Monthly Favorites! - June 2018

It's seems that a lot of alternative bloggers post about their monthly favorites often. Particularly, things that are good at the time or stuff they currently dig. It includes anything from hair and makeup to food and nifty gadgets.

I got a peculiar thought. Why not share my favorites too?

Hair, Makeup, and Beauty Products:

Lately, I've come across quite a few things I have personally come to love. Some might be familiar with the Schwarzkopf brand of hair care products.

 

As of late, I've been using their wide range of products from their got2b brand. The freeze spray, has been a big keeper. This has crazy hold and has been helping me achieve gravity-defying hair. I'm still somewhat experimenting with teasing hair and creating all of my different, silly hairdos. In addition to backcombing, once a few sections are standing, you spray this and it stands on-end for days. Some hair products leave a greasy, unwashed look, this one doesn't. So if you want a hairspray that'll help you achieve big, fluffy hair, then look no further. It's fairly affordable and widely available world wide.

Now on to makeup!

As for beauty and skin care products, I've found that NYX lipstick has some pretty vibrant and beautiful shades. One color specifically, Alien, stood out the most to my eyes.

This lipstick is from their liquid suede collection. It has a deep, blue-based black and has smooth creamy formula. Glides on smooth with a built into the cap application brush and dries quickly. This shade is truly a pure black and is darker than the other black lipsticks I've tried. I'd compare it to a Kat Von D or a Black Moon Cosmetics lipstick.

I've also come to love their vampy-shade collection, which consists of dark or bloody red, sexy shades. It's lipstick you'd imagine the vampire of your dreams would wear. Deep wine based burgundy and other marvelous colors.

Food, Drinks, Snacks, and More!

You all must be wondering what I've been craving or personally digging food-wise. It's been an odd combination of sweets and savory things. 

Currently, I'm digging the puffed Cheetos. This puffed cheese snack, I've always loved since childhood. However, more recently they've become a thing I cannot live without. The puffed seem to have more of a cheese flavor than the standard crunchy ones, but above all, these are all the more delicious. (Cannot add an image of Cheetos because the blogger site is weird.)

Another thing I've found to be quite good in the realm of food is, Pocky!

Yes, the chocolate coated candy sticks from Japan. One wouldn't guess that upon first meeting me. I love Japanese sweets and snacks. There's something so unique about their food oddities.

If you aren't familiar with this Japanese treat, then no worries. It's a popular Japanese snack that comes in many flavors. Simply a unflavored pretzel, breadstick snack with a sweet chocolate of fruit flavored coating.

The cookies and cream flavor has been a specific favorite of mine.

It practically is like and Oreo in stick form. And Oreo flavored anything I dig.

Now on the subject of tea......

I drink a wide variety of tea. I absolutely adore it and is a staple in my home. Sometimes, I go for B&G, Bigelow, or Twinning's.

The salted caramel green tea from Twinning's goes down, without a doubt my favorite. Even though I do fancy a good cup of Lady Grey or English Afternoon, I quite fancy green tea. It is perfectly fine to have more than one favorite. I tend to fancy green tea more if it has a flavor attached to it such as ginger or peppermint, even caramel.

This tea comes in a bright green box and is catchy to the eye. There is about twenty envelopes per box. It has a robust aroma and flavor. Smells of caramel candies and green tea, which is unmistakable. The flavor has classic green tea undertone with a subtle, but noticeable salty and sweet caramel flavor. It's subtle, but absolutely delicious.

Anytime in the evening, I make a cup of this and enjoy it with a few tea biscuits or a muffin which is how I relax after an eventful day. It's the perfect way to unwind.

Music:

This month a plethora of music has been catching my attention. Artists old and forthcoming alike, bringing out new music.

                                                                    (Rise Against)

The first band to come to mind when thinking about music that I've fallen in love with for the past few weeks is, Rise Against. I know I listen to a lot of dark wave and goth-y bands, but sometimes its good to be open minded and give other bands the benefit of a doubt. I listen to a lot of rock and metal. Basically, I listen to a wide variety of bands. 

However, their song "The Violence" recently caught my attention. A dark and heavy feel with a driving bass and drum track, I was hooked right away. I listened to this song multiple times and it is one of those songs you'd never be sick of, because it sounds badass.

                                                                  (The Cruxshadows) 

Another favorite has been The Cruxshadows. I've had their music stuck in my head all month. Not that its a bad thing though, their music is well put together and is a group of wonderful musicians. I've particularly fancied their song, Winterborn. It's catchy, symphonic electronics to the intro combining with the pulsating New Wave beat makes it one of my favorites. 

 

                                                                       (Blutengel)

(Eisbrecher)

Blutengel and Eisbrecher, are also on this list. Both of these German-speaking bands is what you'd typically see as Gothic metal and would normally see them performing at events like WGT, Amphi, or M'era Luna. Their vocals are entrancing and hypnotic, mixing well with the guitar lines and the driving synth and hard, pounding drums. 

(Mono Inc.)

Mono Inc. is a wide beloved favorite of mine and is the favorite of many others. The one song I've always adored since it came out two years ago is, Children of the Dark. It brings in the dreamy guest vocals of Tilo Wolff, Joachim Witt, and Chris Harms. This song has an underlying meaning to it and connects to me on many different levels.

This is my analogy of the songs meaning.

We are all different individuals and we express ourselves in our own way. Each of us is different and need to find our own light, our path to achieve our destiny. We happen to be the crowd that is spooky and unusual, or weird to the everyday normal average joe. In reality, we're all people with different hopes and dreams with our own beliefs, but in the end we're all just people. Yeah, sure I look different, but am not any less of a person than the person next door or walking by. We're not meant to be the same, because if everyone was exactly alike, life would become absolutely boring. Be yourself and lead your own path. Be a leader, not a follower. I'm different and weird, entering into the world of the dark.  "Better watch out! We're the children of the dark!"