Leibster Award !!

Hello beautiful!

Just so you know, this is going to be one long fun post and I cannot wait to get started :D

I was nominated for the very popular Leibster Award sometime ago by Sehrish of Makeup with Style and then recently I was nominated for it again by Fatima of Blog by FA, so I decided to do them together in one post! I want to thank them profusely for this nomination and the amazing questions! 

What is a Leibster Award?

A Leibster Award is awarded to the up and coming blogger with less than than 200 followers. The idea is to support each other in order to appreciate each other and to build a strong blogging community!

1- What is the story behind your blog name?

          There's no story behind my blog name, it's just my full name actually (: I didn't want to restrict my blog to one particular thing so I went by my name.

2- When and why did you start blogging?

          I started my personal blog (it's this one) in August of this year. I have always loved writing, sharing what I know and learn and connect with others and blogging let me do just that. I actually started blogging in 2010 about my college life and the memories but didn't continue it. I also have a blog with my best friend Hani. You can check it here.

3- Where you like to be in 5 years time?

          Somewhere I am happy, at peace and able to help others and make an impact. Collaborating with Victoria Beckham. Yes! I adore her and her style so much!! Having published my novels and songs. Having Violette (my clothing line) turn into a very renowned and successful fashion/clothing line! Also, a very successful blogger! Big dreams, big dreams!

4- If you could write a letter to yourself 10 years ago, what is one thing you would tell your younger self?

          "Your kindness will save you, your kindness will grow you. People leave, times change. Do not let anyone or anything dull your shine. Expect only and ONLY from your Lord, He's the only One who'll stay with you no matter what, belong to Him and Him ONLY. What's yours will be yours and what isn't wont ever be yours. Kindness, compassion and faith in Lord is the answer."

5- What do you find to be the most challenging part of blogging?

          As I have just started with this blog: Getting brands to remember my blog, to reach out to me.

6- If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would it be?

          Oh the countries and places I wanna visit! But right now I just want to visit UAE to be with my niece who I miss immensely!

7- What is your favorite food?

          I enjoy eating Chinese and Italian food, also Biryani (duh). 

8- What is one thing that you want to do before you die?

          To do or create something that will help others in my life and continue to do so after my death.

9- What is your favorite post that you have written?

          I put my heart and soul in each post, do complete research and test products before reviewing. My favorite post I've done has got to be 5 Things To Buy This Fall 2015, you can read the post here. I worked for 6 hours on this to make sure I'm mentioning the right designers and selecting the best offers and products for my wonderful readers. I watched the whole New York Fashion Week for Pre Fall & Fall 2015 before writing this and another post that's coming soon in the Fall Series (: 

10- What advice would you give to someone just starting a blog?

          Blog for the love of blogging. As long as you're passionate about blogging or anything in your life, you'll be able to face any and every challenge you come across. Keep yourself updated, read and observe more so that you can provide your readers, followers and fans with the best. Stay true to yourself and your readers. Let your personality shine through your writing <3

11-What it is one goal related to blogging that you would like to complete?

          To work with the beautiful Chiara Ferragni. She inspires me so much. Also (I'm gonna cheat on this one and mention two goals) to provide the best for my readers.

12- What three items are always in your purse?

          a) My Wallet.

          b) Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Peach Glow - To touch up throughout the day as I have combination skin and I sweat a lot.

          c) e.l.f Powder Brush - To use with the Stay Matte Pressed Powder.

13- Which makeup brand is your favorite other than MAC?

          Too Faced! I'm in love with their products!

14- What is the most important thing for you without which you can not live?

          Honesty and compassion. I'll be lost without it.

15- Your most favorite blog to read is?

          I use to love reading Sara Hassan's Blog. I hope she writes again. I love reading The Blonde Salad!

16- What is your biggest wish in life?

          To help others and make an impact.

17- Your favorite quote?

          "Let us permit the nature to have her way, she knows its business better than we do."

18- How you felt when you got nominated for your first Award?

          I always feel so good and humbled when my fellow bloggers reach me for Tags and Awards. Thank you so much for being such a great community!

I enjoyed answering all the questions so much! I hope you enjoy reading them. Also I'd love to know your answers too so do not forget to leave your answers in the comments section! I love doing posts like these!

Rules:

1. You have to introduce my blog first. Also make sure to provide a link back to my blog i.e www.gulezehrasblog.blogspot.com
2. Answer the questions provided at the end of this post.
3. Pass the tag to other bloggers
4. Provide them with questions and rules to The Leibster Award.

My Nominations:
(Please make sure you mention my blog and provide a link back to it. Let me know when you've done the post, I'd love to read your answers)

Unicorn Zombie Apocalypse

Kinza's Realm

Kakcho

Wardaclopedia

Enchanted Excurse

Idorottka

Drop The S

Beauty Talk With Saadia

My Questions:

1- When and why did you start you blog?
2- What do you find the most challenging in blogging?
3- What is your favorite post you've blogged about?
4- Where do you want to see yourself in the next 5 years?
5- If you were to choose only one Makeup Brand to use for the rest of your life, what would it be?
6- What are the three important goals of your life?
7- Who is your favorite fashion designer and why?
8- What three products/items are in your bag/purse right now?
9- Which country would you like to spend the rest of your life in and why?
10- Your advice for new bloggers.

Until next time, Good Luck and Ciao!

I Love Fall (Tag)

Hello Beautiful!

I was tagged by Sana from Sana's Ramblings for the Fall-perfect Tag! I'm gonna include this in the Fall series I have started on my blog. You can find the links to rest of the posts in this series at the end of this post.

Let's begin.

I Love Fall (Tag):

1- Favorite Fall lip product?

Ans. My favorite fall lip product is definitely lip balms! I love love wearing a good lip balm almost all the time in Fall (& winter). I’m currently testing Smith's Rosebud Salve.
  

2- Favorite drink for Fall?

Ans. I love the cappuccino I make at home with extra whipped cream, caramel and grated chocolate –yum!

3- Favorite Fall nail polish?

Ans. I am loving Gun Powder by Color Studio Professional this Fall!

4- Favorite Fall candle?

Ans. I do love candles but I don’t really burn them all the time. I was introduced to Marshmallow Fireside by Kathleen Lights and I absolutely love it for this time of the year.

5- Haunted house, haunted hay ride, or haunted corn maze?

Ans. Haunted house for sure!

6- Favorite scarf/accessory for Fall?

Ans. I love scarves and blazers for Fall. They can amp up any simple outfit!

7- Favorite candy?

Ans. Twix! I can eat Twix forever!

8- Your favorite horror movie?

Ans. As much as I love watching horror movies with my brother, I don’t really have a favorite of all time. I guess I’ll pick Conjuring and Oculus.

9- Favorite blush for Fall?

Ans. This has to be a favorite for all season! It’s my HG and never fails me! And it’s the Masarrat Misbah Makeup Stay On Blusher in Shell Bronze!

10- Favorite thing about Fall?

Ans. Oh the cool breeze, the warm cup of coffee, dry fruits, the fall fashion, boots, coats, scarves, longer nights and the reminder that bad moments and the bad phases will fall away just like the leaves on the trees to make way for new happy moments.

I hope you enjoyed reading the tag.

I nominate:

(Please mention a link back to my blog in your Tag and let me know! I'd love to read your answers (: )

From Other Side of Mirror

Jasmine Catches Butterflies

Nothing Rhymes With Rachel

Jaybee Journal

The Lipstickholic

Wajiha's Life Diary

The Meticulous Perfections

Beauty Talk With Saadia

Walk In Vogue

Glossicious Blog

Until next time, Good Luck and Ciao!
________________________________________________________________________
Fall Series:
#1: Lipsticks for Fall 2015
#2: Start Your Fall 2015 With HOBO by HUB
#3: 5 Things To Buy This Fall 2015
_______________________________________________________________

11 Things You Did Not Know About Me! (Tag)

Hello beautiful!

I'm so excited to write this! This is my first tag post! :D I was tagged by the beautiful Sana from Sana's Ramblings. You can read about her tag post here.
So basically one has to answer all the questions from the person who've tagged you. Once you're done, you tag others and give them your questions!

Now this is a great chance for me to tell you all a little about myself and my interests. I haven't done any "Know Me" kinda posts yet so this is the perfect tag for me to get started. I hope you enjoy reading it, I'm so excited to answer the questions!

11 Things You Did Not Know About Me! 

Q 1. What's your current obsession?

Ans. My current obsession? Well, Makeup!! I've been sooo obsessed with makeup in general. In particular I'm currently obsessed with Masarrat Misbah Makeup Stay On Blusher in Shell Bronze. It's such a beautiful shade and so long lasting on my combination skin. Shell Bronze is currently my obsession, my Holy Grail blusher!

Q 2. What do you think is the best quality in a person?

Ans. HONESTY+KINDNESS. I cannot stress enough on how important it is to be honest! It might be a strong statement but I absolutely cannot stand lies! Being honest doesn't mean to be blunt and not care about other's feelings, that is where kindness comes in. I believe Honesty + Kindness are one of the best quality anyone can & should have.

Q 3. Are you adventurous when it comes to makeup/fashion?

Ans. When it comes to makeup, yes. Although not overly adventurous. Regarding fashion, I'd say not much because I tend to dress according to my body shape, what I think looks good on me and what I am comfortable in. So, although something is very much in trend but if I think it won't look good on me, or wont suit my body type or I don't feel comfortable in it, I will not follow that trend.

Q 4. Your top 5 beauty products?

Ans. I'll start with skincare because well I believe it's very important to take care of our skin first before putting layers of makeup.

1. Freeman Charcoal and Black Sugar Polishing Mask: This is such an amazing product! It's basically an exfoliater. You leave it on your face for 3 minutes and then scrub gently. I scrub until the sugar dissolves on my face, yes it dissolves on your face! There aren't fake harsh beads in it. It thoroughly cleanses the face getting rid of all the impurities and dead cells. I felt the difference in just the first wash. Also you must exfoliate at least once a week.
2. L'oreal Paris Hydra-Total 5 Ultra Hydrating Gel-Cream: Long name, eh? This is the only moisturizer I'm happy with for my combination skin. There's one for dry skin too. It works wonders for my skin. Leaves it so hydrated without being greasy at all! I love to wear it under my foundation. Also, I use it religiously in Fall and Winters as it gets rid of any dry patches and leaves the skin soft, supple and hydrated! I specially use it after exfoliating.
3. Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder: I do not ever leave my house without this dusted all over my face!! It's a pressed powder that helps control shine and keeps you matte! This keeps my combination skin under control and controls the shine. Perfect to set under eye concealers and your whole face in general. I'll definitely keep buying this!
4. Masarrat Misbah Stay On Blusher in Shell Bronze: As mentioned above, it's my current obsession and a Holy Grail blusher! It's perfect for every day wear and can be paired up with any makeup look, whether dramatic or subtle! It gives my cheeks a very healthy looking peachy wash of color with a slight sheen and glow -perfect!
5. Too Faced Chocolate Bar: This is like the top most nude palette for me in all of the nude palettes! If you want to own just one Nude Palette, I'd say get this!!! It has just the right amount of mattes and shimmer to create it either a soft natural eye look or a dramatic one! So pigmented and blends flawlessly.

Q 5. What do you like most about blogging?

Ans. I've always had the passion for writing whether it's short stories or poetry or even a novel (which I am currently working on *wink* ) and I love connecting with people and blogging lets me to do just that. I can write on my favorite topics and products like my readers are sitting with me and we're just having a chat and I'm sharing what I know with them, what's been working for me, if I tried something new or all the tips and tricks I come across. I love reading articles, testing products, trying them on myself, keeping myself updated with all the fashion and beauty trends and I love to share it with everyone,

Q 6. Where are you originally from?

Ans. I'm from the city Karachi and my beautiful country Pakistan.

Q 7. If you would be the C.E.O of any brand for one day, what would it be?

Ans. Too Faced for sure! I love Too Faced.

Q 8. When did you start wearing makeup?

Ans. I really started wearing makeup at the age of 22, that was last year and my obsession with it started. I think it was probably this time last year. My mum often tells me I loved makeup as a kid, I loved to play with her cosmetics but I actually started wearing it last year.

Q 9. If you were stranded on an abandoned island and you had only one choice to choose one person next to you, who would it be? Why?

Ans. Well that's an interesting question! I'd choose my BESTFRIEND. my BFF, my sista from another mother Javeria! Why? Well because she's my Javeria! We can talk for hours without stopping for a minute, she and I are like open books for each other. I love her so much!

Q 10. What career path are you looking at?

Ans. I'm kind of in a dilemma at the moment. I want to work in the makeup industry or for a makeup brand or maybe for all of them AND I want to be a psychologist, I want to help people that way. Well who says I can't be both, right? But I have to start somewhere.

Q 11. What inspires you for keep on going for blogging?

Ans. For the love of writing and sharing it with the world. The love for makeup, fashion, books, beauty, food, arts and craft.  To share what I know, my experiences, my knowledge and what I learn with the people and to help them in some way or the other. To spread love, positivity and kindness <3

I really enjoyed doing this tag! Comment down below if you did! (:
The questions were so good and I enjoyed answering each one of them. I hope you enjoyed reading it too and now know a little about me (:

Time to pass on the tag! I nominate:

Beauty Appetite

From The Other Side of Mirror

The Beauty Finds by Bia

Nothing Rhymes With Rachel

Marium Says

The Inside Out Beauty

Nina May

Kanwal Ikram's Blog

My questions:

1. Who/what is your biggest inspiration in life?
2. What inspired you to start blogging?
3. Your top 5 beauty picks?
4. If you could travel the whole world, which 3 destinations will you pick first and why?
5. What is your current obsession?
6. If you are given an opportunity to make your own makeup product with your favorite brand what would it be and why? What brand will you choose?
7. What do you like most about blogging?
8. Who are your top 3 bloggers and YouTubers and why?
9. Do you have a signature makeup look or fashion style? What is it?
10. What is your biggest achievement in life?
11. What will be your advice & guiding points for the young bloggers?

Let me know when you've done he tag, I'd love to read your answers <3

Until next time, Good Luck and Ciao!