Xena Pieces Cacti
What's your name?
Zina
Where are you based?
Arizona USA
Tell us about what your ordinary day looks like.
Being a mom means no two days look the same, but I usually start my mornings early getting my 13-year-old twin boys ready for school, often catching the beautiful sunrise here in southern Arizona. My day isn’t complete without a cup of tea, and my favorite time comes after dinner—that’s when I unwind and puzzle.
How did you get into the world of puzzling?
Growing up in Iraq, I never had the chance to do jigsaw puzzles- they weren’t part of the culture so they weren't available, but I loved playing with Legos which is similar to jigsaw puzzling. When my twin boys were little, I helped them putting their puzzles together and really enjoyed it but I never thought to try one myself. During the pandemic in 2020, I bought a few puzzles after a friend recommend them and I instantly got hooked! My Instagram, which started as a travel page, slowly turned into a puzzle account. I’ve loved being part of the puzzle community ever since- so much that my friend Caroline and I created the Puzzle Battle Game on Instagram, which we’ve been hosting for the past five years. It’s been such a blast!
What makes you keep puzzling & how often do you puzzle?
Puzzling has become my way to relax and recharge- it’s my Zen Zone and the perfect mix of calm and challenge. I love seeing the picture come together piece by piece; it gives me a real sense of focus and peace. It’s also the perfect hobby for me, living with physical disabilities and health challenges, because I can enjoy it at my own pace. I usually puzzle every day, mostly in the evenings after dinner or whenever I can find a quiet moment during the week. Even when I travel, there’s always a puzzle traveling with me :)
What is your favorite type of puzzle?
I love random-cut puzzles- they’re always fun and full of surprises. I’m especially drawn to colorful and detailed designs, and I have a soft spot for anything with cacti. Since I’m a big cactus fan, I can’t resist collecting every cactus-themed puzzle I can find. My favorite piece count is 300-1000 .
During puzzling sessions, do you listen to anything or puzzle in silence?
I usually listen to audiobooks or watch my favorite shows on TV while puzzling. If I ever have some rare quiet time alone I will put on a Netflix series and puzzle with it in the background.
If you were to describe what puzzling means to you, what would it be?
My Therapy sessions.
Tell us about your other interests & joys.
Besides puzzling, I love photography especially taking sunset and sunrise pictures, you would often see me with a mystery or thriller audiobook while caring for my collection of cactuses. I also love exploring different cultures while traveling with my family.
Do you have anything you want to share?
I’m grateful to be part of the worldwide puzzle community. I’ve met so many wonderful people from different countries who I’m proud to call friends, even if we’ve only met virtually. Seeing so much creativity, kindness, and inspiration, I wanted to bring that same sense of connection to my local area- so I created a puzzle group on Facebook called
Oro Valley Puzzles Exchange and hosted the first puzzle swaps and puzzle Club meet up in my town Oro Valley. I still hope to do more and continue connecting with like-minded puzzlers.
