Colortime Crafts and Markers

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Nov 302012
 
Looking for something fun to do with your family? Colortime Crafts and Markers has some ideas! 

Since 1990, over 5 million children and adults have loved creating t-shirts, pillowcases, backpacks, tote bags, bandanas, and more for parties, slumber parties, and scout meetings with our permanent fabric markers. We have provided our customers the opportunity to entertain their guests with a creative activity that becomes a permanent keepsake. Also, we are a licensed vendor of the Girl Scouts of America. Check out our wholesale program, great for your organizations. We also offer free downloadable coloring pages (http://www.colortime.com/Free-Coloring-Pages-c64.html) and a “Birthday Club” (http://www.colortime.com/Birthday-Club-c85.html) with special incentives. Get 15% off all orders Promo Code: 15USFG when you check out at colortime.com

The Dirt Book by Lori Culwell Reveiw and Giveaway

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Nov 302012
 
Thank you for stopping at my spot on The Dirt. This Virtual Book Tour is brought to you by AToMR Tours. I will provide you with a synopsis of the book, review, and a small bio from Lori Culwell. Visit the other blogs on this Book Tour to learn more about this book.

Book description:

Lucy Whitley cannot wait to get out of Palm Desert. It’s not a place for a frizzy-haired science nerd, particularly when her fashion-obsessed older sister Sloane is the head of a clique of pretty girls who rule the school—and practically the whole town.Fortunately, life is about to change forever. Lucy’s dad is getting re-married, and then she can transfer to a boarding school in Connecticut, escaping all the mean girls and the endless whispers about the Whitley family scandal. Everything is going to be perfect—as long as the wedding goes smoothly.
Bio:

Lori Culwell is the author of five books, including Hollywood Car Wash, a novel that was originally self-published, then was acquired by Simon & Schuster and re-released. She is the owner of Get Creative, Inc, a consulting company specializing in search-engine friendly content, and of BookPromotion.com,
dedicated to providing authors with user-friendly websites, social media education, and book blogger outreach. Find her on Twitter @loriculwell or at www.LoriCulwell.com 
Twitter: @loriculwell
Review: 

I really enjoyed The Dirt.  It was a fun story to read.  Once I started I couldn’t wait to see what happened.

Lucy’s Dad was getting remarried and her and her 2 sister were all in the wedding party in sea foam green dresses that none of them like. Once the wedding was over Lucy would be going to boarding school which she was so looking forward to.  She and her older sister did not get along and she couldn’t wait to leave. When finally arriving for the ceremony there was a guest that they did not know.  Little did they know this unknown guest would change everything for the family.

Who was this unknown guest?  How does this turn the family upside down? Does Lucy still go to boarding school?  You will need to read the book to find out what happens next.  I think anyone would like this book.  It was easy to read.



Links to find/buy book:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dirt-lori-culwell/1107550456?ean=9781935961369

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stop at some of these other sites to learn more about The Dirt by Lori Culwell.

 

Poseidon and the Sea of Fury

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Nov 302012
 

Poseidon and the Sea of Fury 

A young Poseidon must triumph over aquatic terrors in this Heroes in Training adventure. The merciless Cronus and his Titan buddies are in hot pursuit of Zeus, Hera, and Poseidon, who plan to travel across the treacherous boiling sea in order to save a fellow Olympian. They have a boat, but they also have a problem: Poseidon can’t swim and is terrified of the water (well, really of the creatures that lurk in its depths). The group faces danger after danger as they battle singing sirens, a fishy and ferocious Titan named Oceanus, and people-eating monsters sent by Cronus himself. Can Poseidon overcome his fears and help his fellow heroes escape Cronus and his cronies?

Purchase

Heroes in Training by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams
Authors Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams deliver fun, adventures, and a few surprises as ten-year-old Olympians go on a journey of a lifetime to discover their true identities and defeat their Titan enemies.

Praise for Heroes in Training
“Readers will gobble this down and look for more, make no mythtake.”
~ Kirkus

“This is a fun read, casting Zeus in the role of relatable kid, and there is a nice balance between his primary goal of survival and his sense of destiny and adventure. . . Share this title, and likely more to come, with those still too young for Percy Jackson’s adventures.”
~ School Library Journal

The Series

#1 Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom
#2 Poseidon and the Sea of Fury
#3 Hades and the Helm of Darkness
#4 Hyperion and the Great Balls of Fire

Aladdin Paperbacks (ages 6-9)
http://series.simonandschuster.com/Heroes-in-training

Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom (Book 1)

After pulling a magical thunderbolt from a stone, ten-year-old Zeus goes on the adventure of a lifetime in this thrilling start to a brand-new series! The terrible Titans–merciless giants who enjoy snacking on humans–have dominated the earth and put the world into chaos. But their rule is about to be put to the test as a group of young Olympians discover their powers and prepare to righteously rule the universe….
   
     Ten-year-old Zeus is mystified (and super-annoyed) by the fact that he keeps getting hit by lightening. Every. Single. Year. He also longs for adventure, as he has never been far from the cave where he grew up.

     Zeus gets his wish–and a lot more than he bargained for–when he is kidnapped by dangerous, giant Titans! In self-defense, he grabs the first thing he sees–an actual thunderbolt he pulls from a stone that is covered in mysterious markings. Zeus is the only one who can decipher the markings, and sets off on a quest to rescue his youthful fellow Olympians from the evil Cronus. Armed with his trusty thunderbolt (named Bolt, of course), Zeus is on an adventure of a lifetime–and a journey to fulfill his destiny as King of the Gods.

Hades and the Helm of Darkness (Book 3 coming April 2013)

The Heroes in Training are entering the Underworld—if Hades can conquer his canine fears, that is.

The Underworld usually isn’t really meant to be a fun place—but tell that to Hades! He loves the dark and the stinky smell of sulfur. However, there is one thing that Hades is not a fan of: dogs. And when Zeus and his fellow Olympians encounter Cerberus—a snarling, three-headed dog—Hades must conquer his fears and tame the hound so everyone can continue into the Underworld and deposit their Titan prisoner, Oceanus, back where he belongs!

But with magical water that causes forgetfulness, hot beds of lava, and another epic battle with two more Titans standing in their way, will Zeus and his heroes make it out of the Underworld with everyone intact?

Author Suzanne Williams

Suzanne Williams is the award-winning author of nearly 40 books for children, from picture books and easy readers to chapter books and middle grade fiction series. A former elementary school librarian, she lives near Seattle. Her picture book Library Lil (illustrated by Steven Kellogg) won the New Mexico children’s choice award in 2000 and was on several other state award lists. She is co-author (with Joan Holub) of the popular Goddess Girls series(for ages 8 – 12) and Heroes in Training (ages 6 – 11). Other series include Fairy Blossoms and Princess Power.

Author Joan Holub

I graduated from college in Texas with a fine arts degree, and then freelanced as an art director at a graphic design firm for eight years. I dreamed of working in children’s books, so I moved to New York City and became associate art director in Scholastic trade books, where I designed books for children and worked with editors and illustrators. It was a great job.

I illustrated my first published children’s book in 1992 and soon began illustrating full time. I began completing manuscripts and mailing them out to publishers in the early 1990s. In 1996, I sold my first two manuscripts — Boo Who? A Spooky Lift-the-Flap Book (Scholastic) and Pen Pals (Grosset & Dunlap). Yippee!

Now I write full time and have written and/or illustrated over 130 children’s books. Creating books that entertain, inform, and interest children (and me) is a fabulous job that I truly love.

Book Blast Giveaway
$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/9/12

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Vermont Brownie Review

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Nov 302012
 

I love brownies!! I found some really good brownies at Vermont Brownie Company.  I was able to try one of Vermont Brownie Company‘s Sample Pack.  Which includes 6 individually wrapped brownies labeled and placed  in unique and fun gift box. It contained some very yummy brownies.  The Sample Box  included the signature, espresso dulce de leche, peanut butter, maple toffee crunch, walnut chunk, and blondie. The first one I tried was the Signature Brownie. Wow! Was it good!  I could taste the dark chocolate and a bit of sea salt on the first bite!  Good thing I didn’t have a whole box of them because they would not have lasted very long!  Actually I loved them all.  They were each very moist and soft just like a brownie should be.

Vermont Brownie Company was started by Katherine and Shawna one day after spending the day snowshoeing New Years Day 2008.  They were talking about how they would each like to start there own company, they talked about the long hours and commitment that it would take, but they also talked about how it would be worth while.  That is when Vermont Brownie Company was born.  After testing many brownie recipes they came up with their signature brownie which is not too cakey not to fudgy but just right. Vermont Brownie Company brownies are made from scratch using local, wholesome, farm-fresh ingredients that are always natural and preservative-free.

Vermont Brownie Company would be a great gift for someone on your Christmas list!  You can get a sampler pack of 2 brownies up to one 72 brownies! Vermont Brownie Company are very reasonable priced and I am sure anyone on your list would love to receive them!! Make sure you visit Vermont Brownie Company to see all the different flavors of brownies they offer, including a couple that are seasonal.



Kay Swederski personally reviewed these products. I did not receive any monitary compensation for my review, just a sample product. All opinions are mine and belong to me solely. My thoughts and opinions may differ from yours.

Shadow of Time Cover Reveal

 Uncategorized  1 Response »
Nov 292012
 
Title: Shadow of Time
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Author: Jen Minkman
Cover Designer: Jen Minkman
Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours
Expected release date:  January 1, 2013
Book Description:
All Hannah needs is a nice and quiet vacation after her first year of teaching French at a high school. She joins her brother Ben for the summer in their mom’s log cabin in Arizona. There, she meets Josh again, Ben’s childhood friend from the Navajo reservation. The little boy from the rez has grown up fast, and Hannah can’t help but feeling more for him than just friendship.
But fate apparently has something else in store for her. And it’s not peace and quiet. Night after night, Hannah is plagued by strange nightmares about the past of Navajo Nation and terrifying shadows chasing her. They seem to come closer – and why is Josh always present in her dreams?
Sometimes, the past has a way of catching up with you.

Bio:
Jen Minkman (1978) was born in Holland, in the town of Alphen aan den Rijn. When she was 19, she moved between The Hague, Salzburg (Austria), Brussels (Belgium) and Cambridge (UK) to complete her studies in intercultural communication. She is currently a teacher of English, career counsellor and teenage coach at a secondary school in Voorburg, Holland. She tries to read at least 100 books a year (and write a few, too!). She is a published author in her own country, and translates her own books from Dutch into English for self-publication.
In her spare time, she plays the piano, the guitar and the violin. For every novel she writes, she creates a soundtrack.

The Legend Of Garison Fitch Book Blast

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Nov 282012
 

First Time: The Legend of Garison Fitch

“What if history didn’t happen that way … the first time?”

Garison Fitch was one of the most revered scientists in the Soviet Americas until he left fame behind to work on a secret project in his log cabin in the mountains of Marx.

But something went wrong. Instead of traveling interdimentionally, Garison has traveled through time … twice.

Now, he’s in something called “The United States of America” and a woman he’s never met before is calling herself his wife. It it a hoax? Or, has he somehow changed history?

If so, can he return the world to what he believes is “normal”, or must he live in this strange world he created?

Purchase


Praise:

“Sam continues to weave his magic as a storyteller. I always find myself anxious to find out what will happen next and what kind of twist will befall the adventurers. It helps to be familiar with the places that the heroines go, which adds to the story.”

~Labdaddy, Texas

“I’ve had a few very unproductive but enjoyable days thanks to Samuel Ben White. If you haven’t read Sam’s books you have been missing a treat. These were funny, suspenseful, spiritual and kept you turning the pages.”

~Karen S.

“Just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed your books. I have a Kindle and I have purchased all of the Garison Fitch novels. I am in Saudi Arabia and your books have really helped take me away from here.”

~Scott, Saudi Arabia

Also Part of the Series:

Saving Time

Two years ago Garison Fitch traveled through time and rewrote history. An accident in the eighteenth century created a whole new world, and even gave Garison a wife he had never met before. Now, he’s got a daughter and he’s coming to enjoy this world he created. Until he’s attacked by men masquerading as Indians, and a funeral procession from out of the past enlists his help, and a tree grows from sappling to full-grown in a matter of minutes, threatening his daughter’s very life. Time itself is unraveling and Garison’s trips through time seem to be the cause. Garison must go back in time once again and keep himself from making the original trip that started the problem. But he can’t use his time machine to go back. How does one sew up a rip in time?

Lost Time
Jason Kerrigan and Brownwyn Dalmouth are pilots with the Republic of Texas Army Air Corps. A world war is going on and bombs have just brought an end to Crockett Air Field in south Texas. Jason and Bronwyn, though, are called away from the battle to be test pilots for a new aircraft that-they’re told-will bring the war to an end. The experimental craft lives up to expectations in early tests, but then it lands them somewhere it never should have sent them. Another place? Another time? Another dimension? Somehow, they’ve taken a trip to the future and changed the past. Or did they? The answer to their change of reality may be known to a Justice of the Peace in Colorado named Garison Fitch. To figure it out, though, Garison may have to team up with his least favorite person: Bat Garrett.


Purchase
Author Samuel Ben White

Samuel Ben White (“Sam” to his friends) is the author of the national newspaper comic strip “Tuttle’s” (found at www.tuttles.net) and the on-line comic book “Burt & the I.L.S.” (found at www.destinyhelix.com). He is married and has two sons. He serves his community as both a minister at a small church and a chaplain with hospice. In addition to his time travel stories, Sam has also written and published detective novels, a western, three fantasy novels and four works of Christian fiction.
Links

Tour Schedule

Book Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/16/12
*You need not enter your twitter name for each entry. Simply enter it when you follow Sam then you can leave the others blank.

Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent’s permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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In Leah’s Wake Book Review and Giveaway

 Uncategorized  12 Responses »
Nov 282012
 
Thank you for stopping at my spot on In Leah’s Wake This Virtual Book Tour is brought to you by Goddess Fish Promotons. I will provide you with a synopsis of the book, review, and a small bio from Terri Giuliano Long. Visit the other blogs on this Book Tour to learn more about this book.

Book Description: 

A Story of Love, Loss, Connection, and Grace
At the heart of the seemingly perfect Tyler family stands sixteen-year-old Leah. Her proud parents are happily married, successful professionals. Her adoring younger sister is wise and responsible beyond her years. And Leah herself is a talented athlete with a bright collegiate future. But living out her father’s lost dreams, and living up to her sister’s worshipful expectations, is no easy task for a teenager. And when temptation enters her life in the form of drugs, desire, and a dangerously exciting boy, Leah’s world turns on a dime from idyllic to chaotic to nearly tragic.
     
As Leah’s conflicted emotions take their toll on those she loves—turning them against each other and pushing them to destructive extremes—In Leah’s Wake powerfully explores one of fiction’s most enduring themes: the struggle of teenagers coming of age, and coming to terms with the overwhelming feelings that rule them and the demanding world that challenges them. Terri Giuliano Long’s skillfully styled and insightfully informed debut novel captures the intensely personal tragedies, victories, and revelations each new generation faces during those tumultuous transitional years.
Recipient of multiple awards and honors, In Leah’s Wake is a compelling and satisfying reading experience with important truths to share—by a new author with the voice of a natural storyteller and an unfailingly keen understanding of the human condition…at every age.
WINNER, Global eBook Award, Popular Literature, 2012
WINNER, Indie Discovery Award, Literary Fiction, 2012
Recipient of the CTRR Award for excellence
2011 Book Bundlz Book Pick
Book Bundlz 2011 Favorites, First Place
Praise for In Leah’s Wake
“An astounding story of a family in transition.” — Tracy Riva, Midwest Reviews
“A powerful and intimate portrait of a family in disarray.” — Margot Livesey, award-winning author of The Flight of Gemma Hardy
“Terri Long’s accomplished first novel takes the reader on a passionate roller-coaster ride through contemporary parenthood and marriage. Sometimes scary, sometimes sad, always tender.” — Susan Straight, National Book Award finalist, author of Take One Candle, Light A Room
“An incredibly strong debut, this book is fantastic on many fronts.” — Naomi Blackburn, top Goodreads reviewer worldwide, Founder Sisterhood of the Traveling Book
“A very moving and, at times, heartbreaking story which will be loved by many, whether they are parents or not.”– A. Rose, Amazon UK, TOP 100 REVIEWER
“Pulled me right along as I continued to make comparisons to my own life.”– Jennifer Donovan, 5 Minutes for Books, Top 50 Book Blog
“A masterpiece of psychological tension and unbearable suspense, a portrait of America in the present day.” — Frederick Lee Brooke, author of Doing Max Vinyl
“Multiple ripples of meaning contribute to the overall intensity of this deeply moving psychological drama.”– Cynthia Harrison, author of The Paris Notebook

Excerpt:  

WILL
Will pressed the button on his visor, ducking instinctively as he backed out of the garage. A garage door had hit him once at their old place in Hudson. The door nicked his shoulder, knocking him off balance. He’d fallen backward, his head missing the steel beam by an inch, a tricycle breaking his fall. The door snapped shut. He adjusted the mirrors, backed into the turnaround, and headed up the drive.
“Warm enough?” He spiked the temperature to seventy-five.
“Fine,” his wife replied, “thanks,” and flipped up the vents.
This situation with Leah was driving him crazy. That one of his children might someday be arrested had never crossed Will’s mind. Cortland was supposed to be safe. He’d paid fifty grand extra for a house in this town so their kids would be shielded from trouble.
On the drive to the police station, he tried to regain control of his emotions. It was embarrassing enough that his daughter had been arrested. No need to make a fool of himself, too. When Leah was a toddler, his mother, among the most levelheaded people on the planet, told him that childrearing was a bittersweet enterprise.
“Your children will bring you the greatest joy in your life,” she’d said. “And they’ll break your heart. You’ve got to accept the good and the bad.”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Terri Giuliano Long is a frequent blog guest, with appearances on hundreds of blogs. She’s written news and feature articles for numerous publications, including the Boston Globe and the Huffington Post. She lives with her family on the East Coast and teaches at Boston College. Her debut novel, In Leah’s Wake, was a Kindle bestseller for more than 6 months. For information, please visit her website: www.tglong.com
Website: www.tglong.com
Blog: http://terriglong.com/blog/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tglongwrites
Twitter: @tglong

Review:

 I really enjoyed In Leah’s Wake.  I thought the author did a great job describing the family and also with the describe the day to day going on in the family.
Leah is a typical 16 year old, not wanting to listen to her parents and getting mixed up in the wrong crowd.  Leah is very talented at soccer and could get a scholarship to go to Harvard but is that what she really wants?  Leah starts dating Todd who worked on the road with a band and had gotten arrested for drugs.  Leah starts making some bad choices, she smokes, drinks and does drugs.  Her younger sister, Justine worships Leah, but is wise beyond her years.
Does Leah learn from her mistakes? How do her parents handle her? You will want to read In Leah’s Wake to find out. I am sure like me you will like the story and want to keep turning the pages to see what happens.

Giveaway:

Terri will be awarding a $100 Holiday Cash Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.  So please leave a comment about how you liked In Leah’s Wake.  
Here are some more stops for you to visit – the more comments you leave the better chance of winning!
November 20:  My Devotional Thoughts
November 21:  The Bunny’s Review
November 23:  The eBook Reviewers
November 26:  The Jolly Blogger
November 27:  Andi’s Book Reviews
November 28:  Kaisy Daisy’s Corner
November 28:  STOP 2 Tinasbookreviews
November 29:  Queen of all She Reads
November 30:  The Muse Unleashed 
December 3:  Diane Vanaskie Mulligan
December 4:  Welcome to My World of Dreams
December 4:  STOP 2  Reviewing Shelf
December 5:  Moonlight, Lace and Mayhem
December 6:  Wake Up Your Wild Side
December 7:  Oh, Chrys! 

Top Trenz For New Year Giveaway

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Nov 282012
 

PRESENTS

 

Prize: 
Top Trenz, Inc is owned by brothers, Corey and Jamie Glassberg.  They are on top of the latest trends and are the proud creators of the exciting UNDEE BANDZ tie dye line of all categories of bags, fashion accessories, hair accessories and clothing line! They will continue to keep on top of what is hot for the upcoming seasons! 
“Make Our Own Network” solely organized this event.  I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are 100% my own and may differ from your own. Kaisy Daisy’s Corner is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.

Simply Christmas by Robin Harper on CD Review

 Uncategorized  No Responses »
Nov 272012
 
‘Simply Christmas’ features Robin Harper singing along with pianist Marvin Goldstein.  Simply Christmas has all of the Christmas favorites including “The Christmas Song”,  “White Christmas”, and “Silent Night”. There are also some more Jazzy songs like “The Man With the Bag” and “Santa Baby”.  It is a great combination of songs for everyone to enjoy.

Bio:

Robin has always loved to perform and has sung in church all her life, envisioning her future one day as a country singer. Growing up in California’s Orange Country, she veered away from country at one point as a member of the DaveElliott5 a jazz vocal ensemble.  Then life happened.  A husband and family. Four kids. Robin’s love of music has never waned, however, and now her life has come full circle, back to music, with this first offering of musical holiday cheer.

My Review:

I really enjoyed listening to ‘Simply Christmas’. Robin sings beautifully and is not over powered by the piano accompaniment.  They combine for some very relaxing memorable songs.  I think my favorite song is “The Man With The Bag”.  I love the jazzy sounds of the song.  I also like the song “Mary, Did You Know” – such a beautiful song. I am going to use this for background music at my Christmas Eve party.  I am sure everyone will enjoy it.

Ponderosa Roasting Coffee Review

 Uncategorized  No Responses »
Nov 272012
 

I love coffee ~ one of my favorite things to do is sit on the porch and watch the sun come up with a nice steaming cup of coffee.  I was lucky enough to receive some coffee from Ponderosa Roasting Coffee Company.  I received the “It’s a New Day” blend and I loved it. The coffee is described as  Full-bodied coffee, chocolaty and rich! Gets you ready for each new day. I also love to have a cup of coffee in the afternoon or after dinner with a sweet treat.  I served this coffee after dinner on Thanksgiving with my desserts and I had a lot of compliments on it.
I am going to try some of the other coffees like the Champion Blend which benefits Pretty In Pink Foundation their mission is to provide financial assistance to uninsured and under insured breast cancer patients with quality, life-saving medical treatment regardless of their ability to pay. I really like buying from a company that gives back and Ponderosa Roasting Coffee Company is one that does. They support a couple different organizations.
Ponderosa Roasting Coffee Company is a small micro-roaster based in San Diego.  They roast the coffee in small batches with controls on their Renegade Roaster that allows them to bring out the best characteristics of each of the coffee beans they offer, for the best tasting cup of coffee.

Here is a picture of the roaster that Ponderosa Roasting Coffee Company uses.  They roast on a Renegade Roaster 5 kg roaster with Rebel touch screen controller. They can roast down to a quarter pound or up to eleven pounds of coffee every 13-18 minutes.

Coffee from Ponderosa Roasting Coffee Company would be a great gift for the holidays. You can connect with Ponderosa Roasting Coffee Company several ways make sure you visit them and see the varieties they have.

 

Kay Swederski personally reviewed these products. I did not receive any monitary compensation for my review, just a sample product. All opinions are mine and belong to me solely. My thoughts and opinions may differ from yours.

 

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