Zainab Chats Blog – Zainab Chats

The Lessons To Take Away From January

February 3, 2022February 3, 20227 Comments

Hey everyone, Zainab here, welcome or welcome back! I cannot believe we’re already in February – January went so fast. Which also meant there were a lot of lessons to take from it, it was the start of the year and I think a lot of people learned. So, today, I’ll be sharing the lessons I’m taking away from January!

Planning Makes Life Easier

January is the month where people want to start implementing new skills and goals into their lives. And let me just say, that’s not easy to do without a plan (at least for me!) If I didn’t write down what I wanted to do, it didn’t happen so I definitely learned that from this past month.

Consistency Is The Key To Improvement

Even if I planned, what good is planning if you don’t do it consistently? So, January taught me to really be consistent with new habits – which I’m definitely going to bring into this coming month!

Please Yourself Before Others

I actually managed to put this lesson into my life this month and it took a lot of weight off my shoulders. I had a lot of commitments and my goal for the whole of 2022 is not to put too much onto my plate, so recently I had to let go of one of those commitments to make things better for me – and it really did help! So, this is definitely my biggest takeaway from January.

Thank you so much for reading this post, I really enjoyed writing it – it was a good reflection for me. Comment the lessons that you learned from January, I’d love to hear them!

You want to see more of me and get exclusive updates on my blog? Well check out my socials!
Instagram – For exclusive updates on posts
Goodreads – You can see any books I’ve read or even recommend me one!
Contact Me if you would like to collaborate or have any other inquiries
Any suggestions or feel like chatting? Comment down below!

Have an amazing day!

My Interview On The Blogger Up Series

June 20, 2021June 12, 202114 Comments

Hello everyone it’s Zainab here, welcome or welcome back to Zainab Chats! Today’s blog post is slightly different as I got the lovely opportunity to be interviewed by Nabeeha Jameel from the Brainstorms blog – so today I’ll be sharing my interview with you all! Be sure to check out the original post here and give Nabeeha a follow, now let’s jump into Nabeeha’s interview! from the Blogger Up Series! (Nabeeha’s questions are in bold!)

1. When did you start Zainab Chats, and what inspired you to?

I started Zainab Chats in April 2020. (I started at about the same time too, after being devastated and confused after my O-level Examinations got cancelled) I actually had a previous blog on Blogger called: Z.H Blogs but I really just wanted to rebrand – we were in the middle of lockdown and I couldn’t see us coming out any time soon so I decided to start Zainab Chats to spread positivity to others! (YAY🎊!)

2. I really like the whole aesthetic of your blog. What theme have you used?

Thank you so much! I use the free WordPress theme: Canape

3. Does your blog focus on a specific niche?

I mainly focus on Positivity but I also do other niche-related posts such as Reviews, Study Tips and Lifestyle!

4. Throughout your blogging journey what is one thing that has been a constant challenge?

I’m very thankful my blogging journey hasn’t been much of a challenge. However, one thing that has been a challenge (not specifically about my own blog) but it’s been keeping up with other people’s blogs. Through school and other activities I find it quite difficult to consistently go through WordPress Reader and read other people’s lovely blogs. It’s not a challenge I’ve fully overcome but I’m getting there! (I can relate, but my constant struggle mostly revolves around being consistent with my posts and keeping up with life at the same time😬)

5. I noticed that Zainab Chats has an Instagram account. How has the Instagram account helped with your blogging journey?

The Instagram account really helped me grow my blog in the beginning. Now, I tend to focus less on growth and use the account to interact more with my followers which is not something I can really do in the comments of blog posts.

6. What is your favourite post on Zainab Chats and Why?

That’s such a hard question, but I’d have to say my 100 Followers Special as it was such a big moment for me and I honestly never thought I’d get there. It was also a fun post as I got to react to people’s assumptions about me! (The satisfaction when you reach a 100 followers is indescribable! I cannot wait for your blog to reach 1K!)

7. Where do you see your blog three years from now?

Three years from now, I hope to have grown by blog and to be posting a lot more than twice a week. I don’t like to predict too much as things can change but I hope I’m still blogging and have a lovely community

8. What is the favourite thing you own and why?

I’d have to say my Bullet Journal – it really lets me plan my days so much more efficiently then a regular planner. I’ve actually almost finished it so I’ll be getting a new one soon!

9. Any secret talents that no one knows about?

Honestly, I don’t think so – I’m a pretty open book! (😂 Great!)

10. Imagine you met the Genie, what are the three things you would wish for?

I’d probably wish for: World Peace, A Happy Family and for Others to be happy too!

Be sure to check out Nabeeha’s blog, and other then that, thank you so much for reading! I hope you learned a bit more about me!

Have a lovely day everyone!

5 Self Care Ideas – Collab With The Blogger Squad

January 17, 2021January 9, 202126 Comments

Hi everyone it’s Zainab, welcome or welcome back to Zainab Chats! Today, I’m collaborating with some of my favourite bloggers from the ‘Blogger Squad!’ We will be bringing all of you self care related posts; I will link all the girls at the end of this post; for now let’s jump into it!

Have A Pamper Evening:
A pamper evening is probably one of the most obvious methods of self care. Treat yourself with fragrances, bubble baths and a relaxing time!

Meditation:
For anybody who feels a bit stressed and wants self care; meditation is the most perfect option! It is a great way to calm down and practice your breathing if you feel upset or mad!

Reading A Book:
This is such a simple way to make time for yourself. You can pick any book that you think is interesting whether it’s a biography or a fantasy! If you’re set on a self care theme you can find many self help books to read!

Yoga / Workout:
If you want to do some physical self care, this is the perfect option! Yoga is great for someone who doesn’t usually workout but wants to improve your physical health. If you love exercising, working out is perfect for you!

Going Outdoors:
When you go outside, you can just feel nature and the atmosphere and it’s so relaxing! Whether it’s a jog or a run you really feel so much better when going outside!

Thank you so much for reading this post everyone, be sure to check out all the girls in this collaboration:
Maryam – Hers went up on the 15th!
Pati – Hers goes up today!
Isabella – Hers went up on the 16th!
Catherine – Her post went up on the 15th!
Christina – Hers goes up tomorrow!
Meghan – Hers went up on the 16th!
Imaan – Hers goes up today!

Have an great week!

2020 Roundup

December 31, 2020January 1, 202115 Comments

Hey everyone, welcome or welcome back to Zainab Chats! Today is the last day of 2020 so I hope you’re all having an amazing day; to end off the year I thought I’d do a roundup of everything that happened in 2020! These are public events as well as personal events in my life and positive as well as negative ones, so let’s jump into it!

Coronavirus Outbreak
This was probably the main thing that happened this year and it changed everything in history! Nobody had ever seen a pandemic in our generation; so it was a learning curve for everyone.

WE DAY 2020
In March, I was privileged enough to travel to Wembely Arena to go to WE Day 2020 which was incredible! I got to see people such as Leona Lewis and Lewis Hamilton and got to see how to make a change!

National Lockdown:
Another significant event in March was the UK National Lockdown. I was honestly extremely sceptical about this – as we just didn’t know when we were coming out – but thankfully I was able to get through it!

Losses:
I wasn’t sure whether I should include this in the roundup but this has been a year full of numerous losses. We’ve lost time, some of us have even lost some hope. However, one of the biggest things we’ve lost is people. Whether it’s family, friends or celebrities we have lost so many people and we all need to remember them.

Thank you so much for reading everyone, what do you think about 2020 coming to an end? Share thoughts in the comments!

You want to see more of me and get exclusive updates on my blog? Well check out my socials!
Instagram – For exclusive updates on posts
Goodreads – You can see any books I’ve read or even recommend me one!
Pinterest – To see my boards and pins!
Contact Me if you would like to collaborate or have any other inquiries
Any suggestions or feel like chatting? Comment down below!

Have an amazing day!

How To Feel Positive Around The Holiday Season

December 24, 2020December 19, 2020Leave a comment

Hey guys it’s Zainab, welcome or welcome back to Zainab Chats! Happy Christmas Eve! As tomorrow is Christmas for today’s blog post I thought it would be a good idea to share some ways to be positive around the holiday season; especially this year due to everything that’s happened this year!

Keep In Touch With Family:
If you’re in a lockdown and are going to be alone this Christmas, you should make sure your spending the whole day talking to your family. Whether it’s on video call, phone call or anything else; just keep connected to be positive!

Have Your Own Celebration:
Another way to be positive around the holiday is to just make the celebration your own! Even if you’re alone, or don’t have all of your family with you; make it a big deal and have a big day!

Blocking Out The Negatives:
This year especially, there were a lot of negatives so to be positive around a happy holiday season; you’re going to have to block out the negatives. You can do this by switching off your phone and the news because the news has a lot of negatives!

Thanks so much for reading guys, let me know how you’re staying positive in the holiday season in the comments!

You want to see more of me and get exclusive updates on my blog? Well check out my socials!
Instagram – For exclusive updates on posts
Goodreads – You can see any books I’ve read or even recommend me one!
Pinterest – To see my boards and ideas
Contact Me if you would like to collaborate or have any other inquiries
Any suggestions or feel like chatting? Comment down below!

Have an amazing day!

The Kite Runner Book Review

December 13, 2020December 5, 20204 Comments

Hello everyone, welcome or welcome back to Zainab Chats! If you’ve been keeping up with my Goodreads, you will know that I have recently finished reading the book Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Let’s jump into it!

Official Reviews:
The Kite Runner received 4.5/5 stars on Goodreads as well as 5/5 on Waterstones! It also got 5 stars again on Common Sense Media!

My Opinion:
The Kite Runner is probably the most emotional and heartbreaking book I’ve ever read. It tells the story of a boy named Amir and how his life was so tragic growing up in Afghanistan. I think the fact that parts of this story just saddened me even more!

The way Khaled Housseini portrayed how Afghanistan was like before the Taliban took over was just so realistic and interesting, I would totally recommend this book to anyone wanting a great story (please be warned mature themes are discussed though!)

Synopsis – On Goodreads:
The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over son.

Thanks so much for reading everyone, let me know if you’ve read this book in the comments!

You want to see more of me and get exclusive updates on my blog? Well check out my socials!
Instagram – For exclusive updates on posts
Goodreads – You can see any books I’ve read or even recommend me one!
Pinterest – To see my boards and pins!
Contact Me if you would like to collaborate or have any other inquiries
Any suggestions or feel like chatting? Comment down below!

Have an amazing day!

Teen Girl Christmas Gift Guide 2020

December 6, 2020November 28, 20209 Comments

Hello everyone, welcome or welcome back to Zainab Chats! Since Christmas is coming up, I thought I’d share a little gift guide to what teen girls would want – also this list doesn’t just apply to Christmas. You can use it for birthdays or other events for family members too! Let’s jump into it!

Photo Frame:
We all love keeping our memories safe; so getting a cute Photo Frame with a picture with you and your friend will be sure to make their day!

Journal or Planner:
Since Christmas is near the end of the year, getting your friend a journal or planner will definitely help keep organised for the next year; the bullet journal I have I actually bought for myself!

A Book:
For that friend that loves to read, a book will never go wrong! You could even gift them one of your books if it’s in good condition!

Stationary:
I think most people have that one friend who loves stationary; I know I do! So try treating them to something like a stationary kit!

Beauty Products:
For a friend who loves going out a lot and getting dressed up; try getting them some perfume or lotion or anything along those lines!

Tech Products
If you have a friend or family member whose in need of headphones or anything tech related, try getting them a charger or heaphones! Only do this if you have a bit of money to spare though!

Something Homemade
Finally, this applies to everyone but you will make anyone smile just by making anything homemade; whether it’s a card or present!

So, here are some things that are guaranteed to make a teen girl smile with their present for an event or birthday!

You want to see more of me and get exclusive updates on my blog? Well check out my socials!
Instagram – For exclusive updates on posts
Goodreads – You can see any books I’ve read or even recommend me one!
Pinterest – To see my boards and pins!
Contact Me if you would like to collaborate or have any other inquiries
Any suggestions or feel like chatting? Comment down below!

Have a lovely day!

Positive Affirmations

December 3, 2020December 2, 20204 Comments

Hey everyone, welcome or welcome back to Zainab Chats! Happy December! To start off the month , I’m going to share with you guys some positive affirmations to get you in the right mindset for the week, let’s jump into it!

Just Do It!
This is such a great affirmation! Anything you have to do this week, you should do it! Go on and get it done!

I Can Do It!
If you have anything you’re finding hard or upsetting this week, just remember this: ‘I Can Do It!’ It will definitely give you more of a motivational boost.

I Am Enough!
Whenever you feel like you’re not doing the best you can just remember you’re doing the best you can. Just say in your head ‘I Am Enough!’

Stay Positive!
Now, I know you’re probably familliar with this affirmation as I say it at the end of every blog post! Any time you’re feeling upset just say, ‘ Stay Positive!’

Those are all the affirmations for today, let me know if you’d like me to do a part two!

You want to see more of me and get exclusive updates on my blog? Well check out my socials!
Instagram – For exclusive updates on posts
Goodreads – You can see any books I’ve read or even recommend me one!
Pinterest – To see my boards and ideas
Contact Me if you would like to collaborate or have any other inquiries
Any suggestions or feel like chatting? Comment down below!

Have a great week!

Blogger’s Confessions With Meghan from Meghan’s Teen Life

November 29, 2020November 24, 20209 Comments

Hey guys it’s Zainab! Today I’m going to be interviewing teen blogger: Meghan from the blog Meghan’s Teen Life! Let’s get into it!

Thank you so much for being interviewed Meghan! Can you start off my sharing with my readers a bit about you and a little bit of your blogging journey?
Yes, of course!! Hi everyone! I’m Meghan from Meghan’s Teen Life. I run a blog and instagram account that launched in the middle of February this year! My platforms focus on giving advice to teenagers like me. I often share my own experiences which has boosted my confidence since launching my blog!
Your blog has over 200 followers – what advice would you give to new bloggers to grow to that following?
Instagram really helped with my engagement early on. Before I launched my site, I connected with a few teen bloggers on instagram who turned what would have been a zero into 5 or 10 for my first few weeks of blogging!! Don’t get me wrong, I did not grow at all at first; it took me three months to reach 25 followers on my blog! Know that your content will improve over time, which will help you gain followers, so be patient!!
You’ve mentioned quite a few times on your blog that you don’t really enjoy school, what made you want to start your blog then as writing is obviously a huge part of blogging!
It’s actually hilarious that you bring that up, Zainab!! I really do complain about school a lot, which begs to question: Why do I blog? My hatred for school stemmed out of the social aspect. I am not a sociable person, so being crammed in a building with 800 kids really stressed me out. I was always miserable in school because of that, not to mention the fact that homework is the worst! Despite that, I love to write. I’ve always been into writing, so it made perfect sense for me to have a blog!
Also, you’ve written a whole blog post about how nobody you know actually knows about your blog; what prompted you to make the decision on keeping your blog private?
I wanted to write about my relationships, and to do that comfortably, I figured that it was best that no one knew about my blog. I wanted to write about my relationships, and to do that comfortably, I figured that it was best that no one knew about my blog. I’m also a very private person in general, who hates any attention on myself. Not that anyone in my school would care, but I would feel rather self conscious and my writing wouldn’t be terribly open and honest.

Thanks so much for coming on the blog Meghan! Be sure to check out her blog and Instagram!

You want to see more of me and get exclusive updates on my blog? Well check out my socials!
Instagram – For exclusive updates on posts
Goodreads – You can see any books I’ve read or even recommend me one!
Pinterest – To see my boards and ideas
Contact Me if you would like to collaborate or have any other inquiries
Any suggestions or feel like chatting? Comment down below!

Have an amazing day!

Top 3 Positive Room Decor Ideas | AD

November 26, 2020May 19, 20219 Comments

Hi everyone, it’s Zainab, welcome or welcome back to Zainab Chats! Today, I’m going to be sharing with you decor ideas to brighten up your room; also this post is in collaboration with the brand Photowall! However, we will talk about that later so let’s jump into it!

Fairy Lights:

We all love adding some brightness into our rooms, so these fairy lights will be sure to add some sparkle into your room! You could find them at any craft shop!

Book Shelf:

For any of you readers out there, a bookshelf is efficient and aesthetically pleasing! You can also customise yours with bookends and more!

Poster / Print:

Thanks to Photowall for partnering with me for this final idea! A poster is a great way to spruce up your room! That’s why I’ve loved going to onto the Photowall website and choosing a poster! Honestly, they’ve had endless designs and patterns to choose from; I had a hard time deciding! When the package arrived, it came with really simple and easy instructions with how to mount it on my wall! Of course, I had to get you guys a discount code in time for Black Friday! You can use the code: zainabchats25 to get 25% off for the next month!

Thanks so much for reading this post guys, I hope you have enjoyed; remember to check out Photowall if you haven’t already!

You want to see more of me and get exclusive updates on my blog? Well check out my socials!
Instagram – For exclusive updates on posts
Goodreads – You can see any books I’ve read or even recommend me one!
Pinterest – To see my boards and ideas
Contact Me if you would like to collaborate or have any other inquiries
Any suggestions or feel like chatting? Comment down below!

Have an great day!