistani weddings?

Pakistani Weddings are SO traditional. There are lots of events but the main are three events. Henna (or Mayon) , Nikah (or Shaadi) and Valima (or reception)

I'm NEVER able to summarize it in this answer , you better read this post and this post. 

6. Who is your favorite love interest in a movie? (For example, Noah in The Notebook)

Jamal Malik (played by Dev Patel) in Slumdog Millionaire. He fell in love with the girl in film , I don't remember much but I crush Dev Patel (so hard) so this character is still alive in my mind. I loved his love.

7. What is your favorite thing to do on Valentine's Day? 

I'll be honest.... eating Lays or Cheetos with Pepsi . And a many cups of tea. I'm a team-forever-alone right now so it suits me WELL.

Head on over to check her out here: 

Blog // Bloglovin' // Twitter // Facebook // Pinterest // Instagram

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Interviewing Jamie Baywood [Getting Rooted in New Zealand]

A couple of months ago (or maybe last month), I read a blog highlighting Jamie Baywood, author of Getting Rooted in New Zealand and thought to myself OMGOSH she looks super cool and I need to get that book.

Maybe she saw my comment on the blog [I wish I remembered which blog it was], but a few days later she reached out to me! I was more than delighted to interview her - although I do have that aversion to interviews thanks to being a journalist...I know, it makes no sense. Today, I want to share my interview with you and encourage you to check out her book!!

Raewyn: What inspired you to write your book?Jamie: I consider myself an accidental author. I didn’t go to New Zealand with the intentions of writing a
book about my experiences there. I had funny experiences that I had trouble believing were true. I wrote the stories down to stay sane. I wrote situations down that were happening around me and shared them with friends. The stories made people laugh so I decided to organize the stories into a book and publish in the hopes to make others laugh too.

My education is in fine arts, I didn’t write until I moved to New Zealand. I had a lot of art shows in California and New Zealand and even managed an art collective in Auckland. I was bored with the fine art scene. Everything has already been done before in painting, but I am the only person that can tell my own story. Writing feels like a more honest form of art than any other method I’ve tried.

Publishing my book Getting Rooted in New Zealand was my way of transforming poison into medicine. I hope that it can help people that have had bad dating experiences or bad work experiences – make them laugh and not give up hope.

R:What is your favorite anecdote you included?
J: Here is one for Christmas:

MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2010
I watched the Christmas Monologues written and directed by Thomas Sainsbury. Roberto Nascimento was once again my favorite performance, playing a perverted Santa.
Thomas Sainsbury asked me to write and perform a monologue for him in his upcoming play, The Foreign Monologues. I’ve never ever done anything like that before. He seemed amused by my manic behavior and giggling description of the shitty temp jobs I’ve been doing since arriving in New Zealand.
Whenever I’m in his proximity, I’m so nervous I can’t stop laughing or talking. I can’t prevent myself from telling him every dirty little secret I have. He smiles and looks at me closely, as if examining me with his green eyes that seem to go through me. I can’t tell if he is amused or horrified; there seems to be a mix of attraction and repulsion chemistry coming from him. Sometimes he stares so closely that I think he’s about to kiss me; other times he looks like he wants to put duct tape over my mouth.

After describing working in a basement that smelled like rotten cabbage and being told by my boss, “You don’t need to pretend to be nice, you will never get a raise,” Tom asked, “Has anyone ever told you you’re funny?”
I told my grandma that the most prolific playwright in New Zealand wants me to write and perform a monologue for him. My grandma’s response was, “Well, your family certainly likes to laugh at you. If you tell him about your ex-boyfriends, he will be sure to laugh his head off.”
Thanks for the encouragement, Grandma.

R: How did you narrow down which parts to include?
J: I emailed most of the characters in the book and asked for their permission to include stories about
them and to use their names. My husband is the only character in the book that vetoed certain stories. I married a shy man!

It would be impossible to write down every single thing that happen to me in New Zealand for over
a year and it probably wouldn’t be interesting to read. My book is 100% true. These are 100% my
experiences. Most of the book was written as the events happened; it just took me a few years to work up the nerve to publish. To write my book Getting Rooted In New Zealand, I relied upon my personal journals, e-mails, and memories. In February 2013, I organized my stories into a cohesive narrative. It went through several rounds of editing and then I published in April.

Publishing my story was easily the most terrifying thing I’ve ever done. I barely slept the first half of the year worrying what people would think of my book. My book is a true story. My life has been so strange it sounds like fiction, but it is really too weird to be made up. My truth is stranger than fiction.

R: Did you change names in the book?
J: Many of the characters in the book are my real life friends that I met while living in New Zealand. I still keep in touch with most of them. I have changed some the names, but not all of individuals and organizations to preserve privacy.

The hardest part has been trying to promote the book while simultaneously attempting to stay anonymous. My life is literally an open book, but Jamie Baywood is a pen name. I haven’t told my family or husband’s family that I’ve written or published a book. They think I’m just living in the UK working on a MA in Design studying book covers.

I am rather enjoying leading a double life. I am living in a different country from my family and my husband’s family so that aids the author secret. I have a few relatives on both sides of the family having babies this year, so both sets of families are mostly talking about the imminent arrivals and not questioning what I am doing.

R: What advice do you have for aspiring book writers?
J: “No matter how wonderful our dreams, how noble our ideals, or how high our hopes, ultimately we
need courage to make them a reality. Without action, it’s as if they never existed.” – Ikeda

Getting Rooted in New Zealand is available in paperback and ebook on Amazon.

Jamie Baywood can be followed on the following sites:

Facebook  // Twitter // Pinterest // Goodreads // Amazon 

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Meet Amanda + A Giveaway

Today, I also  want to introduce you to Amanda from Niescior's Notes! She's been hanging out at the bottom of all of my blog post and I've had so much fun getting to know her! I decided to go with my journalism roots and interview her!

Interesting Facts:

• Amanda's from South Africa.
• She started the Rancic Army - a year ago - for Giuliana Rancic! 
• She is so supportive! 
• She's the blogger behind Bloggers Think Pink. 

Interview

Why did you get into blogging?

I got into blogging because its a great way to relieve my brain of all the excess thoughts that are currently being stored there... LOL and also its a fun way to meet people :)

What are your favorite blogs to read? 

I do not have favorites... LOL I think it all depends on my mood and all that jazz... Sometimes I feel like I need a little fashion advice, other days I'll be keen to explore the adventures of the many expats that I've come to know!

What is your favorite "random act of kindness" to do? 

Buying extra food and giving it to someone who lives off the streets... 

When did you first start liking Giuliana Rancic and why? [I attended a party with her once! We didn't talk though]

I started liking Giuliana Rancic in August last year after I watched a massive Giuliana & Bill marathon during the course of the weekend! She is a great person (and she thinks I'm cool too! LOL! ) who has worked her butt off to be as successful as she is today and has overcome all the hurdles that have been placed in her path. Whether it be career oriented, personal or even medical - G is an inspiration to so many women and has helped many through difficult times!

Super jealous that you got to attend a party with her! She's the coolest person ever! I wanna party with Giuliana... Not fair! LOL

What is your favorite type of blogpost to write? 

Oooo... I don't think that I have a favorite blog post type as yet... I'm still very much all over the place and finding my feet - so still need to figure that on out...

What do you do in your spare time that isn't blogging or design related?

Sleep! :) I also read books and swim... Nothing exciting... LOL

Tell me more about your design company! 

I started ATN Design Services in January this year... Its something that I do for fun and consider it to be a hobby more than anything else... I offer design for blogs, websites and stationery - and then I also offer some social media profile management services!

What is your biggest passion?

My biggest passion is to move to the United States. I feel like I'm living in the wrong country. LOL - but on a serious note, I just want to be successful and figure out what it is that I'm actually supposed to be doing with my life :)

Check out some of my favorite posts from Amanda: 

The No More Campaign

Handwriting Analysis

Bloggers Think Pink

P.s. Don't forget to enter to win these awesome prizes from Cattails + Cardigans and her sponsors!
We'll have two different winners :)

 Wet Brush from Justina's Gems // 3 month ad space on safaris and sunsets (250x200 banner) // 3 months worth of large ad space from My Show

 10$ Starbucks gift card + 2 custom stickers from Bookworms in Dresses.

5x7 print of the winners choice from This Analog Adventure

50$ Sephora Gift Card

Raising Reagan  // Futures //  Be A Warrior Queen

 

 True Vintage Love // Becoming Adorrable

 There will be two winners- one for the ad spaces, gift card, brush + stickers and one for the Sephora gift card. This will be US ONLY giveaway + each blogger is responsible for their own prizes. Please read the official terms before you enter


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This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. For every e-book purchased I will receive commission. 

 Creating a Beautiful Little Christmas.

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