You All Overwhelmed Me...With Joy!

I just recently launched my novel "Within the Bindings" on Kickstarter and I was overwhelmed with the response and feedback I received since then! A lot of my friends showed interest in my work and even some family members from the other side of the world decided to pitch in as well! I was so happy about all of it! The project has only been live on Kickstarter for about a day and I only raised 1 of 100 percent! It may not sound like a lot, but it was to me. I usually never receive responses that fast or that early. It was a great feeling.

My Kickstarter project took a lot of work to put up. The verification process took me about a month. (I blame myself, Kickstarter approved me within a day). Plus, shooting and editing my Kickstarter video was the hardest part. I shot the video twice. The first time I shot it with my phone and it appeared in HD on when played back on the phone, but on my computer it looked as if it were shot on an old flip phone. I could never publish that! The second time, I had my sister, Tabeer help me. She did great and all it took was about 3 hours of editing and staying awake until 5 A.M. to upload it to Kickstarter and send it in for approval.

Watch the video and see for yourself.



All your feedback and pledges mean the world to me! Please don't stop sending them! Be sure to follow my novel's Facebook page for updates and Tweet questions or comments to hashtag #WithinTheBindings!
xoxo,

Project Update: #7ThingsProject and Kickstarter

I have lots of projects going on and I want to make sure I can keep track of them all. I'm a multitasker and I'm known to launch several projects at once. I like being busy, what can I say? Two projects that I am currently working on are the #7ThingsProject and funding my yet-to-be published novel on Kickstarter.

My Kickstarter project is soon to be launched for my novel titled "Within the Bindings".

The novel is written by me and is about family, love, and the meaning of life in general. The novel itself was started in November 2012 and will be published November 2013 or December 2013 through Kickstarter funding. Be sure to show some love once the funding process is live and drop a comment or pledge a buck or two. I'm going to be giving back to all of my project backers by trying to make their experience with me as friendly and genuine as possible. I will be accepting questions and reading comments on Twitter through hashtag #WithinTheBindings and also giving a few backers the opportunity to be character in my novel. Follow my Twitter or Facebook for updates on when the Kickstarter project will be live or search "Within The Bindings" on Twitter, Facebook, and Kickstarter

The #7ThingsProject is a 7 part blog series and hashtag project run on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Tumblr. 

What is the #7ThingsProject?

This 7 part blog series & hashtag project brings people closer to achieving their goals, facing their fears, and just embracing life. 

Most people spend their lives saying one day I will be able to do this, one day I'm going to do that, and perhaps one day I'll be strong enough to do everything I ever wanted. This project brings these people closer to dreams by taking little steps (7 steps actually). 

Check out the official #7ThingsProject page for more details and how to sign up!

Love,

I Won a Giveaway!

A few weeks ago, Sarah from Given Me Wings notified me of winning her 4 Year Blog Anniversary Giveaway and I was more than excited! I have entered way too many giveaways, but this was one of the giveaways I was hoping I would win! Sarah is a very wonderful person from the UK who loves to blog and share her fashion & style. Her blog content really reflects her personality and she's very friendly as well!



I won a box of amazing products which include a Blush in Pixie Pink by Sleek, They're Real Mascara by Benefit Cosmetics, Bourjois Ombre á Paupiéres Eyeshadow in Rose Perlé, and Golden Pearl High Shine Lip Gloss by Elizabeth Arden.



I was so excited to see the adorable things I won handpicked by Sarah herself and the little note attached to it as well. Thank you so much Sarah! I hope to hear from you again. I love your blog & will continue to follow it! Thank you so much!
xoxo,

What I Love & Hate About the Blogosphere

I've been considered a 'blogger' since 2011 and I have come to love and hate blogging at the same time. If you don't know already, I write three different blogs, The Eternity Journal which is my personal blog, It's Technologic which is my technology blog, and The Life of A Zobot which is a Wordpress blog where I post a collection of my own quotes. I write because I love to write and I know I have a lot to share, but blogging is a bit different for me and the blogosphere that I have become a part of is both a good and bad thing. I love many things about the blogosphere, but I hate some things too.

What I Love About the Blogosphere:

1. A Place of Your Own - When you start a blog of any sorts that you share your thoughts and personality on, you establish a place of your own where others can find you. Since it is your place on the Internet, you make the decisions, you make the rules, and you have the freedom to share your interests and thoughts your own way. This is my favorite part, I do so much work on the Internet, I actually need a place of my own where I can show  people who I am and why I do what I do. 
2. The People - While your blog is live, no matter what topic it's about, you'll meet like-minded people and even make some friends. Most bloggers find it easier to make friends with bloggers from the same niche and others like to be diverse and follow bloggers of different topics. No matter what you choose, you'll find people in the blogosphere every where!
3. The Publicity - When I tell people I have a blog normally they would be amazed as if I'm the most interesting person they have met. Although they aren't wrong, I like to be humble about it. Blogging gives me a little sense of fame both online and offline. There's always some positive comments said about someone being a blogger. One nice compliment is enough to make me happy and pretend that I'm famous for a day. 

What I Hate About the Blogosphere:

1. The Ongoing Blog Hops & Linky Parties - I like the fact that bloggers get all their blog and social media links out there by participating in a fellow bloggers' blog hop or linky party. The concept & procedure is pretty simple. In most blog hops and linky parties all you have to do is follow your hosts and co-hosts then add your links to the list and wait for someone to find you. It's great the bloggers decide to host this on their blogs and help promote each other. However, I also find it to be a waste. I have linked up twice in my blogging years. I gained maybe one or two followers and received a few comments, but that was all. The thing with these virtual events is that you aren't guaranteed anything. You are basically placing your blog amongst hundreds of other blogs hoping to get noticed, but if you aren't a host or co-host chances are you won't be.
2. Overpriced Sponsoring - I understand some bloggers get thousands of page views and have very active fans, but charging $300 for an AD space on a blog or website is ridiculous! As a blogger if you want to make money, charge a company $300 for ads and a regular person $15. For Gods sake, it's just a digital photo representing a blogger on a web page, it shouldn't cost more than an $20. Even if my blog receives thousands of page views, I'd charge in the $2-$20 range. Anything more than that is crazy!
3. Social Ladder - Let's face it even in the world of blogging, there's a line between the most popular blogs and the least popular blogs. Mine being one of the least. See, I started this blog to recreate a collection of memories while accomplishing all my endeavors. I thought that everyone who sees some my projects would want to get to know me and this blog is where they will end up. I was wrong. No one cares about me. Well, not yet anyway. It's a bit disappointing, yes, but it's okay because I love being able to say I'm a blogger, writing, and the blog itself. 

Those are some of my insights on the blogosphere. I wonder what the next person reading this might think of it.
xoxo,

A Spectacular Beauty Essentials Giveaway!

Disclosure: This blog complies with FTC advertising guidelines. Participating bloggers other than Spectacular She are not responsible for fulfillment of prizes.

Spectacular She is wanting to spoil two lucky fans with prizes totaling about $400!

Thanks to the Host and all of the Co-hosts who helped! Click on their beautiful faces to check out their blogs and see what other goodies you might find.

 

Who could use a little home-pampering? Up for grabs are two prizes: The Thairapy365 Tri-Curl Curling Wand set, and tons of other goodies in a prize pack! This giveaway is brought to you by Spectacular She and about 45 other amazing bloggers who make such awesome prizes possible. You can see the list of all bloggers who signed up to sponsor this event here.

Please welcome our Co-Hosts and their marvelous suggestions as seen below. You can see a list of current prizes by visiting here.

This giveaway will run from 7/19 to 8/2 and is open to the United States and Canada. Please enter on the Rafflecopter below. All entries will be verified and anyone with false entries will be disqualified. Good luck to all!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you for entering, spread the word and get your friends to enter as well!
xoxo,

My Quote is on Quotable Life!

I have exciting news to share with you all! Back in April, the amazing inspirational poster & home decor shop, Quotable Life featured one of my quotes from my quote blog The Life Of A Zobot! I was extremely excited about Quotable Life being able to turn my quote into an awesome print that you can now purchase! Get my quote "Life is about defining choices, adjusting priorities, and constantly creating tomorrows." in any print size you want and even get it customized in any color courtesy of Quotable Life! 

Buy the print "Defining Choices" and be sure to browse all of Quotable Life's inspirational products!

Disclaimer: All quotes written on The Life Of A Zobot and on The Eternity Journal that state myself as the author are original thoughts and creations that cannot be copied, replicated, or changed in any way, not even if credit is given. 

Thank you so much for reading!
xoxo, 

Click for larger image

Life is about defining choices, adjusting priorities, and constantly creating tomorrows.

- See more at: http://www.quotablelife.com/faith-and-inspiration/defining-choices/#sthash.s48ykfqm.dpuf

Click for larger image

Life is about defining choices, adjusting priorities, and constantly creating tomorrows.

- See more at: http://www.quotablelife.com/faith-and-inspiration/defining-choices/#sthash.s48ykfqm.dpuf

Spunkee Belle & Friends Giveaway: Win Over $90 in Gift Cards & Prizes

Remember all those giveaways I mentioned in my last blog post?! Well, here's one of them! I joined Kystal from Spunkee Belle and three other awesome bloggers: Ashton, Noor, and Areeba to bring another fun group giveaway! Check out all the prizes and enter for your chance to win prizes valuing more than $90 in total!

Meet Krystal: Blog // Twitter

Meet Noor: Blog // Twitter

Meet Ashton: Blog // Twitter

Meet Zobia: Blog // Twitter

Meet Areeba: Blog // Twitter

Enter now and unlock 3 bonus giveaway entries every day!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thank you for participating!
xoxo,

Blogger Opportunities & Giveaways All Summer!

I have been very excited to tell you about some great giveaways and blogger opportunities that I will be hosting or just being a part of.

The first blogger opportunity I want to share is the Spectacular She Beauty Essentials Giveaway! This opportunity is open to anyone in the United States and Canada and sign ups close July 17, 2013. Then from July 19 - August 2, 2013 enter the giveaway to win a basket full of beauty items valuing up to $400! Sign up for this amazing blogger opportunity here! Be sure to mention Zobia referred you!

The second blogger opportunity I'd like to share is my own, Blossom Basket Giveaway! This opportunity is still open to anyone in the United States and sign ups have been extended! The giveaway will start August 2, 2013 and the prize is a beautifully put together basket from FragrancEssence.com that is valued at over $60 in products! Don't miss out on offering your readers this Blossom Basket. Sign up for this blogger opportunity here! 

Beyond that, I will be co-hosting two great giveaways this month and the prizes will definitely be worth the wait! I can't wait until they go live! Thank you for reading! Good luck!

 xoxo,

My Fourth Liebster Award Nomination

I'm very happy about the fact some people take interest in blog and who I am. It's exciting to see I won an award, but to be honest, I am a bit tired of winning a nomination. It's fun and all great and all and I am grateful for the hand full of my favorite bloggers who have nominated me for all four, but I really hope this is the last one I receive. I hope to I achieve something greater soon. 


I've been nominated for the Liebster Blog Award by blogger friend Kyrstal from Spunkee Belle. She is very kind, sweet, and loves to blog! Thank you so much Kyrstal for the nomination.

The rules for the Liebster Blog Award are simple, only blogs with 200 or less followers are nominated, each person nominated must write some facts about themselves (it's usually 11), answer questions the nominator asks, and nominate some bloggers for the rewards asking them some questions as well.

*Liebster means lovely or great.

Here are Kyrstal's questions for me:

• What is your biggest fear? - My biggest fear are spiders and sharks. 
• If you could have a private dinner with ANY 5 people, who would it be? - Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Tom Anderson, Mark Zuckerberg and Matthew McConaughey.
• What is 1 thing you regret from your past and why? - I regret thinking that I could trust everyone and everything because I've learned even the people you can trust, can be mistrusted too.
• What's your favorite holiday? - My favorite holiday is New Years'. It doesn't matter what religion you are or where your from, almost everyone celebrates New Years'!
• What is your dream job? - My dream job is to be an entrepreneur I want to be running my own company.
• If you could date any celebrity, who would it be? - If I was older and he was younger
  Matthew McConaughey (But hey celebrity crushes change every year ;) ).
• What is 1 bad habit you would change? - Staying up way to late and spending too much time on the Internet.
• Chocolate or Vanilla? - It depends on my mood, so I say chocolate & vanilla! :)
• If you could eat 1 thing for the rest of your life what would it be? - Cheesecake, who doesn't love cheesecake?!
• What is one thing your readers may not know about you? - My readers may not know that I wear contacts to replace my prescribed glasses. Although, I love my glasses, to the public, they have never been seen. 

11 Facts About Me:

1. I love sandwiches!
2. My favorite dessert is Cheesecake, chocolate cheesecake to be exact.
3. I don't wear much makeup. 
4. I love to watch reality TV.
5. You will usually find in my glasses and night gown all day on a Sunday.
6. Watching movies with friends and family makes me happy.
7. I love all the little things in life. Small sweet gestures from a loved one or just being able to enjoy an Iced Coffee in peace will make my day the best day ever. 
8. Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream is my favorite.
9. I keep a few handwritten journals where I write all my quotes, life's moments, and my thoughts. 
10. I love eating breakfast, you can literally have breakfast at any time of day.
11. I try to take as many photos and videos as possible. A picture is worth a thousand words. 

Blogs I Nominiate:
Hima Hearts 
Everyday Elise
Oh Hey Brittany

Questions for The Blogs I Nominate:

1. How much time do you usually spend in a week blogging?
2. Do you consider blogging to be a hobby or a side-job?
3. What's your all time favorite movie?
4. What are some things you'd like to accomplish in the next 10 years?
5. What does your ideal summer look like?
6. Do you like to take pictures?
7. What's your favorite TV show and why?
8. If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?
9. Coffee or Tea?
10. Do your or have you ever kept a handwritten journal of any kind?
11. Apple or Android or Neither?

Thanks for reading!
xoxo, 

My Experience with the Julep Maven Subscription Program

I have been "endorsing" Julep since I found out about it in April of this year. I loved their pretty nail polishes and once I received an offer to claim a free Julep Maven box of my own, I took up the opportunity. I was delighted with my box and the nail polishes I received. I was impressed by Julep and I even dedicated a post to it on my blog offering my friends and readers the same free box offer I received. The post was titled "Julep Maven Box Unboxing".

When I found out about the free offer, I immediately signed up for a Julep account, took the style quiz, paid the $3.99 shipping cost, then deliberately waited for the box to arrive. Once it arrived I was overjoyed and blogged about it.

I knew that a regular Julep Maven subscription (the monthly box) was $19.99 a month so I avoided getting into that. I didn't intend to either. So every now and then I'd log on to see if there was a specific nail polish color I wanted, save it to my wishlist, and log out. Julep sent me tens of thousands of e-mails for different styles and new promotions that were going on. I ignored all of that, after all, I did not want to join the subscription program.

Just a few days ago, I found that $19.99 was taken out of my bank account from Julep and a shipping confirmation was sent to my e-mail as well. I did not buy anything, where'd this come from?!

Then this happened and that happened and before you know it, I'm leaving the customer service line angry voicemails, sending the customer support e-mail terrible messages, and tweeting Julep and crying out for help because I was billed for a purchase I was both unaware of and DID NOT MAKE.

Julep's customer service is terrible! It took me literally four hours to get through to someone. Then, once I did, the lady did not care what I had to say she claimed no returns can be made on Maven Boxes, but hello...I DID NOT BUY IT! She said I was apparently enrolled in the subscription program, but I argued because it was June...it's been two months since I last bought my first box in April.

After some further investigation, Julep tried to charge me in May and made several attempts to charge me after it was denied. They claim that I should have known I was Julep Maven when I bought the starter box.

That's where she was wrong. If I knew I was enrolled in the program, would I call customer service?! Maybe they should have been clearer? Maybe they should have sent me an e-mail saying that I'm enrolled in the program and will be charged every month instead of sending me thousands of e-mails about the new summer colors?

Here's what they did for me. Nothing.

My subscription was cancelled upon request and the unwanted subscription box that I was charged for was sent to my door. I did not choose the nail polish colors in it and therefore, I do not want it.

Come on Julep! You have great products! How about have quality customer service? How about not run a subscription program if you are going to anger people by charging them money for something they don't want? How about sending less e-mails and annoying the heck out of people?

I personally love their products, but what happened to me no longer makes me a fan so I'm selling my Julep box. My experience with the Julep Maven Subscription Program was terrible.



You'll be getting 3 colors: Angela, Nadia, Tracy and a packet of Green Tea Facial Blotting Papers. This is the July Maven box and I'm selling it exactly the way I received it. Want to buy it? Here's a link to my eBay Listing > Julep July 2013 Maven Box, 3 colors and a Surprise.

Thanks for reading,