What Can You Do to Make Your Business More Environmentally Sound?

August 21, 2018 by Leave a Comment

These days there are so many different things that business owners need to be aware of. It takes a lot of work in 2018 to develop a successful brand, but it is also important to think about sustainability. Always keep in mind the fact that you have to think about the future and consider how the business will be impacted over the years. This needs to be something you have a plan to help your brand grow effectively over the years.

There are a lot of things in the world of business that can have a bearing on the future. One of the key concerns in 2018 should be looking at how the company can be greener and more sustainable. Working toward an eco-friendly business is really important because this is something that is going to have positive impacts for the future, and for the world in general too. Here are some things you can do to work toward a more eco-friendly company.

Lean Manufacturing

One of the best ways of working toward being more conscious of the environment is to embrace lean manufacturing. The principal goal of lean manufacturing is the practice of reducing the amount of waste that your business creates, without reducing productivity. You can take courses to help make you an expert in this, an apply it to your business as well as possible. This is so important for the future because it helps the business be more eco-friendly.

Energy Efficient

There are a few things you can do that will help you make your company more environmentally sound, and one of the big ones is to become more energy-efficient. There are plenty of ways of achieving this, and it is important to look at the amount of energy you’re using in the company. Make sure you turn off the power as much as possible, switch to eco-friendly lighting, and make changes that are going to improve this throughout the company.

Electric Cars

If you are in a position to be providing company cars, it is really important to look at getting a fleet of electric cars. These may not be ubiquitous quite yet, but they are an excellent way of making sure you reduce your company’s carbon footprint. Electric cars don’t use fuel, so they cause much less damage to the environment as a result.

Upcycle

Another excellent way of improving the brand and taking things forward is to make sure you upcycle. This is something you need to make sure you are doing within the offices as it will really help you get a good handle on this. Think hard about the furniture you’re going to be using in the business, and consider how you can upcycle and make the most of what you have at your disposal.

Setting your business apart from the competition is so important, and these are some of the best ways of helping you achieve that. By running a company that is more environmentally sound you will be very well placed to ensure you can be a success. What’s more, you are going to make the company much more appealing to customers and investors in the future as well.

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Making the Best Memories: 4 Tips for a Happy Family Vacation

August 13, 2018 by Leave a Comment

There are more benefits to a happy family vacation than giving you a short respite from work to recharge. Researchers and psychologists say that family holidays do not only help relieve stress, which is a health boost by itself, but also literally promote brain development in kids (The Telegraph). Another set of studies also proves that traveling together helps improve and strengthen family relationships. It even goes as far as reduce the risk of a divorce, thus making a family vacation trip the best family-saving tool ever.

But of course, traveling as a family is a challenge in many ways. And if you don’t take the necessary steps to ensure that trip is a success, you run the risk of giving your kids trauma instead of a mental health boost. Luckily, a bit of clever planning will prevent that.

4 Tips to Help You Organize a Happy Family Vacation

  1. Make memories

To have a happy family vacation you need to not only enjoy fun activities but also take pictures and videos of them, as well as get some souvenirs. A study published by the American Psychological Association shows that taking photos boosts the enjoyment of the experience itself.

And don’t forget about how you’ll be able to re-experience this joy when looking through those photos after a hard week at work. That’s why you should always have reminders like beautiful photo albums. Souvenirs can be used to enhance the story told by pictures, so pick up something that will be directly connected to your adventures, not just a generic bric-a-brac from local artisans.

 2. Be prepared to discard your plans
It’s essential to have a detailed plan for your trip before you set off. You need it to be sure your vacation is filled with fun activities for the entire family. For that reason, you need to work on it together so everyone can have some input into outlining the perfect adventure.

However, you also need to remember that this plan is not set in stone. Sometimes you might discover something more interesting to do when you arrive at the destination, or your kids might love some activity so much, they’ll want to spend an afternoon on it instead of an hour. The situation might also be the opposite or some of you might get sick or otherwise unable to do some of the things you planned.

You need to have the right mindset to adapt to these changes and not let them bring you down. Trying to stick to the plan and forcing this onto the others might ruin the vacation. Never forget that your sole goal here is to have fun.

 3. Plan for some family bonding time

A happy family vacation can benefit your relationships only if you allow it to. If you are busy every day learning new interesting facts through tours and museum visits, how will you bond with your kids and spouse?

Set aside some time in your plan for doing just that. Note that ‘bonding time’ doesn’t just mean going to those tours and museums together. No, you need to choose activities that will make you interact with each other. For example, this can be a fishing trip where you teach your kids how to fish and cook their catch. This can even be a few hours in the park spent throwing a Frisbee and rating all the local ice-cream flavors.

4. Respect everyone’s opinions

A happy family vacation is the ultimate exercise in compromise. It’s true that your family is made up of independent and unique individuals with widely different tastes. One of the main relationship-strengthening benefits of traveling together is building a plan everyone likes and negotiating it in a way that every single person has a say.

Start planning well in advance, as you’ll have many things to discuss.

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Summer Fun In New York With the Family

August 8, 2018 by 1 Comment

There is a lot to do in New York with the kids this summer, no matter what your interests are. From waterparks to Broadway shows, indoor or outdoor activities, you and your crew will find much to do in the Empire State.

When it’s hot, but you still want want to be outdoors, why not consider a water park? Splish Splash Waterpark is a great place to spend the day as a family in the heat of the summer. Waterparks should be high on the summer “to do” list, and this is one of the best spots in the area.  There are lots of options for kids of all ages, with smaller splash or wade pools for smaller kids (scaled down pools and slides, little swings, spray parks, etc) in several varieties so that everyone can have fun and enjoy themselves. The bigger the kid, the more places they can play- but of they are too big, they can’t play in the small kid areas, so that the little ones don’t have to worry about being trampled.  Some favorites were Mutiny Bay, which puts your family in brightly colored boats, letting riders use water-spray “cannons” to blast other boats while those outside the ride can blast those inside the boats- and get sprayed themselves. Abyss Tube Slides were a favorite with all the kids, twisting and and turning your way down the enclosed slides. So was Bootleggers run, which holds up to four at a time in a tandem raft.  “Climb aboard a four-man raft that actually goes uphill with new generation hydromagnetic technology. It flies like a roller coaster without rails. So much fun, it just may be illegal!”says the park.  It really did seem as much like a roller coaster as it did like a tube ride, it was very cool. There are also favorites like wave pools and “lazy rivers”, and so much more.  Head over to SplishSplash.com and get your tickets soon, summer will be over before you know it.

luna park

 

Coney Island, a “must” for locals and tourists alike, is a great place to beat the summer heat, or at least lean into it somewhat gracefully. A go to spot for generations, each season changing slightly, adding more rides, keeping new and fresh while still appealing to the nostalgia of days past. Just steps from the boardwalk, there is a beach with a clean shore and big open ocean.  For the animal lovers, there is the New York Aquarium just a little ways down, which also has a wonderful seal show that should not be missed.  For the adventurous types, there are big thrill rides at Luna Park which include 7 roller coasters like the classic wooden Coney Island Cyclone.  For the littler park goers, there are tons of attractions and rides at Luna Park like the Happy Swing and Magic Bikes. This year, Luna Park has also opened new rides Cozmo Jet and Coney Clipper, so even if you have been before, there is a great excuse to go again.

coney island

The Cozmo Jet is a family friendly ride which uses virtual-reality, video, and an interactive gaming console. It looks like your child’s game system, but with a VR mask that you wear as you are on the ride. It was an odd sensation, moving with the “virtual” reality while trying to blast and keep count. You and your family (one or two per “Jet”) blast aliens, with the high score winning.
The Coney Clipper is a more classic “pirate ship” themed ride that rocks back and forth, lifting you off your feet a bit as you reach the top of the swing. Don’t worry, you are all buckled in.
Visit https://lunaparknyc.com or the park itself to get tickets.

Saw Avenue Q, a witty, silly, yet poignant musical on Broadway , tickets via TripAdvisor

For a variety of fun, you can go to TripAdvisor for booking ease. It is the world’s largest provider of tours, activities and attractions, with more than *56,000 bookable experiences in 2,500 destinations worldwide (according to the company). TripAdvisor Attractions has options for every kind of traveler,from walking tours, skip-the-line access, hotels, and more. You can find the best prices and values from more then 200 sites, which are updated in real time so you never miss a good bargain. Gift certificates only work for certain attractions, so be aware of that- most options will only work when you book directly from the site and using a credit card. However, if you are looking for a good deal, this is a site you should visit. Choose a restaurant, get a massage, go to a museum, and much more. Visit https://www.tripadvisor.com for more info and to choose your experience. 

Anastasia on Broadway, photo by Matthew Murphey

Looking for the iconic NYC “Broadway” experience, but don’t want to break the bank? Visit

 Broadway Inbound and The Broadway Collection to choose a show you and your family want to see, at a price you can afford to pay. These aren’t second rate shows, you can see performances of Wicked, The Book Of Mormon, Anastasia, more. No matter if you are taking a couples night out, taking the kids to see a show, or arranging a large group (the WHOLE family? A club, team, or committee that wants to go together, etc) you will be able to get discounted tickets to shows that you actually want to see. To us, bringing the kids to see live theater is very important, it gives them experiences that can’t be replicated elsewhere, as well as an appreciation for art and music. So what are you waiting for? It’s Broadway, baby- grab the family and head out.
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Back to School Shopping for @BTFE at @Costco #ad

August 8, 2018 by 3 Comments

Disclosure- I receive monetary compensation from General Mills in exchange of my endorsement of Box Tops For Education.

costco

Getting ready for back to school always requires a fairly big shop. When you have kids, so does the weekly grocery shopping trip, am I right? It’s bananas how much food these little hoovers consume. I have no idea where they put it, either. This is one of the main reasons I became a Costco member- that, and because they are often cited as one of the most ethical large companies out there. I try to shop small, shop local, and shop ethical whenever humanly possible. They tend to have higher quality products, sustainable sourced and ethically produced, as well as a fair pay for employees and a compassionate working environment. Imagine that! If only all companies acted like that. They do well for it, as well. The stores are always clean, and shopping experiences are easy and pleasant. Well, that’s not counting for the kids- but no store is responsible for that, LOL.  They almost always have “sample stations” throughout the store that you can bribe the kiddos with, however. Smart thinking, Sell more products, since we buy what we like, AND no hangry customers. Very smart.

The prices are fair, and less since you buy in bulk as well. This also means more time between trips, hopefully! I also like that they don’t use bags- bring your own, or use boxes, or just load directly into your car. Easy.

You can get SO MANY Box Tops for your kids school while you are shopping for items you already love, like Lucky Charms, Mott’s Fruit Snacks, and Nature Valley. Because the boxes are large, you often get “bonus” Box Tops as well- more money for your child’s school. Bonus, indeed.

What’s stopping you? Head over and become a member today. You can even pick up a prepared dinner while you were there. What? Hey, it totally counts as cooking. Shhh.

Plus, they have a contest going on where you can win 100 Box Tops! Check out this site to see more.


NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.  A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.  GAME OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE FIFTY (50) UNITED STATES AND D.C. WHO ARE 18+ WHO ARE MEMBERS OF BOXTOPS4EDUCATION.COM AND HAVE DESIGNATED A SCHOOL TO SUPPORT AT  TIME OF ENTRY. MEMBERSHIP TO BOXTOPS4EDUCATION.COM IS FREE AND AVAILABLE AT BOXTOPS4EDUCATION.COM. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Online instant win game starts 7/16/18 at 12:00 a.m. ET & ends 9/10/18 at 11:59 p.m. ET. For Official Rules, prize descriptions and odds disclosure, visit www.CostcoBTFE.com.   Sponsor: General Mills Sales, Inc., One General Mills Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55426.

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Things to Consider When Purchasing Spices

August 7, 2018 by 1 Comment

You might be looking for a way to make your food taste better. Perhaps you just want to try something different where your food is concerned. After all, it can be boring to eat food that tastes the same every single day. Whatever the case may be, you should strongly consider the use of spices to make your meals explode with flavor. You have probably seen all of the spices for sale when you have gone to the grocery store. However, you are not exactly sure which one you should buy. This is a common problem that many food fanatics have. Here are some of the ways that you can find the ideal spices for the meals you are preparing.

1. Read the packaging to see what types of foods that the spices are typically used with.

You can find a great deal of useful info by simply reading the box or the label of the spice. In some cases, the packaging will give you helpful tips on how the spice can best be used. You can also do a lot of reading online. There are many cooking blogs that will be able to give you some insight into what foods are ideal to prepare with the spices you have bought.

2. Talk to the professional chefs to see which spices they enjoy the most.

You would be wise to get the advice of people who have chosen the culinary arts for a profession. A chef will definitely have many suggestions about how to use various spices. You might also mention the foods you are planning on preparing. The chef will be able to suggest the spices that will best be able to compliment that particular meal. He or she also might be able to recommend their favorite burger seasoning to you.

3. Consider buying some spices online.

Spices are things that many people are used to buying at a supermarket. However, you will be able to find some great deals on spices if you look online. There are many different sites that have huge selections of spices for low prices.

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5 Foodiest Destinations In Europe Everyone Should Visit

August 3, 2018 by 1 Comment

European destinations are the most preferred holiday destinations in the world. The palate is full of fusion food along with authentic dishes that not just eye-gasmic but are also mouth-watering. 

If the groom is a hardcore foodie, then Europe is the place to visit on the stag do. Be it a Stag do in London or a French-themed stag weekend; research thoroughly before you create your itinerary because with power comes responsibility, i.e. more tourists encourage more options, and not every restaurant will enhance your dining experience.

 

Read on to know about Europe’s foodiest destinations and get a mouthful on your next getaway:

 

  1. Copenhagen

 

Ever heard about the ‘New Nordic Cuisine’? Copenhagen is the place that brought back the trend of using seasonal produce and local ingredients to create elegant and simple dishes with traditional techniques. Rene Redzepi and Claus Meyer started this evolution in the food industry; encouraging many Michelin-starred restaurants to follow their lead. This approach has made Copenhagen one of the great food cities of Europe.

 

One such dish is Smørrebrød, which is an open-faced Danish sandwich. It has the right combination of ingredients, such as egg and shrimp, marinated herring, beef tartar, and cod roe, beautifully placed on top of buttered rye bread. Other must-have dishes include smoked and pickled herring and Danish cheeses.

 

Local cuisine options:

  • Noma Restaurant by Rene Redzepi and Claus Meyer
  • Spisestedet FEED
  • Restaurant Schoennemann
  • Grams Laekkerier
  • Basso Kobenhavn

2. London

A fantastic blend of modern innovation and traditional tongue can be deliciously experienced in London. The famous afternoon tea is a world-renowned must-have of London; becoming a tradition for every traveller nowadays. The quality and flavour of the food in London is incomparable; proved by the surprising month-long wait to reserve a table. This is applicable to both upscale hotels, and cheap-bites. However, London has so many great options that it can happily serve as many tourists and locals as required.

 

Chicken Tikka Masala is the most popular dish in the UK; best consumed with a few pints of bitters and chips. Have your mouthful with the deep-fried sea anemones at Barrafina in Covent Garden or roasted veal sweetbreads at the famous restaurant of Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea.

 

Local cuisine options:

  • The tea rooms of the Ritz or the Savoy (Suggestion- Reserve a table in advance)
  • The Golden Chippy
  • E Pellicci
  • Baileys Fish and Chips
  • Green Pea

3. Bordeaux

If you think that France is only known for wines and scenic beauty, then you are wrong, my friend! The Bordeaux food scenes are pretty mouth-watering; duck confit and foie gras being the French favourites. You may be wondering why Bordeaux, right? The other element which makes it a perfect destination is its location. It is situated near the ocean; allowing it to offer yummm seafood options, like oysters, langoustines, mussels, shrimp, and clams taste amazing with steak frites and a glass of bold red wine.

 

Local cuisine options:

  • Les Droles- French
  • Blisss- French and Contemporary
  • Le Petit Bec- French and European
  • O p’tit bahut- French and Wine Bar
  • Comptoir d’Ornano- Barbeque, Wine Bar and Gastropub

4. Bologna

Every other destination on the list focuses on restaurants and cafes, while Bologna’s market scene is the one to visit. The ancient food market, Quadrilatero, has everything that your heart desires; from fish, pasta, cured meats to baked goods and produce. Don’t forget to visit the famous bar, Osteria Del Sole, which has been in operations since 1465. The must-haves are a plate of tagliatelle al Ragù with a topping of parmesan and tortellini in brodo (meat filled pasta), which is served in a hot broth or a plate of lasagna Bolognese.

 

Local cuisine options-

 

  • Trattoria di Via Serra- Italian and Mediterranean
  • Salumeria Simoni- Italian, Deli and Gastropub
  • Sfoglia Rina- Italian, Mediterranean and European
  • Parlor- Italian, Seafood and Contemporary
  • Borgo979- Street Food, Wine Bar and Deli

5. Sibiu

 
Located in the heart of Romania in the famous region of Transylvania, the food scene in Sibiu will surprise you. The simple but hearty rural cuisine of Romania has been reinterpreted by passionate chefs and transformed into dishes and delicacies that can compete with fine-dining restaurants around the world. Made with locally sourced and organic ingredients delicious on their own, these dishes will give you an insight into the fascinating food culture Romania. Besides the many food-themed tours in Sibiu you should also consider the following restaurants:
 – Syndicat Gourmet, Romanian reinterpreted
 – Hochmeister, Saxon-Romanian
 – Kulinarium, Romanian reinterpreted
 – La Cuptor, traditional Romanian
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Beating Homesickness and Making Your New Digs Abroad Feel Like Home

August 1, 2018 by Leave a Comment

new home

We’ve all been there. You’ve just arrived at your abroad abode, and suddenly it strikes. That familiar feeling of melancholy that comes with being far away from the comfort of your own home. Pair that feeling with culture shock, and you’ve created the perfect recipe for a case of full blown homesickness.

 

Missing home is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s only natural to feel an affinity for the places you’ve left behind. Still, there are many ways that you can make your new digs feel like your home away from home. Here are a couple tips and tricks to combat the melancholy of homesickness.

 

Keep It Cozy

 

A great way to make your new place feel familiar is to make it your own! The best way is to customize the space with your own personal touch. You can do this by purchasing accent pieces, such as throw pillows, blankets, and decorative vases. You’ll be surprised at how one simple item can make a room feel homier. Keep in mind that location matters when it comes to decorating. The tips for decorating your winter lodge will differ greatly from tips for decorating your beach condo. As such, you want to add a personal touch while making your home design mesh with your new location.

 

Fill Your Digs with Some Familiar Faces

 

If you don’t have the budget — or the luggage space — for throw pillows, then you can always bring smaller items from your house. Pack some fun photos from home that you can decorate with. This will let you look at familiar faces for when you’re feeling the blues. You can even add character to your new fridge with quirky magnets. All you need are small touches to remind yourself that this is your temporary home away from home.

 

Keep in Touch, But Not Too in Touch

 

As humans, we rely on personal contact. Being in touch with your loved ones can fuel you, but too much can actually drain you as well. If you find yourself spending more time talking on the phone than exploring your new habitat, then you’re not fully experiencing the present. Scale back on your phone time by scheduling a weekly Skype call with your loved ones. This will add to the routine of your day, and it will combat the possibility of excessive talk time.

 

Another great way to keep your loved ones informed is a travel blog. Many wanderers say that a blog is helpful for communication on a much larger scale. They also find the act of writing to be therapeutic in its reflection. If you’re already journaling, why not take the extra step and make a blog?

 

Find a New Routine

 

In order to make your new living arrangement feel like home, you can establish a new routine within your environment. When you’re in a new place, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the unfamiliarity of the location. Language barriers, unfamiliar terrain, and culture shock can all lead to a familiar sensation of dread. Yet, as in all things, the best way to beat this is with baby steps.

 

The first step of finding normality is to establish a routine within this new location. This can be as simple as drinking coffee in the morning on your trellis. You can also schedule a daily walk through a local garden. As humans, we rely on patterns to establish normality. With an established schedule, you can find uniformity within unfamiliarity.

 

Thrust Yourself into the Unknown

 

Sometimes the best way to beat homesickness is to embrace the unfamiliar. Nothing can get you out of a funk like the thrill of going on an adventure! Instead of spending time moping in your home, you could be outside, experiencing the city. Your brain’s synapses will begin firing as it navigates through new territory. Even if you don’t discover something incredible, you’ll have distracted your brain from its general malaise of homesickness. In order to stop missing what you’ve left behind, you need to experience where you are now!

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Too Hot To Work Out? Work In. Inside, Anyway.

July 30, 2018 by Leave a Comment

When it’s just too hot to work out outside, you can take your workouts inside. Don’t have a gym membership, or just REALLY not in the mood to go out? Just keep some DVDs in the house so you can stay on track. Here are some new ones we tried out.

Bottom Line & A Core Defined with Patricia Friberg (a professional trainer) is a Pilates and Strength based workout broken into three segments; Bottom Activation 1, 2, and A Core Defined. These and a few guides, set ups, and an intro make up the DVD. It focuses on defining your butt (as the name indicates) but also works your core, improves posture, and helps you become more flexible and fit. While it definitely focus on the glutes, you will feel this workout in your abs and legs as well for sure.  You will likely want to do the first activation a few times before you move on to the second, just to get the hang of it or to get your body ready for the higher intensity. A Core Defined covers more of the body overall, but really focuses on the abs. Friberg gives good direction throughout, just keep pace that is comfortable to you and move on when you are ready. Available for $20 from http://www.patriciafriberg.com

Want to work your lower body? Want to work out, but in a bit of a time crunch? Your Sexy Everything (Booty, Legs, Thighs) by Ilyse Baker might be one to try out. I know it says “everything”, but it means everything below the Mason Dixon, it seems. It has a good variety of workouts, containing four mini workouts that are 5, 6 ,7, and 8 minutes long each as well as two bonus workouts- Ballet Grooves, a 5 minute core workout (and it’s fun) as well as the Dancer’s Floor Stretch (seeing a theme here?) that is 10 minutes of lengthening, flexibility enhancing stretching and toning. $15 at http://ilysebaker.com/

Also available by Ilyse Baker are Dancinerate Sassy Jazz and Hip Hop Fusion and Dancinerate Burn with the Beat. These fun workouts are great ways to add some variety to your routine, and maybe learn some new moves. If you are a great dancer- great! These will just add to your skills and be good practice for you. Not a good dancer? (Cough) That’s ok- they are still really fun to do, and no one sees you being completely off when you are in your own living room- enjoy it.

Want to add a little something extra to your workout? The AB-EZE suspension trainer is fun, interesting, and easy to install and use. It’s an interesting way to work your abs and core, it’s design based on a trapeze harness found on a catamaran. It uses your body and weight as well as gravity to give you a work out, by leaning on the support pad and using it to engage your muscles. AB-EZE anchors easily over any door or fixed point, then by leaning on the comfortable support pad, muscles will instantly engage. You can change the intensity by pressing a button and lengthening or shortening the strap, and changing your body positions. Use it to “firm and lift the butt; sculpt abs and shrink waistline; strengthen back; and, shape and define legs”.  Easy to take with you when you travel if you’d like as well. Get yours for $149.99 at www.ab-eze.com 

In Light of Change by Julie Rammal is a change of pace. It’s a little slower, and uses your whole body to work out your whole body. This is one of the more interesting DVDs I’ve tried in a while. It is for sure not like other DVDs you might have tried. It has eight different (VERY different) segments ranging from Cardio Boxing to “Tibetan Rituals”, none of which take more then 8 minutes to complete each. No equipment is needed to do any of them, and is said to be inspired by “aerobics, primal movements, yoga, Pilates, stretching and nature.” Overall, I found it calming and relaxing, while still providing a decent workout. I enjoyed this one, it was quite different, but in a good way. One note- it’s not great for beginners. Ms. Rammal is not great with instruction or giving modifications, so only do what you feel comfortable with, or what you’ve been taught to do as modifications outside. Available for about $19 from Amazon.com

 

 

 

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