Showing posts with label home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label home. Show all posts

Sunday, December 31, 2023

Happy New Year 2024

Photo: Swarovski
In my dreams, I look like this fashion model on New Year's Eve -- the tan, the sparkles, the elegant shoulders, the star earrings, the mega chicness. What I really look like is the image below. Close enough, ah?:) Be kind! The photo of me below was snapped at Bloomingdales where I was invited to a designer launch of a new collection in October 2019 before the pandemic forced us to shelter at home for nearly 2 years. Thankfully, I attended several of Bloomindales' fashion events over the prior 12 months. During the shutdown, I reflected upon how such public events with hors d'oeuvres and drinks passed around on trays were no longer possible. How suddenly our lives had changed! Life is unpredictable.
The old saying: "Man plans, God laughs" is true. Our plans can only be an outline clarifying the direction we wish to go. How 2024 unfolds is anyone's guess. Will there be any surprises? Time will tell.
We'll ride the old year out and start the New Year optimistically with friends, champagne, a cheese platter, grainy bread and crackers, and whatever else we feel like whipping up. 
Some years I attend parties with friends, and other years I celebrate with family at home. I enjoy both ways of ringing in the new year, but after the ball drops I especially love the easy commute from couch to bed at home.  
The faux fur stole I'm wearing at the Bloomingdale event was a prop given to me by the photographer for the photo. It doesn't go with the dress or shoes but is fancy and perfect here to wish you a Happy New Year!πŸŽ‰πŸ₯³πŸ”΅
After a December 31st night of champagne, a January 1st morning of fine coffee and tea. Here's to 2024! Have fun. Everything in moderation my lovelies.🍷⌛⏰


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Monday, December 25, 2023

It's A Manhattan Christmas

Photo Source of Macy's: Adventures Only
Manhattan in December is magical. If you can't fit a Christmas tree into your tiny apartment just step outside, the entire city with lights and sparkle becomes your Christmas decor!

The 1st two photos are of Macy's holiday windows at Herald Square, my favorite New York City department store. You'll find everything you need at Macy's but unlike Bergdorf Goodman, Saks, or Bloomingdales, Macy's carries a wide range of price points coupled with the best sales so you'll find exactly what you're looking for to suit your budget. I've never shopped at Macy's for a necessity or splurge and returned home either empty-handed or broke. From upscale to budget-friendly, there's something for everyone.
Photo Source of Macy's: Macy's, Inc.
Frankly, I'd be in big trouble if Macy's were in my own neighborhood and I could float in to browse anytime I wish. It's better for my wallet that I must take the subway to Herald Square because Macy's vast inventory is tempting every time I step into the store.


Photos of Bergdorf Goodman: Ricky Zehavi Photography

Sitting at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, Bergdorf Goodman creates fashion-forward, avant-garde holiday windows.

Photo Source of Cartier: Shutterstock
Cartier Fifth Avenue (at 52nd Street) always wraps its flagship store up as a Christmas package. I look for it every year and sometimes shamelessly steal the upmarket retailer's festive motif for my own front door.

Saks Fifth Avenue has the best video show every single year, and crowds are not wild or crazy when you attend the night of its unavailing usually accompanied by live celebrity entertainment. I like to stand directly across the street on Fifth Avenue (between 49th and 50th Streets) to watch the outdoor music, dance, and light show. Then you might as well walk over to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree because you're only a stone's throw away from Rockefeller Plaza. I have featured the beautiful tree on the blog in past years linked here. Next to Saks is St. Patrick's Cathedral with a large Nativity Scene near the altar. 

Photo Source: Debra Turner
Merry Christmas to all my lovely readers. Peace, Love, and Joy to everyone of every faith tradition on the globe who sees the blog! May the spirit of Christmas find you today and always!πŸͺπŸŽ„πŸ‘ xoxoπŸ’‹


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Friday, November 24, 2023

Turkey Pot Pies With Leftover Stuffing

Thanksgiving sides are delicious! They can include stuffing (called dressing when not stuffed in the bird), green beans, carrots, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and potatoes, along with cranberry sauce. It's what we ate. Although we lacked a crowd dining with us, I wouldn't dream of omitting the Turkey stuffing. This year instead of toasting bread and making a pan of cornbread which would make more stuffing than we desire, I used a box of Stove Top Turkey flavored stuffing combined with a box of Stove Top Cornbread stuffing as a starter then added small amounts of grilled sausage, ham, onion, celery, mushrooms, walnuts, hot pepper flakes and dried sage to it. It came out homemade because all you get in a box of Stove Top are the croutons and seasonings. We still had plenty of stuffing! I know just what to do with our Thanksgiving leftovers:

Turkey Pot Pie - Inspired by the recipe off the back of the stuffing box which uses premade and frozen ingredients. We can use our homemade leftovers to make a different meal without really having to cook again!:

Ingredients - already cooked: 

2 cups of leftover stuffing - Mine has tons of onion, celery and sausage.
2 cups of turkey, diced (also works with chicken)
1 cup of cauliflower or broccoli, diced
1/2 cup of green beans, bitesize
1/2 cup of carrots, sliced
2 cups leftover gravy

Directions: 

Mix the vegetables and gravy in a baking dish. Top with the stuffing. Either reheat it in the oven or microwave. If reheating in the oven, brush the bottom of the dish with cooking spray or butter. Because your food is already cooked, it should only take about 15 minutes to reheat in the oven and less time to reheat in the microwave.

Eyeball the amounts of the ingredients. The above is a guide for making 4 servings. Use more gravy if needed, or other vegetable leftovers if you made them. {During the rest of the year, it works well with either leftover chicken or 3 cans of white chicken chunks, a box of stovetop stuffing, and a 14 oz bag of frozen mixed vegetables. If using boxed stuffing, grill and toss in some diced onions and celery.}

You can also prepare the dish for one. Measure out according to appetite and what fits into your bowl, then reheat the single portion in a microwave in about 3 minutes.        

Another leftover we had on Thanksgiving was a bit of an experiment. It's a cherry tart on a digestive biscuit and applesauce crust (as opposed to a gram cracker crust). It has a cinnamon, strudel topping with bourbon-soaked pecans, a few white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, and walnuts tossed on top for good measure. (No added sugar in the crust or crumb topping and just enough butter in the topping to get a crumb texture). The only reason I made it was to use a jar of cherries I've had in my pantry for 1 1/2 years. It had to go! I baked it in the oven for about 20 minutes. The tart was sweet from the cherries yet not too sweet to make you feel sick after eating it. Like a healthy cherry Pop Tart!

Do you have a favorite recipe for using your Thanksgiving leftovers?


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Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Happy Thanksgiving Friends


This year I'm especially thankful for family and friends.

As a caregiver, I'm thankful my very senior mother is not bedridden but walks inside the home with a walker. She can walk to the bathroom; and for all the foods she'll no longer eat she's surprisingly healthy, strong, and doesn't require any prescription drugs to make any of her bodily functions work properly. I'm slightly in disbelief. How is this possible on such a limited diet? She is strong enough to be safely bathed in a shower chair, which is such a huge help to a caregiver. She gets a complete spa treatment of skin, hair, and nails twice a week from me. I am surprised at how fast her hair grows. A podiatrist told me that all elderly people have nail fungus, yet my mother's nails are white and strong with no nail fungus. They grow fast too, and we must cut them weekly. Her good health for her age is a blessing.

Moreover, I'm thankful for my hometown friends and neighbors who are what we tend to call good people for short. Each one is a godsend to know. They watch our backs and property and give us lots of joy with their camaraderie and kind hearts. I love spending time with them and keeping up with their families. Our bonds make life meaningful and interesting!

Additionally, I'm thankful for my Manhattan friends, one of whom moved this year to Atlanta Georgia. But we all keep in touch regularly by telephone. Luckily I see them occasionally when we're in the same place, and when out of town by phone and texting. With New York friends, spacing out in-person visits isn't uncommon even when both parties are in New York City as New Yorkers tend to lead very active lives.

This holiday season, we miss our dear friend, Sheila, who lost her battle with breast cancer in June 2023. Life is bittersweet and it makes you appreciate loved ones even more. 

I'm grateful I have hometown and New York friends who I'll know for the rest of our days. In both locations, they are good people with kind hearts whose companionship I cherish and thoroughly enjoy.

I'm also grateful for a few blogging and Facebook friends, who reach out from across the miles 🌍🌎🌏 to support me. I suppose generosity and kindness know no bounds. Readers and fellow bloggers, you touch my heart! I enjoy connecting and hearing your thoughts. A special thank you for becoming a kindred spirit!ζ—…


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Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Senior Goods That Make Caregiving Easier

As they say in financial journalism today's subject isn't sexy. Still, I want to share a tad of wisdom I've picked up in caring for my senior mamma. It seems to me that 80% of the population are or have been caregivers for elderly family members. I meet them when I'm at the supermarket, hiring vendors, or sometimes sitting in the park, i.e., everywhere I go! I've learned a lot in the nearly 2 years I've stepped into the role. Perhaps in another blog, I'll address a more weighty part of caregiving, thoughts about our county's healthcare system. My mother is lucky, she has excellent coverage, but so many seniors don't! Meanwhile, it's the daily care we must provide so today I'll limit our discussion to --

5 Must-Have Essentials for Seniors to Make Everyday Life Easier for Your Loved One and Yourself (not listed in order of importance):

1) Ensure (as well as Walmart's brand, Equate) Protein Drinks - Although my mother's best meal is breakfast, getting her to eat lunch or dinner is dicey! Every morning she'll have 2 eggs; peanut butter on toasted multigrain bread with a drizzle of honey; a cup of milk; and coffee, which she eats in the late mornings. It's the only real food I can count on her eating. So around 1:30 PM, I give her a vanilla Ensure or Equate protein drink. They are 11 ounces with 30 grams of protein and 1 gram of sugar. Usually, she refuses dinner, instead opting only to drink a cup of milk, but with a good dose of protein early in the day, I don't fret too much. Hey, I can only make food available, the rest is on her! Btw, vanilla is her favorite flavor, so it's what I order.

2) Aloe Vesta Body Wash & Shampoo or its equivalent - 8 ounces (I'd prefer 16 ounces). I squirt a dab of it into her bathwater or a basin for handwashing. It cleans and conditions her skin and scalp without drying the skin. We do raise the wash off with water, but you don't have to, if the patient is bedridden. Many hospitals use it. 

3) Assurance Adult Disposable Panties from Walmart - I realize I'm oversharing, but not only is Walmart's house brand the cheapest in price, but it's also my favorite brand of all the disposables on the market. They are strong and fit like cloth panties, not diapers. The maximum and overnight absorbencies are not bulky and fitted in the leg area. They look comfortable and are invisible under trousers, and except for the material they're made of, not like wearing disposables but real panties.

4) Target's brand, Up & Up Fresh and Clean Cloth-Like Baby Wipes - I buy the 3-pack of 100 count for $5.98. Cheap in the Target store! They come in bigger quantities, but if you are not timely in using them, they'll dry up. So how many are too many in a single purchase? I haven't figured it out yet. I love the botanicals in them, but I'd buy the best-priced wipes with safe ingredients I could find.

5) Washable Waterproof Protective Pads for Beds (or Couches) - Hospitals use these thinner polyester absorbent ones, so that's what I buy. Machine wash and dry. They look good blended into the bedding, not senior or nursing home-ist at all. They are just as absorbent as the 3-layer pads but are lighter and cheaper so I think the better choice.

Senior personal care items can be pricey, but these 5 are affordable and very useful. They're worth every penny! One piece of advice ... you can find many identical senior commodities sold in medical supply pharmacies selling for 1/3 less on Amazon. Always compare with Amazon before pulling the trigger.


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Thursday, September 7, 2023

Shoes For Paws

Photo: Rover - which is linked - gives you 15 best dog boots to buy.

In winter the local news in Manhattan sometimes airs stories warning the public of the harm salt used to melt snow on sidewalks can do to their dog's paws, so it is not unusual to see a few dogs wearing boots. But now I see it also in August and September. Shoes on dogs have definitely caught on with pet owners this summer, and it's understandable.

Photo: Rover
As great as New York City is, the sidewalks and subways can be very, very dirty. In response, I'm one of those annoying people who ask guests to remove their shoes in my apartment. I buy extra houseshoes to offer visitors who'd prefer not to walk around in their socks, but few folks let on that they mind the "sockhop." when entering my place. My guests who accept my houseshoes get to take them home as a gift after their visit. I think if you're forward enough to ask people to remove their shoes in your home, giving them footwear is a thoughtful gesture. You won't catch them off-guard with holes in their socks, plus you want your guests to feel taken care of and comfortable in your house. You can buy inexpensive hospital booties at the dollar stores to have a supply on hand.

Photo: here
It turns out that people who study germs think removing our shoes inside our homes is ideal! Studies have found shoes bring an astonishing amount of poop bacteria into New York City buildings, so I don't think we who live here are defacto germophobes. We just have common sense.

If [still] a pet owner, I suppose I'd extend these findings to my dog's paws in cold and warm weather. More and more, it seems like a good idea in a high-traffic city for several reasons

Photo: Amazon
Think of it this way: When popcorn drops on your rug while watching a movie, you don't have to worry about picking it up to eat it! Moreover, Fido is in the habit of licking his paws. Yes, it's true he also licks his own butt -- but IMHO spreading germs is a numbers game, so let's limit him right there to spreading his own bacteria throughout your home! For sure, think about keeping the other bacteria from God-knows-where-and-God-knows-what out of your living space. The idea is not to avoid common household germs but all the foreign germs we don't want to know about!😳

Sidewalks also get hot and at times there's broken glass or sharp objects to potentially cut paws. 

In a pinch, I've read ... you can outfit your dog's paws with 4 rubber balloons. but more permanent shoes made for dogs are relatively affordable. Some are for dryness and others for warmth. Here are tips on training your dog to wear them.

Please weigh in: If you bring your dog to a major city with lots of foot traffic, the sources of germs, would you adorn him with cute little shoes?

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Thursday, August 3, 2023

Hulken's Schlepping Bag On Wheels

While walking home I saw a woman carry roughly 3 bags of groceries 40 blocks in a Heluken's Bag on Wheels and now I want one. I caught up with her and ended up chatting with her about the bag for 20 blocks or so. She gave me the details and discussed how she loved her Hulken's Bag on Wheels and uses it to carry so many heavy things. I noticed its wheels and 5 handles were strong and well-made which she confirmed, as well as, emphasized how happy she was with her purchase.

There are 3 sizes - Small: 14x8x18 inches, Medium: 16x12x20 inches (these 1st 2 sizes have 4 wheels) and Large: 20x16x24 (the large has 5 wheels); and 3 colors: Black, Silver and Rose Gold.

There are times I have to choose between a gallon of milk or a gallon of laundry detergent at Target or the supermarket because I can't carry both home on the same trip.

The reason I seriously want a Hulken's schlepping bag is ... it's ideal for Manhattan apartments since it's easy to store by folding up nearly flat when not in use. Metal carts take up more space, yet are about 1/3 of the expensive! The manufacturer put a lot of thought into making a durable tote bag on wheels. You pay for the design, innovation, and the fact there are no similar knockoffs on the market. 

I like the medium size in silver for schlepping groceries and goods around Manhattan but may want the large size. Buying both sizes is impractical, so I'll have to wait a beat to decide which size to get. Perhaps the large bag with a 5th wheel isn't too big. Plus wouldn't it be nice to find a deal somewhere on the web or at a retailer that sells the bag?!πŸ›

Stay tuned!


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Monday, July 17, 2023

Washcloths, Save or Splurge?

Walmart
Let me cut to the chase. After decades of buying washcloths, I learned to save and not splurge on this household essential. You want to splurge on big, thick, thirsty bathroom towels that can be washed time and again but save on washcloths. Here's why:

1) Washcloths, whether they are made by Ralph Lauren, Laura Ashley, Walmart, or Target, get ugly really fast. Cute doesn't stay cute for long regardless of price. After you wash a washcloth twice it doesn't look new anymore. Washcloths get stained by personal care products (like vitamin C serum) and look somewhat dingy after multiple machine washes and there's little you can do about it.

Pottery Barn
2) Unlike bath towels, big thick thirsty washcloths are actually a drawback. I have 4 Pottery Barn washcloths that I hate to use for 2 reasons: (a) the color bleeds and (b) they take 2 days to dry before I can toss them into the clothes hamper. This experience turns me off of big, thick, thirsty washcloths.

3) While you don't need a ton of bath towels, you do need a ton of washcloths, one freshly laundered washcloth daily for every member of your family. A ton of Pottery Barn washcloths costs a tidy sum! Not so at Walmart or Target.

Target
4) I happen to prefer the lighter Target or Walmart washcloths to the heavier more expensive Pottery Barn ones as it's easier to swish around and buff the skin with less weight.

5) The bargain Target and Walmart washcloths are good enough, they won't soon fall apart, and you get unbeatable value for the money -- such as 6 washcloths for $5, as well as, sales like 6 washcloths for $2.40, as opposed to, $14.50 each for Pottery Barn or $25 each for Ralph Lauren as in only one!

6) With such substantial savings, you can afford to buy spanking-new washcloths more often and still come out ahead. 

Walmart
Once upon a time, I bought sets of matching bath towels and washcloths, but I no longer do since as it turns out nobody cares. In washcloths, I don't look for Egyptian threads or Turkish cotton either. Nowadays I buy big thick thirsty cotton bath towels and good enough cotton washcloths as needed. Pay the piper when it counts. 

Other tips: 

When selecting these home goods create one washer load only: Either buy all white towels and washcloths (and perhaps bedding) or go with colors and skip the whites. Why create the need to do 2 loads of laundry weekly? Simplify a repetive job by going one way or the other.
 
Don't overbuy washcloths just because they're cheap as there's never a washcloth shortage. Always buy enough not more than enough. You're welcome!πŸ˜›πŸ™‚

Thursday, July 6, 2023

Temu Got Me to Buy A Mini Washer/Spinner

In a previous blog, I admitted this foldable mini washer/spinner was a temptation to buy. Temu, a popular and legitimate Chinese online megastore that sells a myriad of practical and inexpensive products, ran a Facebook promotion offering it for $5 in exchange for downloading its app and so like Adam and Eve, I bite the apple ordering it.🍎🍏

I'm impressed by how fast it arrived (in 7 days) and by Temu's vigilant communication, texting me with status updates and a package tracking number. The 4 items I ordered (you need to spend $10 for an order to ship, and it ships free) were also securely packed, and I liked the minimal waste, yet sufficient wrapping to protect the items


Not only am I impressed by Temu's good customer service, but I'm impressed by how well the mini washer/spinner works. It's got a fair amount of features: 1) 3 control buttons to wash for 5 or 10 minutes and a 2-minute spin cycle; 2) a substantial handle to carry it; 3) 4 suction cup "feet" on the bottom to lessen sliding; 4) a water drain valve; and 5) a spinner that snaps on and off.

Last night I tested the washer/spinner with two 5-minute cycles of mini washes (as opposed to standard washer loads). It works very well on a few lightly soiled pieces, such as three shirts or a dress you wear a couple of times and wish to freshen up. Also great for delicates.

I manually filled the mini washer with hot water, 1 tablespoon of Oxi Tide, and cleaned (1) my senior mother's Old Navy t-shirt and another top; then (2) her cotton knit Athletic Works trousers with my Uniqlo bra-top. After two 5-minute cycles, I emptied the soapy water by pouring it into the sink and refilling the mini washer/dryer with fresh water for two 5-minute rinse cycles. Finally, I ran the spinner twice avoiding having to wring out the water by hand. That alone is priceless.

The mini washer replaces handwashing! Here it is cleaning my Old Navy swing dress stained by coffee became somebody came up behind me with a surprise hug at the exact same time I lifted up my coffee cup to take a sip. The coffee spilled on the side of my clean dress, so into the mini washer, it went.

The unit is compact enough to take on trips and it beats handwashing socks and light apparel in a hotel sink. This innovative, fun "toy" is quiet and ample enough to keep up with seniors and babies who tend to get spots of food on their freshly laundered clothes!

Ahh, look at our little cutie drying on my dish rack.😘

Up to 3 women's t-shirts or a pair of knit trousers do indeed boop up and down in a whirlpool of soapy or rinse water. At the end of the wash, they do smell and look clean. The mistake would be to overfill so the clothes can't twirl around. What's more, you don't want to overdo the amount of soap. You'll then have to work harder to rinse the suds out with fresh water.

The mini washer/spinner is so darn cute, I love it. If durable (time will tell), I'd definitely recommend it at its regular price. Walmart and Amazon are selling it at higher prices than Temu -- all 3 retailers are supplied by multiple vendors, and I bet all the mini washers/dryers come from the same factory in China.


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Monday, May 22, 2023

The Sleep Pod Explained


Hug Sleep founders and husband and wife team, Matt Mundt and Angie Kupper partnered with Shark Tank's 
Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner to manufacture cocoon-like sleep pods based on the science of Deep Touch therapy. It goes on like a pair of pants using both legs. The sleep pod provides a gentle, calming pressure around your entire body to induce relaxation and a good night's sleep. Customers who are problem sleepers claim it's a game charger. Many prefer a sleep pod to a weighted blanket in relieving anxiety. One consumer whose daughter has autism and sensory processing difficulties is surprised by how it helps her child settle into sleep.

Made from a specialized 4-way stretch poly span material that provides a gentle, calming pressure to simulate the feeling of being hugged or swaddled, the sleep pod is lightweight, flexible, breathable, and doesn't trap heat. 

The USA-manufactured sleep pod can be machine washed in warm water and tumble dried at medium temperature. It's a cuddle for adults and through compression a calming way to doze off.

People who have trouble falling or staying asleep say it really works. To find the best deal do a Google search. Here is the Sleep Pod for $49.


 
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Friday, May 5, 2023

Kentucky Oats Lily Cocktail

Photo: Distillerytrail.com

Tomorrow is a big day around the world for television celebrations with family and friends to watch King Charles III's Coronation starting at 5 am in the USA followed by The Kentucky Derby in the evening at 6:30 pm -- both eastern standard time. Depending on where you are on the globe, you'll be getting up very early or staying up very late to watch one or the other.
 
We average Janes and Joes aren't going to get a front-row seat to attend either event, but will have more fun, as well as, the best views at home parties in our very own living rooms. I don't know about you, but miraculously my invitations to both events got lost in the mail!πŸ€₯ 

At the Kentucky Derby many people want to try the traditional Derby drink, a mint julep, but often discover they don't like the taste of bourbon, its main ingredient. If you are one of them, here's another traditional and refreshing Derby drink you'll see people sipping at Churchill Downs between the races. It's a festive and suitable drink to serve at either a Derby or Coronation party. BTW: The Kentucky Derby will be race #12 - the last race of the day.
 
Let's discuss the origin of the cocktail. The Kentucky Oats is America's "premier and most lucrative" race for 3-year-old female horses i.e., fillies which runs yearly one day before the Derby. The winner is awarded $1.2 million dollars and a garland of lilies. At Churchill Downs in the winner's circle, you might hear the phrase, "lilies for fillies," and now you know how the drink got its name. Below is the recipe:

Kentucky Oats Lily Cocktail

Ingredients:

Photo: Caitlin Bensel/Southern Living
Per serving --
3 ounces (1/3 cup) cranberry juice 
1 ounce (2 tablespoons) lime juice (some people use sour mix)
1/5 ounce (1 1/4 teaspoon) Triple Sec 
1 1/2 ounces (3 tablespoons) FINLANDIA vodka
Crushed ice
Optional: fresh smashed berries for garnish

If making a pitcher full add: 3 parts cranberry juice; 1 part lime juice or sour mix; 1/4 part Triple Sec; 1 part FINLANDIA vodka, and crushed ice

Directions:

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker or pitcher, shake or stir, and pour into a tall glass over crushed ice. Add a few smashed berries if you wish.

Enjoy tomorrow's celebrations, my lovlies!πŸ‘‘πŸŒΉπŸ₯³πŸŽ‰


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