Short Interview | NikitaKBassi (Blogger)

An interview with Nikita Bassi

31/12/13

Nikita is new to the blogging scene and I have had the pleasure in asking her a few questions! I hope you take the time to read through this short interview and check out her blog! www.nikitakbassi.blogspot.com

Personal

Where were you born and where do you call home?

I was born in Birmingham and I guess I will call that home but now I live in London, London feels like home.

Are you currently in education?

I am, currently in university in London.

Blog questions

What inspired you to start your blog and what is your blog about?

I think it was seeing Zoella blog and that’s what inspired me to be honest because it looked like so much fun and my blog is about fashion, beauty and my thoughts.

How long have you been blogging?

I actually started in like August but then I stopped and only recently got back into it because of you haha.

Who is your favourite blogger?

My favourite blogger is Zoella and Tanya Burr.

What do you hope to achieve from your blog in the upcoming year?

I just hope more people become aware of it, I want as many to know about it!

For people reading this now, why should they follow your blog?

I think you should follow my blog because I have so many fun and exciting ideas coming up which I haven’t really seen any blogger talk about before. One of the posts I’ll be posting will hopefully help a lot of teenagers who are moving away and going to uni! J .  

Fun

What did Santa bring you?

I don’t usually get presents like I get the odd small gifts but I usually end up getting money because my parents know I’m really fussy and find it hard to buy for me haha.

What is your favourite cosmetic brand?

Mac and Bobbi Brown!

What is your favourite high street store?

Topshop, Zara and Urban Outfitters.

Mini December Haul | Primark, Lush, New Look, Superdrug

Today I went late sale shopping (probably not the best of ideas as everything was pretty much gone!), but I managed to pick up a few things, even though some of it wasn't reduced.

Primark 'extreme stiletto' heels - £10

I've been looking for a pair like this for a while now, and for £10 I couldn't really walk away from them! They're a perfect addition to any dress or keep it casual with a pair of jeans.

Primark 'Lace Up Desert B' Boots - £8 £4

I'm guilty of buying the Primark simple pumps (usually a couple of £) as they're normally a quick throw on shoe and I don't really mind if they get dirty! However, I saw these and thought they looked a bit more sturdy than the plimsoll pumps and a bit more fashionable! They were reduced from £8 to £4. 

Superdrug Max Factor Glossfinity in 50 Candy Rose - £5.99 (3 for 2)

I can't really go shopping and not come back with a new nail polish, especially as in Superdrug they always have the 3 for 2 offer on. Most nail polishes tend to go dull after a few days, so I thought i'd try out their new range. 

Lush Grease Lightning - £5.95

I've heard some good reviews about this product, so I picked one up to try myself! It's made of tea tree and witch hazel, the perfect spot fighting ingredients. The lady at the counter says it works miracles... so we shall soon see! 

Superdrug Carmex Lip Balm - £2

My bag would not be seen without one! They last for ages and feel amazing on your lips. When you first put it on your lips it gives a tingling sensation. Perfect for keeping your lips hydrated in these cold months.

Primark Lounge Bottoms - £6 £3

I love the cute reindeer print on these Christmas pajama bottoms! These were reduced from £6 to £3. They had quite a few left and there was also another print. I'm usually an 8-10, but I picked up an 10-12 as the only other size was 6-8. I'm not sure, but have Primark changed their sizing? 

New Look 'Black Croc Cosmetic Bag' - £12.99 £6

My make-up collection is growing all the time and my other make-up bag is no longer any use. This was reduced from £12.99. 

Sorry for the terrible picture/light quality! I have to make do with taking them on my iPhone at the moment as my camera is elsewhere!

Have you been shopping lately? Did you pick up anything in the sales?

New Years Resolutions | Gym Playlist

It's that time of year again. New Years is just round the corner and a lot of people start thinking about what they want to change in the upcoming year.

I know 'Going to the gym' is probably one of the most popular New Years resolutions, so I've devised an upbeat playlist/song ideas:

• Lana Del Rey vs Cedric Gervais  - 'Summertime Sadness' Remix
• Avicii - Wake Me Up
• Queen - Don't Stop Me Now
• Britney Spears - Work B*tch
• Taio Cruz ft. Flo Rida - Hangover
• Jason Derulo - Breathing 
• Pitbull ft. TJR - Don't Stop The Party
• Avicii - You Make Me 
• Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe 
• Flo Rida - I Cry
• Icona Pop ft. Charli XCX - I Love It
• Lady Gaga - Do What You Want (With My Body)
• Pitbull ft. Ke$ha - Timber
• LMFAO - Sorry For Party Rocking
• Metro Station - Shake It
• Ingrosso & Alesso ft. Ryan Tedder - Calling (Lose My Mind)
• Swedish House Mafia ft. John Martin - Don't You Worry Child
• Porter Robinson - Language
• Skrillex ft. Sirah - Bangarang

I hope this has given you some inspiration, or if not, maybe something new to put on your iPod! 

What are your New Years resolutions this year?

50 Random Facts | About Me

I've seen a lot of these posts with people being tagged to do them, but because i'm new to the blogging scene I thought i'd do one anyway without being tagged so my new followers can get to know me a little better! So here it is.... 50 random facts about me! 

1. I am an Aquarius (born in February)

2. I don't have a middle name

3. I'm short sighted, so have to wear contacts/glasses all the time

4. I studied Crime & Investigation at University

5. I have an African Grey Parrot called Jack

6. I play the flute, guitar and piano. I kinda suck at piano now though

7. My favourite band are Steel Panther

8. I want a long-haired miniature Dachshund, Pomeranian or German Spitz when I move out

9. When I go to Nandos I order a lemon and herb chicken burger with cheese, hallomi side with chips and peri peri - always

10. My best friend is Slovakian

11. I'm right handed

12. I'd choose McDonalds over KFC any day

13. Miss Selfridge is one of my favourite high street stores

14. I was a lifeguard at a camp in New York in summer 2013

15. It took me two tries to pass my driving test, but only one for my theory - hurrah

16. I wish i'd taken Paleontology at University. I am a massive dinosaur nerd

17. When I was younger I had the nickname 'moose'

18. I love Johnny Depp

19. I'm not a lover of alcohol

20. I don't smoke

21. If I have a Domino's pizza, i'll be disappointed if it isn't stuffed crust

22. I hate needles, injections and anything to do with veins

23. I love strawberry and banana smoothies

24. I love film orchestral soundtrack music - John Williams for example

25. My shoe size is a UK6

26. I love books and take great care with them. Most books I read will still look brand new after i've finished them!

27. My surname is always pronounced wrong

28. I love a good English breakfast - minus the black pudding!

29. I can whistle through my teeth

30. I don't like coffee based foods

31. A poem I wrote when I was in high school has been printed in an anthology book called Away With Words

32. I sleep better in the day than at night

33. I barely watch TV

34. I want to visit the Maldives

35. I've been on stage on multiple occasions with my favourite band (see no. 7)

36. I prefer smaller, intimate gigs/concerts rather than full stadium/arenas

37. I'm not a fan of swimming in the sea unless it's clear!

38. I want to go shark cage diving - but i'm scared!

39. I don't like olives

40. My favourite ice-cream flavor is rum and raisin

41. When I was in nursery they used to make us put on shows and I hated every second of it! So I used to scowl the whole way through a show and avoid eye contact with my parents. They thought it was hilarious.

42. I refuse to go on rides that constantly spin around (roller-coasters = fine - spinning t-cups = no)

43. I love Italian food

44. My toe nails are always painted (normally red!)

45. I'm not allergic to anything (that I know of)

46. I have a scar on my left leg from where I was stood on a dock in america and it collapsed into the lake! Safe to say it was a shock then, but quite funny looking back now. There's a picture somewhere on my Instagram of it happening... Thanks boys, for taking pictures in our time of distress!

47. I don't have a favourite colour

48. My lucky number is 8

49. I love cheesecake

50. I have the worst concentration span

Thanks for making it to the end and I hope you've learnt a little more about me. If you have done a post similar to this, please comment below and I shall check it out! I don't know that many bloggers to tag anyone here... so if you're reading this and haven't done a '50 Random Facts About Me' post, I tag you to make one! 

TV Series Recommendation | American Horror Story

*This is a reader friendly recommendation with no spoilers

American Horror Story is described as a horror and 'erotic thriller' TV series. It is an anthology series and each season is conceived as a self contained mini series. Confused much? Basically, every series is a different type of story and the characters all play different people in each.

Currently there are three series, with a forth coming soon; Murder House, Asylum & Coven.

Series 1: Murder House (2011) - Follows a family who move into an old haunted house. Set in 2011.

Series 2: Asylum (2012-13) - Follows the stories of the inhabitants of the insane. Set in 1964.

Series 3: Coven (2013-14) - Follows the battle between witches and voodoo practitioners. Set in 1800 and also the present day. 

Series 4: Coming 2014-15

Evan Peters

American Horror Story is horror with a twist of weird. I think that would be the right word to describe it... Nothing is normal or as it seems. However, don't let that put you off it is an extremely well done TV series. Each episode slowly reveals a bit more and keeps you guessing until the very end. 

There is horror and gore to be found, however I wouldn't say they are totally unbearable. Personally, I found Murder House to be the scariest with a couple of jumps along the way. When I watched the first series, by the end of the episode I was like 'What have I just watched?!' but it was enough to keep me intrigued and i'm glad I carried on watching them.

The one thing that got me, was that some times it is not clear what is going on and sometimes unrealistic. However, for some people this could be a good thing. For me though, I like to know why something has happened, not to be kept guessing. 

There's a brilliant cast, to name a few: Dylan McDermott, Jessica Lange, Zachary Quinto, Lily Rabe, and my personal favourite being Evan Peters.

If you're looking for a new series to watch or just bored and want to pass some time, I highly recommend giving this TV show a watch. I know horror and gore are not for all, but I feel these are different than the typical horror and gore films and are more suitable for viewing. I would personally put the category under more 'creepy' than horror. It is sure to entertain!

I give this a high 8/10.

Have you seen this series? What did you think? Also, what other TV series would you recommend watching?

Wishlist | December

I know it's late on in the month, but better late than never! Here are a few items i've had my eye on in December.

All images from Google or the store website

1. Marc Jacobs Daisy eau de toilette / 2. Zara suede leather high heel court shoe / 3. L'Oreal Paris Studio Line #TXT volume supersizing spray / 4. Topshop suede tassel duffle bag / 5. New Look pale blue sleeveless pocket shirt / 6. Barry M matte nail paint / 7. Topshop raspberry Triceratops ankle socks / 8. Burt's Bees beeswax lip balm / 9. American Horror Story: Coven DVD / 10. Sleek lip pencil in Ruby / 11. Sleek face contour kit 

What items have you been lusting over this month?

Hope you had a Merry Christmas! and enjoy the Boxing Day sales!

My American Summer '13 | Applying

Working at a summer camp has always been on my bucket-list. It all seemed a bit bewildering every time I looked into it, but this summer in 2013 I finally went for it. 

Here i've broken it down and explained how I went through the process.

Choosing the agency:

Choosing an agency to go with is the first step to the summer of a lifetime! There are many different companies you can go with and here is a break down of what some of these have to offer:

My personal choice was Americamp. 

What you get:

• Comprehensive medical insurance
• 9 weeks food and accommodation (provided by your summer camp)
• Counsellor pocket money of up to $1,845

What you pay with Americamp:

• Americamp fees of £199
• Third party fees: Police check - £44, US Embassy fees - £130.
• TOTAL: £373

(This fee excludes your flight fare and any regional airport supplements. It also excludes GP's examination fees (medical) and your travel to and from the US Embassy. You may also want baggage / travel insurance. Check with the agency to see what you are covered for.) 

(*note: these prices are at time of blog post)

Extra Benefits:

• Skype interviews if necessary
• Visited in camp by experienced Americamp team members
• 24 hour emergency hotline in the US, plus Facebook and Twitter support
• 30 days travel after camp with itinerary assistance
• 10% discount with Trek America
• UK-based preparation and orientation days before going to your American summer camp placement
• Flight deals through STA travel

Applying:

The sign up process with Americamp is easy and simple. You make an account, fill in your details and in no time someone from the Americamp team will be in touch and the interview process is less scary than it may seem! 

You can have a choice of meeting a representative or arranging a Skype interview. I opted for the Skype option and had a lovely guy named Mikey. The interview is informal and quite oddly, fun! 

You can have two options to be hired by a camp in America. One: make a video showcasing your talents and personality or two: you can head along to one of the recruitment day fairs (details of those will be given to you closer to the time).

I went along to a recruitment fair in Leeds (they have them dotted around the country) where I was greeted

(Americamp, 2012 - Taken from their facebook)

with tables of camp representatives. If you go for this option, Americamp will let you know what to bring (document wise). The fair was very popular, so I advise you get there early. Each camp has their own set-up and signs saying what they are recruiting for (volleyball, archery, mountain biking etc.). My advice is to do your research on the camps before you go so you have an idea of the ones you want to go see! Be prepared to wait in a queue for a very long time. The camp directors have to give a short interview to each and every person before deciding to hire them! I was at the fair for a good few hours but only managed to see 3 camps. The recruiters have a small talk with you and decide if they want to hire you on the spot. Don't be disheartened if you get turned down. You will get hired!

If you don't get hired at the fair, you can make a video and upload it to Youtube for the camps to see.

(*note: there are hundreds of camps which can't be at the recruitment fair so if you make a video you'll get a wider option!)

I got hired at the recruitment fair as a lifeguard for Camp Chipinaw in New York. 

In many camps as long as you are a strong swimmer they will hire you without a lifeguard qualification as they will train you when you get to their camp to the American Red Cross. 

I had the best summer ever and met so many new people from all around the world, but keep in mind you shouldn't be expecting a holiday as it is a lot of hard work looking after the children. Adjusting to camp life can be tough as its early mornings and sometimes late nights. Its a non-stop activity adventure! Be prepared to get stuck in and don't seclude yourself. You're there to enjoy it!

I hope this post has given you a few things to think about but don't over think things! The process if very simple and you will not regret it! If you're scared to travel on your own, don't be. Originally myself and my best friend applied together but got accepted at the fair with different camps. Even though we wanted to be together, because of our skills and what they were hiring we knew that couldn't be. I was nervous to go alone but you meet so many people in the same position as you and you will make friends in no time. Many people who work in camps in America go there on their own but leave with tons of friends and memories and you can also have the opportunity to travel with these new friends after camp to amazing places! 

Whichever agency you choose to go with, working in an American summer camp is a highly rewarding experience for both students and graduates that you are sure to enjoy.

Camp Chipinaw/Silver lake lifeguards 2013