Redhead Rambles #37

October 12, 2018October 11, 201815 Comments

Hello everyone and welcome to ‘Redhead Rambles’. The series does what it says on the tin, it is a redhead (me) rambling about her week. I share what I’ve been up to each week, how I’ve been feeling and what I’ve been listening to or watching. Occasionally I will my share favourite blog posts and links I’ve found useful or interesting.

Friday was a busy day. Mum took her car to get serviced and a WoF (Warrant of Fitness). After that I was on a mission to find a hat for quiz night at the last minute. My team were The Three Musketeers and I improvised by adding an elastic feather headband to a hat. We had swords and stick on moustaches to complete the look.
Quiz night was fun (but long) and there was definitely an age bias on the questions. Our team didn’t come last which was the goal and we ended up with a goody basket to split between us. The dinner was lovely and dessert was even better, there was cheese and crackers and a caramel chocolate brownie.
My quiz night makeup was so pretty and I felt like a very glamorous musketeer!
I had a sleep in on Saturday and had an easy day. I prepped upcoming blog posts, read some of my book and made macaroni cheese for lunch.
On Sunday I loved my makeup yet again and went for a smoky eye with pops of pink on my cheeks and lips.
Work was quiet but that’s the only day it has been quiet this week. There’s only a couple of days left of school holidays which is a relief!
I woke up around 6am on Monday morning with the worst migraine I’ve had in a long time. I got up and took some ibuprofen and put herbal relief cream on my shoulders but my head was pounding and I ended up vomiting from the severity of the pain. I phoned in sick on Monday and went back to bed.
To cheer myself up on Monday afternoon I placed an order on White Fox Boutique. I purchased a bodysuit (I haven’t worn one before but the strap detailing on the one I ordered is really nice) and a t-shirt dress. Depending on how the t-shirt dress looks and the length, it may be nice to use as sleepwear for summer. At the time of this post the order is yet to arrive.
I wore one of my favourite lipsticks on Tuesday – Show Orchid by MAC – and it got such lovely comments!
On Wednesday I published another of the most personal posts I think I’ve ever written. I shared my thoughts and feelings towards dating, love and relationships. To read the post, CLICK HERE.
Wednesday also marked World Mental Health Day and I saw lots of positive, uplifting posts on Instagram and Twitter which is great. Mental health is just as important as physical health and I wish we could live in a world where everyone felt comfortable to talk about their feelings. I used to hide away a lot as a teenager and sometimes I revert back to that but I try not to bottle things up as much anymore. Being completely honest I have days I feel alone and don’t want to bother anyone and that’s why I try to be there for others because I don’t want them to feel that way either. I am always only a conversation/tweet/DM/message away if you EVER need someone ❤
I worked extra again on Thursday.
Thursday afternoon the weather turned grey which I quite liked. Sometimes I’m in the mood for miserable, dull weather.

What I’ve been listening to:

Sarah Close – Crazy Kind – Sarah is a British singer-songwriter and Crazy Kind is a catchy, upbeat pop tune!

How was your week?

P.S. A quick reminder, there’s a few days left to enter the giveaway I’m running. CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

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Redhead Rambles #36

October 5, 2018October 4, 201822 Comments

On Friday I caught up with an old school friend and it was so nice to see her. We grabbed a bite to eat before she introduced me to those donuts – the ones you’ve been drooling over all week on Instagram! I also bought a pair of shorts which will be perfect for summer and some iridescent metal straws.
I watched *THIS* inspirational video about heartbreak. I agree with so much of what Jessica says and for anyone going through heartbreak I recommend watching this video.
At the weekend I mowed the other half of the lawns and finished a book.
Sunday was relatively quiet at work but it’s always a good catch up day and a chance to get the shelves looking nice.
I stayed an extra hour at work as a staff member wasn’t feeling well.
After work I was hungry as I only took an apple. Because I worked longer I was entitled to a longer break and I decided after I finished to order a cheesy garlic pizza from Dominos. I also got cheesy garlic bread and mini Dutch pancakes. Best after work treat!
Monday was super busy at work with the start of school holidays.
When I got home my Blush Queen palette from Makeup Revolution had arrived and I’ve been testing out various shades this week. The pink isn’t too much and it’s a gorgeous palette!
Wednesday would have been Tango’s 9th birthday, I shared a couple of images on my personal Facebook in memory of her. (Tango was my Birman cat who had to be put down in January this year. I now have another cat the same breed and colouring as Tango called Halo).
I bought a lotto ticket this week and won $23! The draw was on Tango’s birthday which I took as a sign to buy the ticket.
Also on Wednesday there was a rainbow dance party at work (for children) and staff were allowed to dress up in colours. It was so nice to see everyone make an effort and see everyone looking so bright.
Throughout this week I have been organising bits and pieces for a quiz night with a couple of work colleagues. I absolutely love trivia and general knowledge and I’m hoping we do well.
The weather has been stunning this week but turned a little cold again on Thursday.

What I’ve been listening to:

Calvin Harris & Sam Smith – Promises – I’ll admit Sam Smith has a lovely voice but his music is not usually my cup of tea. This track with the dance beat is super catchy though!

LeAnn Rimes – I used to love LeAnn Rimes and was listening to a playlist with Can’t Fight the Moonlight as one of the tracks – cue playing her Greatest Hits album on Spotify.

How was your week?

P.S. Don’t forget I’m running a beauty and lifestyle giveaway. CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

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Redhead Rambles #35

September 28, 2018September 28, 201812 Comments

Last Friday was a lazy day, I try to have at least one during my days off if I can haha! I didn’t sleep in, I didn’t get dressed and had a phone call with my brother in the evening.
The weekend weather was glorious, the sun was out both days. Saturday had a chill in the air but Sunday was warm.
On Sunday after work I mowed 1/2 of the lawns.
I placed a kikki.K order – their stationery is so cute and really good quality! I purchased a mini calendar for my mum; she likes to get one every year, a notepad, a holographic mug and inserts for my Filofax for 2019.

On Tuesday I saw two cute dogs sitting in cars, one on my way into work and another in a car in the supermarket car park.
I also placed a Makeup Revolution order and purchased two palettes, the Blush Queen palette for myself and another surprise palette for my blog giveaway (I did mention some extras). I am a little nervous for the Blush Queen palette as I don’t wear much pink on my cheeks but I’m hoping because these are shimmery they will be ok. I can always try the shades on my eyes as well.
I reached 1,000 blog followers! (Finally!) To celebrate I am running a giveaway which you can check out by clicking *HERE!*
I worked extra on Wednesday and didn’t get afternoon tea so I was starving by the time I finished work. I was naughty and got Burger King on the way home. I got a cheeseburger thrown in for free that I didn’t even order – thank you kind person on drive thru!
I didn’t sleep in on Thursday. I spent the morning thinking about blog posts for October.
I washed a couple of makeup brushes and my makeup sponge.
I removed my chipped nail polish, the remnants of the rose gold shade I shared on Instagram last week.

What I’ve been listening to:

Claire Richards – End Before We Start – Claire is one of my top 5 vocalists of all time and she released the official second single from her upcoming album – swooping love ballad End Before We Start – last Friday.

Rita Ora – Let You Love Me – Rita Ora announced her highly anticipated second album will be released in November and this song was released as her new single alongside the news. Rita has a cool vibe and I really enjoyed her debut album. I have followed her music since.

How was your week?

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Redhead Rambles #34

September 21, 2018September 21, 201812 Comments

I watched a couple of cool YouTube videos: this wardrobe clearout from Jodie Melissa and Too Faced Matte-Tallic lip swatches from Shaaanxo. I personally think the Matte-Tallic colours look really pretty but I’m not sure I’d buy them being matte.
Last Friday I didn’t sleep in and started my day by finishing a book in bed.
In the afternoon I went out and bought a sleeping bag for an overnight stay I had this week as part of work.
In the evening I was watching a movie with mum and fell asleep on the couch. It was a good movie so I’m glad I didn’t miss much.
On Saturday I had a big cry and a heart to heart with mum and I don’t know how she does it but she always makes me feel better.
After that I did some driving practice and once again I didn’t panic which is good.
Work was busier on Sunday than it usually is and I was in a better mood.
I had a good makeup day and loved pairing MAC’s Tan pigment with Rimmel’s #12 lipstick (similar to MAC Morange).
On Monday after work I packed my bag for the overnight stay. I work for local council and every few months there is a one night stay at a marae (pronounced ma-rye) for staff. It was my turn to go and I spent nearly all of Tuesday and most of Wednesday there. I got home late Wednesday afternoon. The food was nice and you don’t go hungry. I woke up with a headache on Wednesday morning but it was nothing ibuprofen and breakfast didn’t fix. Embarrassingly, I fell asleep during one of the PowerPoint presentations but I wasn’t the only one which was a relief.
I had Chicken Kiev and wedges for dinner when I got home and it was delicious!
The spring weather is definitely here and we’ve had some warm days already.
On Thursday it was nice to have a bit of a lie in and have a chilled, relaxing day. Mum and I went to get the groceries and I sang and read in the afternoon.
I also decided to wear my bracelet on Thursday since getting some links taken out in June. It’s one of the first times I’ve worn it properly since I don’t like to wear jewellery to work as I’m scared I’ll knock it when I’m shelving books.
Overall it was quieter this week compared to others but it’s been nice to be slower paced and not manic.
I know I keep harping on about it but I’m literally a couple of followers away from 1,000. Follow along and encourage your blogging friends to follow because as soon as I hit 1,000 followers I’ll be running a giveaway! The giveaway features products from MAC, Zoeva, L’Oreal, The Body Shop, NYX + more!

How was your week?

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Redhead Rambles #33

September 14, 2018September 16, 20189 Comments

If you know how much I love the number 3 you’ll understand how satisfying it is that this is ramble #33!
Last Friday I got called into work. It was so windy outside and sitting at the traffic lights on the way in I could see them shaking in the wind.
I saw Sophie Hannah’s new Poirot mystery on the New Release shelf at work and issued it instantly. I finished it over the weekend and absolutely loved it! I’m hoping for more!
After work on Friday mum and I went to the mall and I found a brand new book for only $3.00! It’s called Match Me If You Can by Michele Gorman and it sounds like it will be a good laugh with a hint of romance.
I applied for Annual Leave at work during the last week of October which is the same week Harry and Meghan are in New Zealand. They will even be visiting my city which is pretty cool!
On Monday evening I placed a MECCA Beauty order which arrived less than 48 hours later on Wednesday afternoon. I created a makeup look with the three makeup items on Thursday and absolutely loved it. A blog post will be up sharing which products I used next Monday but I shared an image on Instagram if you want to see in advance how the look turned out. Spoiler: I love the products and I’m super happy with how they looked on my skin!
On Tuesday my ASOS order arrived and sadly the dress was a disappointment. It was big around the shoulders as mine are quite narrow but the elasticated waist didn’t fall in the right place on me and it wasn’t flattering. I posted the dress back on Thursday. The scarf is amazing though! The colour and pattern are really pretty and I’ve worn it already!
For most of this week I’ve had a sad feeling and I think it’s mostly hormone related but I’ve felt really uneasy. I’ve been missing my ex again as around this time two years ago we met for the first time and everything was new and exciting and I remember being so happy at that point in my life. I don’t know if this is TMI but the idea of physical touching, kissing and hugging makes me feel sick and like it’s dirty/wrong to think of that now. Maybe it’s because I’m associating it with the person who hurt me but I don’t want it to be a hurdle in the future. Let me know if you’d like a post exploring that a bit further, I think it could be interesting and honest, personal stories and experiences are what I do well on this blog. It could even turn into a Hey, It’s Okay…
Alongside the uneasy feelings and sadness there have been moments of anger and confusion relating to online dating this week too. I’ve never slammed dating apps in the past as that’s how I met my first boyfriend (so it can work) but this time round I have had a different experience. I didn’t expect it would be the same as before and I was going to get a boyfriend quickly and we’d meet and hit it off and that would be it. I can barely have a conversation, let alone get to the point of actually meeting up with somebody. I’m not afraid to ask what kind of thing they’re looking for or ask questions to try and get to know the person better but 90% of them only seem to want one thing, unmatch me or just stop responding. I see it as an indication that they aren’t worth getting to know but in today’s digital, online world it can be frustrating. Everything is done behind a screen and they would rather message on Facebook than meet for a bite to eat or see a movie. I’m a bit more traditional and prefer to get to know someone in person. I feel like I could write a whole post on this subject too so again, let me know if you’d like one.

What I’ve been listening to:

Silk City and Dua Lipa – Electricity – Dua Lipa is like Ellie Goulding 2.0 for me. Nearly every song she makes I love, her tone is distinctive and she’s British! Dua teams up with Silk City and Mark Ronson for this catchy house offering.

How was your week?

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Redhead Rambles #32

September 7, 2018September 6, 201820 Comments

The weather last Friday was absolutely stunning!
I tidied my room, rearranged my desk and got rid of some clutter.
Saturday marked the first day of spring in the Southern Hemisphere and I created a simple, pretty makeup look which I shared on Instagram.
On Saturday afternoon mum and I went into town. I had a craving for Burger King and then we looked in a couple of shops. I bought a pair of pyjama pants, a shirt and some earrings.
After being in town I went for a drive in a new spot that enables me to go straight for a decent amount of time and there’s also a couple of roundabouts which is good to start getting used to those. I drove my car and I didn’t panic this time.
I was very tired on Saturday night and Sunday night. (Not sure why).
My nail split at work on Monday and I had to pull a chunk of it off. Luckily it wasn’t too far down and didn’t hurt.
Mum cut my fringe and it always takes a week or so after it’s cut before I like how it looks again.
On Monday evening I ordered two things from ASOS – this dress and this scarf. I saw the dress in one of Fleur De Force’s recent videos and I commented on a photo of her wearing it on Instagram saying how pretty it looked. The scarf was a bit of an impulse buy but I really like the red-pink colour of it. A couple of my other scarves are dark so the colour will pop against black clothing. Coincidentally both items are from Miss Selfridge which is a brand I have never purchased from before.
On Tuesday I texted a school friend for her birthday and we both agreed to catch up soon.
I entered Rachael’s 500K Views Giveaway. Rachael is one of my favourite bloggers, not only is she beautiful and creates stunning makeup looks, she is a machine at finishing up products and is one of the hardest working bloggers.
On Wednesday I felt like sparkle so I wore Fuchsia Fusion by NYX from their Cosmic Metals range on my lips. I’m still adamant this is the prettiest lip colour I’ve ever seen!
I sang along to some of my favourite Delta Goodrem tracks and caught up with YouTube videos on Wednesday evening.
Thursday I spent chilling, and most of the day consisted of reading. I finished an eBook and started my next novel.
I joined Goodreads. My challenge to read 50 books in a year ended last Friday (I managed 45 books btw) and I want to try recording what I read on the site so myself and others can see what I enjoy or what I don’t finish. It’ll take a bit of learning to get used to how the site works but it’s an easy way to track things.
Thursday’s dinner was Chicken Kiev with boiled potatoes. I don’t have Chicken Kiev very often but I do enjoy garlic and felt like one when I saw them in the supermarket a couple of days earlier.

What I’ve been listening to:

My ‘good vibes :)’ playlist on iTunes – This playlist contains songs that I never get tired of listening to and songs that always make me happy.

How was your week?

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Redhead Rambles #31

August 31, 2018August 30, 201810 Comments

It’s been a relatively quiet week compared to some others so this post may not be as long.
I drove my mum’s car on Friday and it felt more natural. The steering is heavier as her car is bigger than mine and there’s more resistance when I use the pedals. By more resistance I mean you have to push the pedals harder to make them work which I like. I may have also found a new spot to try driving in.
I cleaned the oven – good daughter points!
After cleaning the oven my nails were in need of filing from all the scrubbing. The following day I painted them using The I’s Have It by OPI.
I had a small YouTube binge watch of fellow blogger, Lora’s channel. *CLICK HERE* to visit her blog.
On Saturday afternoon I was reading an ebook on the couch with a blanket and Halo came and sat with me.
I created a bookshelf page in my Bullet Journal and added in titles of books I want to read in the future. Currently I have a bulleted list of books to read and the page is full. I thought I’d try a more creative version and see which I like better. I took inspiration from this image on Pinterest:

On Tuesday morning I woke up with a horrible headache but thankfully it went away shortly after I got to work.
That night my aunt came for a visit.
As part of working at the library I go out and visit a few schools with the mobile library (where we take books to children) and the weather wasn’t the best. It could have been worse but it was very grey and windy. I went out with someone I hadn’t gone with before and it was nice to chat to her and get to know her better.
I tried the new raspberry lemonade energy drink from V and while it was nice I don’t know that I’d buy it again and it doesn’t taste as good as raspberry lemonade with lemonade and raspberry cordial. I seldom have energy drinks btw.
Thursday was dull, grey weather too but not as much rain.
Also on Thursday I had a lazy day. I didn’t sleep in (for a change) but I stayed in my pyjamas, read and watched the complete first season of Unforgotten. Series two started in New Zealand last week and I rented series one from work earlier this week in case there were any overlapping storylines. The stories are powerful and expertly interwoven. SO GOOD!

How was your week?

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Redhead Rambles #30

August 24, 2018August 23, 20189 Comments

Last Friday’s driving practice was worse than the week before, I got very anxious again and just didn’t feel comfortable. My mum thinks it has something to do with how small my car is and any slight turn of the steering wheel moves the car. This week I will try practicing in her car to see if I find it any better.
After the drive I wasn’t in a very good mood and just wanted to be left alone so I did some blog post prep and listened to music.
On Saturday I woke up in a better mood. I made myself garlic bread for lunch which was yummy.
On Sunday I wore a new pair of glasses to work for the first time (my purple pair).
After work on Sunday I walked to Dunkin’ Donuts and met up with one of my old work colleagues. I had a hot chocolate, a Bavarian Kreme donut and a Strawberry Frosted donut. It was so nice to see her and just talk and laugh.
I really loved Monday’s makeup look. I went for a peachy lip colour and peach blush and actually wore highlighter and blush together, normally I wear one or the other but my cheeks looked so glowy and pretty!
At work we have a coffee cart and the lady accidentally made the wrong size coffee and she asked me if I wanted it for free. I’m not a huge coffee drinker but it was delicious. I had a Flat White with soy milk.
The weather has been better this week than predicted which is always useful for trips to the supermarket meaning you don’t get rained on.
On Tuesday I wore my black glasses to work for the first time after wearing the purple ones for two days. I don’t know whether to have one pair for work or not. I might just alternate between the two and wear which pair my mood is feeling on the day.
I felt a little flat after work on Wednesday. One of the lifts is broken at work so it means taking the stairs and while it’s good exercise it tires me out going up six flights of stairs multiple times a day.
Because I was so tired on Wednesday I had such a good sleep that night and woke up on Thursday feeling refreshed. I got called into work and again loved my makeup look. I went for a pink/mauve colours and shimmer.
Thursday marked one year since I started my job at the library. I was gifted a small bottle of wine and a handwritten note.
After work mum and I picked up fish and chips for dinner and the chips were especially tasty! Can’t beat a hot chip!
After dinner I washed my makeup brushes and partly cleaned the oven.
I downloaded the eBook of Some Kind of Wonderful by Giovanna Fletcher and started reading it on Thursday night.

What I’ve been listening to:

Ariana Grande – Sweetener – I have such an adoration for Ariana’s voice and her new album is catchy.

Madonna – Celebration – I’m not the biggest Madonna fan (don’t shoot me) but after seeing so many people sharing their favourite tracks when it was her birthday last week I felt like listening to this compilation album.

How was your week?

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Redhead Rambles #29

August 17, 2018August 16, 20186 Comments

My practice drive last Friday panicked me. I didn’t feel as comfortable this time and couldn’t find my flow. The carpark I’ve been going to doesn’t give me a chance to drive in a straight line for very long so I can’t get up much speed and I have to turn a lot which is making me feel disjointed. Next time I’m going to try driving down and around my street.
I cleaned during my days off. I washed makeup brushes, changed my sheets, vacuumed half the house and also did some personal grooming; plucked my eyebrows and shaved my legs.
I placed my second xoBeauty order. If you didn’t know xoBeauty is New Zealand YouTuber Shaaanxo’s brand. My order shipped on Monday and arrived Tuesday, which is awesome service! Because I spent over $50 I got free shipping. I purchased an eye brush, a face brush, and three lip colours. If you want to see what I got let me know and let me know whether you’d prefer a blog post or Instagram image/Instagram story.
The internet has been much better this week which convinces me even more it was the bad weather that made it play up.
In last week’s Redhead Rambles I mentioned I had some new page ideas for my bullet journal. I have made a page for my car with important dates relating to insurance and registration and also a petrol tracker to see how often I buy petrol and how much I spend. The other page is for orders I make online. I write the date I placed the order, what the item is and there’s a column I tick when the item is sent and another column I tick when I receive the order. I decorated with a little bit of washi tape which I want to start using more in my journal. Question for other journallers out there, does the acid from washi tape leave marks on pages?
I made two trips back to the optician to get the earpieces on my glasses readjusted. After wearing them for a couple of days I noticed they were slipping down and I had to keep pushing them up. I’m still wearing the new pairs for half of the day and wearing my old pair at work until I’m properly used to the new lenses.
I tried MAC’s See Sheer and like Hug Me it applies more pigmented on me than it appears in swatches online.
On Wednesday it marked 8 years since I joined Twitter. One of my very first tweets was from Dannii Minogue. I tweeted her an image of that tweet and she liked the image and replied. Love her!
I got called into work on Thursday.
I researched a whole bunch of books for my to be read list. I’ve nearly crossed them all off my current list and I’m excited to add new authors to the list as well.
My favourite YouTube videos this week include a Zara and ASOS Haul from In the Frow and What’s In My Suitcase from Lily Pebbles.

How was your week?

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Redhead Rambles #28

August 10, 2018August 10, 201817 Comments

I had leftover pizza and garlic bread from Dominos last Friday for lunch and I don’t know what it is but leftovers always taste so good!
I placed an order on White Fox Boutique for two white crop tees. The tees are a collaboration with Kiwi beauty guru Shaaanxo and while everything looked nice I wanted these most. The order arrived on Thursday and the crop tees are everything I wanted them to be!
On Saturday I made myself and omelette for breakfast before placing another clothing order. This time it was Glassons who I have ordered from lots of times before. In this order I picked up basics like tank tops, a pair of leggings and a shirt. My Glassons order arrived on Monday and I am always impressed by their shipping. I will have a haul up next week sharing what I bought from Glassons and White Fox Boutique and what the items look like on.
Saturday afternoon was spent on the couch reading Still Me by Jojo Moyes.
On Sunday I tried some new makeup and was impressed with everything. MAC’s Soft and Gentle is amazing!
Claire Richards announced her solo album ‘My Wildest Dreams’ and I instantly pre-ordered a personalised copy. I also stayed up a bit later to listen to the premiere of her debut single on BBC Radio 2.
I had Subway for lunch on Monday; three pepper chicken.
Dannii Minogue answered my question during a Twitter Q&A.
The weather has been mostly wet and dull and the internet has been cutting in and out all week. I wouldn’t be surprised if the internet problem is weather related.
I shared a post all about my breakup and what happened that led to it. Writing it felt good and I feel like it will help me move on and I’m not carrying this secret around because my blogging friends now know what happened. All the comments have been kind and supportive so thank you! *CLICK HERE* to read about the break up.
I got some new page ideas for my bullet journal so I might try and implement those over the next couple of weeks. Looking at inspiration also made me want pens and stationery, in particular a set of pastel fineliners from Staedtler.
I picked up my new glasses on Thursday! I shared photos of both pairs over on my Instagram if you want to take a look!
Thursday afternoon was spent blogging, reading and catching up on a few bits and bobs at home.

What I’ve been listening to:

Claire Richards – On My Own – Claire is one of my top five favourite vocalists and as the lead singer of my favourite band Steps she has had a very successful career. For the first time after 20 years in the business she is going solo and releasing her own album away from the band. I’m expecting heartfelt, catchy lyrics with a powerhouse vocal and the first single doesn’t disappoint!

How was your week?

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