That's the thing with music...it demands to be felt

What's up guys? It's Ash here and fair warning you might see a hint of fangirling here and there because this post is

ALL.
ABOUT.
MUSIC.

DUN DUN DUN

Annnnddddd..................if any of you know me in real life or have talked to be before, music is a big big big big BIG part of my life. I love singing and I love playing the piano and most of all I love listening to music so today I'm going to be talking about the top three of my favorite bands and why I like them.

If you haven't noticed already, there's a list of my favorite musicians on the top left of my blog. (P.s. It's not in the order of most to least favorite).

The number one musician/band just has to be Black Veil Brides. I admit that I don't listen to them daily and/or 24/7, but that band really just has been there for me and helped me through a really rough patch in my life which I don't think I would ever be able to repay them for. I find them to be a really inspiring group of people who look out for each of their fans and love their fan base. The way they talk about their fans, it really awes me because of how much passion they have for their music and their love for every single person who they've helped through their music. If I'd continue, my post on Black Veil Brides would take up the entire page, so I'll just leave it at this: It's because of them I am where I am today. I owe everything to them.

My second favorite musician/band usually varies since I listen to a widespread area of genres, so I'll go with Pierce the Veil. To be honest, I just really love their songs and how, at first glance, it sounds like its just a catchy song with nothing more to it, but then when you really listen to it, it has a much deeper meaning. Both the band and the listeners have that kind of connection to each song and it's that bond that makes Pierce the Veil so special. Even if I don't listen to one of their songs for months, I will still be able to come back to that song and enjoy it as much as I did when I first heard it; that's something I really like because then it's like you'll never grow too old for that band. It's always there for you.

My third favorite musician/band (again it varies) is Ed Sheeran. With Ed Sheeran, there's always a nostalgic quality that I like listening to in his songs. The way he's able to pour his feelings out into each song and make it something that we all can relate to is amazing. I also love the fact that most of his slow are on the quieter side (even if he does rap in them). Ed and his songs are a great inspiration when I want to write something meaningful and I almost always end up daydreaming whenever I listen to his songs. They just bring out that dreamer in all of us.

There you have it folks! My top three musicians/bands. Like I said before, I listen to a wide variety of genres so if you have a band that you like or think I should check out, leave it in the comments below! I'd be thrilled to find new music to listen to and if you want to listen to some of my favorite musicians/bands I'd be more that happy!!

She's like cold coffee in the morning...

Hey guys! It's me Ash here with a Cold Coffee Recipe. It's just getting warm outside and there's nothing better than kicking back with a glass of cold coffee to pass the day away, so I have my favorite cold coffee recipe that I'd love to share with you guys!

Ingrediants

For coffee:

4 1/2 ounces coarsely ground coffee (about 1 3/4 cups)
3 1/2 cups cold water

For Serving:

milk, half-and-half,or water

Simple Syrup

Ice

Procedure:

1. Place the coffee grounds in a 2-quart pitcher, add the water, and stir to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and let sleep at room temperature for 12-24 hours.
2. Line a fine-mesh strainer with cheesecloth or coffee filter and fit it over a cup/mug. Working in batches, slowly pour the coffee into the filter until all of the liquid has passed through the strainer. Stop when you reach the solids at the bottom of the pitcher. Take a spoon and gently push the solids so the rest of the liquids will seep through. Discard the grounds and the contents of the strainer.
3. Wash and dry the pitcher. Transfer the strained coffee into the pitcher. Cover and refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 2 hours or up to 5 days.
4. For each cup of iced coffee, dilute the concentrate with an equal portion of milk, half-and-half, or water. Sweeten with simple syrup if desired and top with ice.

So there you have it folks! A recipe for the perfect cup of cold coffee. As I said before, this is one of my absolute favorites and feel free to mess around with the recipe to fit your needs!

Which new nail style will you try today?

Now a lot of people over look the whole "nail" thing while others take it a little too far. What I like to do is take my nails seriously but still maintain the whole "subtle look" (a.k.a french nails, plain nude, or a light pastel color that won't draw attention).

That was before.

Today I'm going to look at some mani-pedi combos I found online that I want to share with you guys. It's sparkly, glittery, and a pop of colors which I cannot wait to try! You can get the entire list of 10 mani-pedi combos on Seventeen and pictures of how the nail polish looks like. I didn't include every single picture since I figured it'd take up a lot of space

Leggo!
 
1. Silver Glitter and Hot Pink
++Milani Jewel FX Nail Lacquer in Silver ($4.55)
++Pixi Nail Color in Summer Pink ($8)
 
2. Black and Red
++CoverGirl Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss in Black Diamond ($4.99)
++Formula X For Sephora in Pyrotechnic ($10.50)
 
3.Gray and Radiant Orchid
++e.l.f Essential Nail Polish in Misty Haze ($2)
++Butter LONDON Molly Coddled Nail Lacquer ($15)
 
4. Chocolate and Rose
++Zoya Nail Polish in Louise ($9)
++Maybelline Color Show Nail Polish in Pink & Proper ($2.99)
 
5. Nude and Cobalt
++March Jacobs beauty Enamored Hi-Shine Nail Lacquer ($18)
++Fuse Gelnamel Gel Plolish ($6.39)
 
6.Raspberry and Magenta Glitter
++L'Oreal Colour Riche Nail Trend Setter in Crazy For Chic ($4.99)
++Blackheart Magenta Glitter Nail Polish ($3.75)
 
7. White Texture and Creamy Beige
++China Glaze Sand Dolla Make You Holla ($6.99)
++Sonia Kashuk Nail Color in Nudist($4.75)
 
8. Peach and Dark Purple
++Color Club Nail-Robi ($8)
++eddie Resort Fling ($8.50)
 
9. Gunmetal and Hot Purple
++NYC New York Color Long Wearing Nail Enamel in Rock The Party! ($0.93)
++Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Grab ($17)
 
10. Bright and Yellow Pink
++OPI I Just Can't Cope-acabana ($9)
++Nicole by OPI Selena Gomez Collection Nail Polish in Naturally ($7.04)

Well there you have it, 10 Perfect Combos to try when you get your mani-pedi done! I'm definitely going to try one of these out!!

My Favorite: High-Street Brands

Like almost every other girl, I have those shopping spree moments (#guiltypleasure) even though I'd hate to admit it. Every time I go to the mall, there's always that one store (or stores) that I just need to go to.
They have the cutest clothes with prices no one can argue with.

O1. dELiA*s

+Delia's is a pretty known store around the east coast, not exactly sure if its out there in the west, but what's shipping for right? This store has possibly the cutest outfits ever for Spring, especially if you're a teenager. They just got 250 new spring dresses and swimsuits start at $19.99! They also have 2 for $10, 2 for $20, and 2 for $25 deals with the most adorable tees. what's not to love?

 

O2. Forever 21

+ I don't know a single girl who hasn't shopped at Forever21 yet. They've got a sale going on at all times and have about 1,400 new arrivals right now. Forever21 has extended it's inventory to include outfits and accessories to include men, women, and girls of all sizes! They're stocked with the most chic styles.

 

O3. Lucky Brand

+Now this is one I haven't heard of before and by skimming their website I'm getting a good feeling. They're got one of those hipster looks about them that I feel will definitely help you bring out your inner style!

 

O4. Nordstrom

+Yes, I have included Nordstrom on here. Yes, I know it's expensive, but its Spring. So treat yourself for making it through the winter! The Junior's section has these amazing tops and fabulous dresses. They're definitely an eye-catcher. Who says you can't be unique AND fashionable at the same time?

 

O5. Zumiez

+Zumiez is definitely a to-go. They hold the latest trends for teens and they're super comfortable. From crop tops and high-waist skirts to hoodies and jeans, this store will be able to fit your style. If you want to switch up your look for Spring, Zumiez will be perfect for you!

 

Spring shopping should never be something dreadful that we just can't decide on what to buy! Choosing the right stores will help you save money and save time while still making the right choices! What could be better than that?

My Opinions...

   Ok, I feel after certain events in my life I feel the need to get this off of my chest. I would like to apologize in advance if this post offends any of you in any way, but this is just my opinion.

   Just about five minutes ago I was watching funny videos of Pierce the Veil on YouTube. I'm not a huge fan of them, but I do like their music, and I respect them greatly as people. I believe that anyone who looks at their life story can draw great inspiration from them.

   Anyways, I was showing my Grammy the video because I didn't spend much time with her lately and I thought that it would be fun to show her. My cousin walks up beside her and watches the video too. I was OK with that, because I couldn't blame him for watching a video I was showing my Grammy even though he didn't like the band. ( I will post the video in the bottom of this post )

   About five minutes into the video, he starts calling them 'gay' because of Vic Fuentes' long hair, or the shirts they were wearing. This really annoys me because when I asked him why he thinks they're gay, he replies, "Because they look so gay! They have long hair and wear pink shirts (this was during a BryanStarz Interview) and they just look gay. That's so gross. Ew." Now please excuse me if this wasn't an appropriate reaction from me in your eyes, but I was really mad at him for saying that. I was thoroughly annoyed and angry that he was immature enough to believe that you can tell a person is "gay" by looking at them. He believes that the gay stereotype is OK to use in public.

   While I admit there are some things that are associated with a male person with homosexual tendencies, I do not believe it's OK to label people as gay because of their looks or actions. They are people, not cans of soup. Do. Not. Label. People. Moreover, I am a strong supporter of homosexual rights, and when people just call people gay like calling them a boy or girl, it's really frustrating.

   I understand that some people are uncomfortable with seeing bxb or gxg couples showing PDA. I get it, but please don't think that being a homosexual is something a person does by "choice". A person gets as much choice in his/her homosexuality as he/she gets in his/her gender. It is already decided for you. Studies prove that these people have higher levels of certain hormones than they should, therefore determinating their sexuality. Read more here. So obviously, one cannot just "choose" to be gay.

   Extending this topic, please do not call people gay because they "look like they are". Some may be radiating their homosexuality because they simple do not care if people know. Others are scared of how the public will treat them, so they hide it from others, or as most people say "they're in the closet". Also, it isn't right to discriminate against them. It doesn't make sense. What have they done to deserve that? Nothing.

   If you bring up the Bible, that is not a good back up either. One of my very good friends, who is a Christian, told me today that there is a story about a gay couple in the Bible. Now, I don't know to what extent this is true since I don't follow the Bible, but obviously it isn't "God's will" to discriminate against people of the same-sex tendencies. The Bible also says many things that we humans do today. It just doesn't make sense to treat them differently. A person said that people shouldn't be gay or lesbian because it decreases the world's population. What? The last I heard, the increasing population has been becoming a major problem in terms of having enough resources to feed the kids, so homosexuals are doing us a favor.

   I am not asking you to change your opinions. I respect them as much as I do mine. Nor am I intending to start one of those heterosexual vs. homosexual arguments. I would like for anyone reading this to just think about what it would feel like if you were discriminated that way. Try to refrain from using any stereotypes or discriminating anyone. It hurts.

   It really doesn't matter if they are now does it? How are they affecting your life? If you don't like the homosexual PDAs, calmly tell them about it. Screaming and discriminating and bullying them will only make matters worse.

   Again, excuse me if this post has offended you in anyway. I needed to let this off my chest and calmly tell people how I feel (the post has turned out calmer than I expected seeing that I was about to punch my cousin earlier).


What if being straight was frowned upon instead?

  ^^The video that I was showing my Grammy and cousin.^^

*reposted*

Skincare

Hair/Skincare

The second topic of the 2014 Blogger Challenge in skincare. I'm not much of a person who focuses a ton on skincare, but doing this post helped me look into a lot of easy and natural ways to improve your skin which I may end up trying!

1.  Java Lip Exfoliator 

   Ingredients:
   1/2 teaspoon of moisturizing lotion (such as Olay’s Active Hydrating Body Fluid)
   1/4 teaspoon fresh coffee grounds
   1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
   
   Directions:
   Mix well in a bowl. Apply to entire mouth area and massage around for five minutes. Wipe clean with a warm wet washcloth.
   
   I haven't tried this yet. I usually use Burt's Bee's Natural Lip Balm to moisturize my lips. It works great in the winter! I have a habit of licking my lips often, and in the winter it leaves my lips cracked with  a slight red irritation under my lips. Using the lip balm  easily gets rid of the cracks and irritation.

2. Shea Butter:

   High in fatty acids, shea butter is an emollient — meaning it provides a layer of oil on top of the surface of a hair strand, significantly reducing the amount of moisture (water) lost
   
   
   I don't use Shea Butter, but it has been recommended to me before by my aunt, not for my hair though. If you shave your legs and start getting dark spots on your legs, (I will make a post later explaining why) Shea butter can help clear those up. I believe you can find some in Victoria's Secret.

3. Coconut Oil:

   Many natural hair products contain coconut oil, another emollient perfect for sealing moisture into the hair. Coconut oil provides both shine and strength to locks, making it a popular ingredient for naturals.
   Coconut oil can also be used as a leave-in conditioner for for thicker textured hair. Because the natural hair oils have difficulty sliding down the curls, you'll need to use an abundant amount of coconut oil.
   
   
   This is one that I currently use. The one thing I don't like is the scent it leaves, so I suggest massaging it onto your hair on a Friday or Saturday night, and wash it off the next morning so you have the oil in your hair now and the scent is gone too  

4. Dry Brushing

   Dry brushing improves circulation in your skin, which is necessary because your skin is the largest organ there is! It removes dead skin, eliminates clogged pores (i.e. the red dots on your legs after shaving) and cellulite (a condition in which the skin appears to have areas with underlying fat deposits, giving it a dimpled, lumpy appearance. It is most noticeable on the buttocks and thighs, and usually occurs after puberty. Read more)
   The directions copied from Mind Body Green:
   
   1.} Start on dry skin before bathing & work in gentle circular, upward motions, then longer, smoother strokes. You can use an exfoliate too ( I like this one ).
   2.} Always begin at the ankles in upwards movements towards the heart – the lymphatic fluid flows through the body towards the heart, so it’s important that you brush in the same direction.
   3.} Your back is the only exception to the preceding rule; brush from the neck down to the lower back.
   4.} After you’ve finished with the ankles, move up to the lower legs, thighs, stomach, back and arms. Be cautious of softer and sensitive skin around the chest & breasts, and never brush over inflamed skin, sores, sun-burnt skin, or skin cancer. ( Also: ensure you shower to wash away the dead skin cells and impurities ).
   Tip: alternating temperatures in the shower from hot to cold will further invigorate the skin and stimulate blood circulation, bring more blood to the outer layers of the skin.
   Then follow it up with a slick moisturizer to nourish the skin— coconut oil works great!
   
   
   
   So there you have it folks, my top four recommendations for Hair/Skincare. I hope you liked this short tip. Sorry about the short descriptions, but I found one website very helpful in learning about new ways to take care of your skin: The Skinny Confidential. Take a look at the site to look at more in depth explanations. 

*Quick Note*
I found another great post on Mind Body Green on Why Everyone Should Get To Know Ghee. I want all of you to know this because my family's been using ghee ever since I can remember! (I am Indian, so it would make sense!) The article is completely true and I suggest giving it a once-over.

Whew! Ok, this has been my longest post yet. Thanks for reading this far! ^.^
Have a great fantastic naturally beautiful day <3
*Muah*

TAG | "My First Time"

I saw this tag on +Daniela Vasco 's Blog and thought that it'd be a pretty cool thing to do since I haven't blogged in a while. So here you go! =)

This tag consists in several questions, regarding different topics, about your first time. Let's

1. FIRST YouTube video you ever watched?

   I don't think I remember exactly the first video I watched, but it was probably some kind of lyric video. #sorrynotsorry

2. FIRST person you subscribed on YouTube?

   The first person I subscribed to was Superwoman. I love her videos! They're fun and totally relatable. For anyone who has not seen her videos, desi or not, I recommend watching it! You'll spend hours laughing at her videos.

3. Do you still talk to your FIRST love?
   Hmm, no I guess, since I haven't really 'loved' anyone like that yet...

4. FIRST kiss?
   Haha, nope! Nada. Question invalid. Haven't had my first kiss yet people ;D

5. FIRST soft drink?
   Well, for starters, I had to tone down this question so it's suitable for me to answer, haha. Secondly,

6. FIRST car?
   Hmm, not old enough to drive yet, BUT I would absolutely love to have a black 1969 Mustang Fastback:

7. FIRST job?
   Hmm, again. Not old enough for a job. But I'm hoping to become a BioMed Engineer OR a singer =)

8. FIRST pet?
   I've never had pets, but I want a cat, or a small dog.

9. FIRST celebrity crush?
  David Henry. Guys. Can we talk about him for a moment? He be so perfect.

 10. FIRST real boyfriend?
   Umm, lol, I shoudn't be doing this tag if most of my answers are no. Never had a legit boyfriend.
  11. Who was your FIRST person to text you today?
   I actually didn't text anyone today, but the last person to text me was my friend Christina.

12. Who was your FIRST grade teacher?
   I believe her name was Ms. Rebolt or something XD

13. Where was your FIRST sleepover?
   Actually at my old house with my neighbor. Lol, he was only a few years younger than me, but we were really good friends, and our parents were good friends. So why not right?

14. What was the FIRST thing you did this morning?
   I checked the time to see how long I could take a shower without being late to my bus. Which ended up being 7 minutes. Not too bad.

15. FIRST concert you ever went to?
   An A.R. Rahman concert when I was pretty small with my mom and dad. It was pretty cool, although I started crying because it was too loud! haha.
 

16. FIRST broken bone?
   Nopeeee....Never broken a bone. Almost sprained my finger in gym though.

17. FIRST movie you remember seeing?
    Is this possible to answer? It's probably a movie called Hum Tum. It's a hindi movie that I absolutely LOVED as a kid, and I still love it now.

18. FIRST sport you were involved in?
   Uhh, swimming I believe. I love to swim, but my skin gets really realllyyyy dark and ugly because of the chlorine or whatever, so I had to quit *sad face*

19. FIRST tweet?
   Oooohh, don't have a Twitter, but if I had one, it'd probably be something like "Rocking out my band shirt and leggings with a cup of hot cocoa by the window" or something haha. But my birthday was a month ago, and my friend photoshopped this tweet:
I got so happy!!

20. FIRST Facebook profile picture?
   I don't like posting pictures of myself on the internet, haha. Most of these questions were invalid for me. Why am I even doing this tag? XD

21. FIRST piercing?
   I got my ears pierced as a baby (the normal ones). I want a lip ring though, or maybe one snakebite. =)

Because I thought this was such a nice tag, I would like to thank Barbs for tagging me, and I would like to tag anyone who sees this and wants to do it. =)