Just like that, it’s 2023!! A new year of experiences, challenges and fun all across the span of 365 days are ahead of us, but you know what else occurs across the span of 365 days ahead of us? The pickups of course!!! Can’t wait to start off the year sharing some independent artists, headphones, manga, clothes and much more!
🎧Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones
There’s nothing more immersive and intimate than listening to music with over the ear headphones - drawing or reading never felt so engaging listening to bass heavy hip-hop or jungle in the process. As much as I love headphones, I personally wouldn’t use them outside of my home due to them deafening my hearing and senses, which kind of freaks me out if I can’t hear what’s around me. Because of this, I didn’t wanna break the bank and get the best headphones I can buy - searching for a cheaper alternative and I think I found them! These headphones come in an all black for versatility and sleekness, have a very satisfying click when you open them up and overall feel like their built greatly! These also feature noise cancelling - my first time trying it out and It’s crazy how much noise it gets rid of in certain situations. Lastly, Beats is known for its bass and I didn’t know whether or not the bass might interfere with the audio clarity, but rest assured it’s a perfect mix and I’m glad that was the outcome when I put them on for the first time. Overall, If you can pick these up for a good price when they’re on sale, I’d definitely recommend them for casual at home listeners like myself :).
Instagram’s algorithm led me to the brand OKIO, who seem to be a brand new label releasing their first clothing item - THE HUY. This pair of pants are a unisex mid-rise pleated wide fit pair of dark blue denim that feature that beautiful balloon fit I’ve been gravitating towards and for their first clothing piece, they did an excellent job! Some of my favorite details include the front pleats, light/mid weight denim fabric, the small leather patch on the left leg, subtle logo details on the the back pockets and overall silhouette! I’d like to mention my one complaint with these are that the indigo dye bleeds a good amount - seeing that after I put them on top of a white t-shirt in one of my bags. I was able to combat that with a cold wash and hang dry, so now it’s not as bad! My love for pants - especially denim jeans - grows larger with these and the price is relatively affordable - especially if you’re looking for more unique silhouettes that are harder to find at a lower price point. I believe they sold out and aren’t taking anymore pre orders, but if you’re interested please give them a follow on IG because they’re more than likely to restock them in the future!
🖼️✍️Various Art Prints/ Stickers
This month, I went to Sac Anime - my local anime convention that happens every 6 months and brings together cosplayers, artists and vendors alike! Every time I attend, I walk through the artist ally and see what cool stickers, prints and cute acrylic charms I can buy from extremely talented artists selling their wares! It’s also a good place to buy official figures, manga and art books to stare at and refer to when I need inspiration for whatever. I’d like to share and give credit to where it’s due because everything comes from some great people and it’s always great to support independent artists! I also went to Genesis 9 - a yearly super major for the Super Smash Brothers video game series where the greatest players in the world come together for the first big event of the year and all can attend and see history being made in the FGC!
Vintage Hysteric Glamor sticker from Anne Hero - she always has so many small stickers and trinkets that are either made by her or she sources anime, video game or fashion oddities and sells them to the people who love it! Seriously love her work and PLEASE give her a follow on IG and Twitter if you haven’t!
Postcard set and Captain Falcon sticker from Hollandaize - got these postcards of my favorite Melee stages and had to get a sticker of my main in Melee too :) There was also lots of cute art of various frogs and cats and I think the postcards were a really great idea!
Um Jammer Lammy double sided charm from Leia Doodles - There’s nothing better than seeing Um Jammer Lammy being represented with an awesome charm and it’s even more awesome that it was made from a friend in the Anne Hero discord and I’m glad I can support a new friend who had a booth at Sac Anime!
Bocchi and the Rock! stickers and sticker sheet from Minominoten - After seeing all the buzz about the anime and how much I love K-On, I decided to give it a watch and I was not disappointed with how funny and charming it was to watch and I saw these at Sac Anime and loved the references to the end credit art style and Bocchizilla! They did a really good job with them and I even added the little stickers to my headphones :)
Akira Comics - These Akira issues were published by Epic Comics and are some of my favorites to look at because of how vibrant Otomo’s art looks in full color and I’ve been slowly buying the volumes that I think have the coolest covers - leading to me finishing the set someday!
Samus art print from Auto Giraffe - my friend I was attending Genesis with showed me a booth with some really well drawn art of various Nintendo characters and this print with Samus getting out of the suit stuck out to me because it was a nod to Ghost and the Shell! There was so much more I wanted to get but do not have the room, so I’d like to share his account and show you guys what I’m talking about!
Various prints from Edwin Huang (ironpinky) - These have to be some of my favorite prints I’ve gotten at a Sac Anime and Edwin is such a talented artist who does a lot of art for so many series I love! As I’m writing this and finding his IG, I just discovered he’s an illustrator for Udon Entertainment who publishes a lot of various video game media like manga and art books! Had to get the Jet Set Radio print, the Akira print to add to my unintentional collection of Akira prints I’ve accumulated at Sac Anime over the years, and this Pokémon rendition of Enemy of the State from Blink-182 featuring Nurse Joy on the cover that I thought was a cool flip!
SGT Frog Keroro mini print - I never see any SGT Frog representation at Sac Anime, so as soon as I saw this I of course I had to get it! I believe these were made for autograph signings of voice actors at the event? I’m not sure but Keroro with be immortalized in print from :)
📚Wotakoi: Love Is Hard For Otaku
Back in 2018 when I was heavy into keeping up with seasonal anime, I watched Wotakoi - A series about a group of adults working their full-time jobs and keeping up with the hobbies they love - whether they openly share them with everyone or hide them due to embarrassment or fear of judgement. The reason the anime was so applauded at the time was because everyone can relate to that scenario and throughout the short series, you find these characters fall in love with each other or see them involved in an already established relationship being comfortable sharing what hobbies they love. Since then, they’ve continued the series up until June of 2022 where the series had come to an end and I didn’t know it was still going and wanted to read what had happened over the years. Recently good ol’ Half Price Books had the full set of volumes 1-6 for a really good price and I couldn’t pass the opportunity to read it all! I’ll definitely give it a read after I finish all of Princess Jellyfish (AHHHH OMG it’s been a rollercoaster of emotions that I’m finally feeling after putting off finishing the manga for so long and It’s been so worth AUGHHH)
Thank you for the support as always 💕