October | Breast Cancer Awareness Month |

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Therefore I have decided to let you all know what's happening this month to raise awareness and funds for the most common cancer in the UK; Breast Cancer.   1 in 8 women will face it. Every year 50,000 women are diagnosed with it and 500,000 people are living with it. However, the advances in treatment and care are not enough to prevent breast cancer taking those we love. For example, 1,000 women will lose their lives to breast cancer this month. They're grandma's, mothers, daughters, sisters, aunties, cousins and friends. Someone you may know. #ShopPink

Debenhams Floozie Heart Blanket Scarf - RRP £20 - 25% Donation to "Think Pink" Debenhams charity foundation

    Breakthrough Breast Cancer is striving to stop breast cancer by

preventing it, discovering it earlier and treating it with more effective treatment. Therefore, this month, with the help of leading UK retailers, Breakthrough Breast Cancer is asking shoppers to contribute to their cutting-edge research by purchasing one of various Breakthrough Breast Cancer products

Debehams Floozie Glitter Purse - RRP £22 - 25% Donation to "Think Pink" Debehams charity foundation

 Leading retailers include Warehouse, River Island, Damsel in a Dress and Stella & Dot alongside beauty brands such as Avon and GHD. The products vary in price and therefore are suitable for all budgets but best of all, each item carries a minimum 10% donation. A selection of the products can be found in Breakthrough Breast Cancer's LookBook!

GHD Limited Edn Coral Bird of Paradise Styler - RRP £129 - £10 donation (7.75%)

M&S In The Pink Bouquet - RRP £35 - 10% donation to Breakthrough Breast Cancer

As you can see, I am loving anything pink and glittery! All of the products throughout the lookbook appeal to someone, whether it's you, your mum, best friend or sister - plus, who doesn't love buying something great at the same time as donating to charity?!

#BreakthroughBakeOff Now, hands up who has been keeping up with the Great British Bake Off?! Me Me Me! So who doesn't like a bit of baking? Breakthrough are holding a Breakthrough Bake Off to encourage everyone hold their own bake off to share tastey treats, awareness and funds to help fight the battle against cancer. No matter how big or small, what matters most is the taking part and raising whatever you can.   The Breakthrough Bake Off is on Friday 17th October, but if you're busy with work or home life, you can hold it throughout the whole month of October! To help inspire and motivate the natural bakers as well as those not as gifted in the kitchen, Breakthrough have sourced recipes from Lorraine Pascale, Jane Asher, Strictly Come Dancing's Kristina Rihanoff and Made in Chelsea's Riley Uggla. | Facebook | | Twitter | | YouTube | | iBreastCheck |   Have you been affected by breast cancer? Are you planning on doing anything to raise awareness/funds for breakthrough Breast Cancer? Let me know! I'd love to know what you're planning!   LINKEDIN | TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN'

Classic Winter Warmer Edition | Olive Faux Fur Parka |

Hello Winter Weather & Hello Winter Wardrobe!   The classic Winter parka. To me, this is a classic Winter wardrobe staple. A parka is perfect for keeping you warm in the Winter months as well as keeping you looking bang on trend at the same time. The Petite Olive Faux Fur Parka from Dorothy Perkins caught my eye. Now, I know I blog A LOT about Dorothy Perkins, but I just can't help myself. I must admit, a parka from Miss Selfridge was a major contender, but the price clinched it for me in the end - every little helps.   My parka is described as olive green - the classic parka colour but other Dorothy Perkins parkas are also available in in burgundy and navy. This particular parka that I purchased is form the PETITE range - a range for those that are slightly shorter, however even though I'm not classed as petite, this one fits perfectly - I'd recommend trying anyway if you have the chance!

Petite Olive Faux Fur Parka Jacket - Dorothy Perkins - Size 6 - £55

 My parka is fully lined and is machine washable - saving on dry cleaning bills and making it easier to put in and out the washing machine if you need it washed super quick! The parka is also decorated with panelling and black edging trim around the pockets and zip, purely for aesthetics but it makes it a but more interesting to look at!  

Now I don't know about you. but I am not keen on 'coats' that only come down to your hips. That to me, isn't a coat. A coat is something that covers your bum and really keeps you warm and mostly dry. This parka is a really good length and is fully lined. The parka is slightly longer at the back and comes down past my bum and I am confident it would keep me warm and dry throughout the snow and harsh weather we normally get throughout the Autumn and Winter months.

Winter coats aren't made to be tightly fitting and what I LOVE about this parka is that I can clinch it in slightly more at the waist with the drawstrings so that I don't look like a stick rolled in a duvet. The main fastener for the parka is a zip but it's also fastened by poppers. Also fastened by poppers are the two very large pockets which are perfect for keeping your hands warm and keeping bits and bobs in. The poppers are also found on the cuffs. The poppers do work, but generally only add to the aesthetics as the cuffs aren't detachable.    Now, what's a parka without a faux fur hood? The faux fur hood is brown in colour, great for not showing up too much dirt compared to a white one! The hood is also lined with a fleece-like material which is soo soft to touch making it super snuggly! The only negative thing I'd say is that it isn't detachable which would mean that you could wash the coat without making the fur go all manky at the same time. But hey ho, I'll manage.

 I love my parka. Don't get me wrong, I do love a fitted formal coat, but are they really going to keep you and your hair dry when the wind rain and snow is chucking it down form every angle?! No. Everyone needs a parka for that kinda weather and I am confident mine will live up to expectations and for £55, it's a bargain. ... 

RATING

Price: 5 STARS It's very rare these days to find a proper Winter coat for a reasonable price. In my opinion, £55 is a good price for a parka that is a decent length, warm and with a large hood!

Promises: 5 STARS I am confident that this coat will keep me warm with it's padding, dry with the length and cosy with the faux fur hood.

Ease of Wear: 4 STARS I'm not going to say it's light as a feather, because it's a parka and it's a Winter coat but it's not heavy enough to dread wearing it round the town when you're Winter shopping!

Would I Recommend to a Friend?: YES This parka is a classic parka, classic colour, classic trend at a very reasonable price, so what's not to love?

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Tesco & F+F Fashion | The Edgy Autumn Look |

What's an Autumn wardrobe without a biker jacket and boots? In my opinion, the biker jacket and boots are a must have staple within any wardrobe, everyone needs them. After re-assessing my Autumn wardrobe, I decided that this year was the year to invest in some new Autumn attire and I was amazed that I found my perfect Autumn pieces in Tesco / F + F!
Faux Fur Collar Biker Jacket

Faux Fur Collar Biker Jacket - Age 12-13 - £22

Like I said, what's an Autumn wardrobe without a biker jacket?! I wear mine out and about in town in the day and through to the night when I go out for a meal when there's a chill about. What's not to love?

I was amazed when one caught my eye in Tesco but I have to admit, it was in the Children's clothing section (please don't judge, kids clothes come up quite big these days!). The jacket is faux leather and lined, but at £22 you can't complain and just a note, the prices elevate with regards to sizes!

What was a major seller for me was the faux fur. It's detachable around the collar, so you don't have to have it on all of the time and as it's fastened with buttons, it's not majorly fiddly but it is secure so it's not a just a whap on and whap off job.  The shoulders are decorated with epaulettes on the sleeves which adds to the aesthetics and eye and the tops of the sleeves are detailed with a stripe pattern created by the direction that the fabric has been sown.

It has a zip which has an asymmetric zip fastening style, so it fastens to the side slightly, making it a bit of an eyecatcher but because of the collar flaps, I prefer not to fasten it to the top as it feels slightly uncomfortable with all the fabric underneath. The breast collar is detailed with poppers on both points, adding to the aesthetics and look of the jacket rather than function.

The jacket has functional zipped pockets and although they aren't majorly deep, this could be because it is a childs jacket!

This jacket isn't the most amazing jacket I've seen on the high street, but at £22 I can't be negative about it. Considering my experience with age 12-13 kids clothes, it fits me very well. The quality is very good and it's pretty much everything I am looking for in a biker jacket this season.

Now; Shoes!

Zip Front Wedge Boot

Zip Front Wedge Boot - £25

 Firstly, the boots are only available in black but I feel if they came in a deep wine colour they'd be a hit, especially as it's bang on this season! Secondly, I am not a heel person. I much prefer flat boots or dollies and if I ever do wear heels, they're a maximum 3 inches and for special occasions! When I saw these boots in F + F at Tesco, I just knew I would wear them. They are perfect for creating an edgy look this Autumn season and perfect to rock up an outfit on a night out.

They are faux suede so they are soft to touch, giving them a high end look to them! The boots feature a double buckle on the side and a functional zip on the front. Although it's functional, it's purely for aesthetics as there is an inside ankle zip to help get them on and off!

 The heel size is 7.5cm, 3.5 inches and bearable due to the wedge as it gives you more balance. I think the wedge is soo much easier to walk in to be honest, do you agree? The soles of the boots are cleated, giving you extra grip and makes it more comfortable to walk. Talking of walking, I wore these out a few times and I am in love. They are amazing - I really need to start investing in some new and 'grown up' clothes ready for this season!

What do you think of the two new additions to my wardrobe this Autumn season? Have you bought anything new or are there some things you just can't part with?

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RATING

Price: 4 STARS You can't really be negative about a faux leather jacket being £22, not in my opinion anyway. £25 is also quite reasonable for the wedged boots, but there are similar ones on the high street at similar prices too.

Promises: 5 STARS These will definitely keep you up to date with the trends this Autumn. They're must-have staples in any wardrobe.

Ease of Wear: 5 STARS The jacket is very easy to put on and take off as well as wear about town whilst shopping or on a night out. The boots are equally easy to wear - I don't even feel like I have them on, even with the heel! Wedges all the way!

Would I Recommend to a Friend?: YES Don't knock buying clothes from your local supermarket. The clothes you can find can surprise you. Have a peek, you'll be impressed.

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No7 Gel-Look Shine Nail Colour | Deep Wine |

 Autumn is approaching, meaning the weather and colours are changing not just outside, but inside our wardrobes and in stores too! A lot of Autumn trends and colour palettes have caught my eye lately, including my latest nail polish!

"Spectacular colour and complete coverage in one stroke, with outstanding and durable gel-look shine"

No7 nail colours are packaged in glass bottles with black or mirror tops. The black tops differentiate No7's 'Stay Perfect' and 'Glitter Nail Effects' ranges where as the mirrored tops identify the Gel-Look Shine range. The packaging looks chic and not cheap - something I'd expect when it costs £7!

There are various colours in the Gel-Look Shine range meaning there is bound to be a shade suited to your lip colour, outfit or perfect for taking you day to night. As I'm not the kind of girl to take risk, I usually go for my favourite colour; pink, but after a pep talk from the very kind and helpful girl on the No7 stand, I delved in and bought 'Deep Wine'. It's a deep red / burgundy colour - perfect to match with the Autumn season and the leaves soon to fall on the ground, plus it looks 'grown up' and professional for work!
The glass bottle is really easy to hold whilst applying which, as a lot of us may know, when you're doing your opposite hand! I couldn't fin fault with the brush as it definitely lives up to it's promise regarding the 'complete coverage'. I added 2 coats but not because it was thin or streaky, just because I always do! The colour is pigmented and is exactly as described - deep wine, I love it!

Left - Right: Deep Wine with a glitter coat - Deep Wine plain coat application

Now, I am in two minds about this nail polish. I paint my nails before I go to sleep, ready for the next day. The first few times of using the Gel-Look Shine Nail colour was rubbish - I wouldn't do anything strenuous and they chipped no end! No matter what I did, whether it was thin coats, bottom and top coats - nothing helped to extend the durability beyond a couple of hours.

However, I seem to have changed my mind! I didn't expect it to last and just thought I'd pop it on Thursday night to at least look like I made some sort of effort for a meal out Friday. I wore it all day at work Friday, Friday night, all day Saturday to the Bloggers Festival, all day Sunday at work, Monday out and about and again all day Tuesday before it started to chip away. HOW?! This is the only time it has lasted an immensely long time and I did nothing different!

 I was extremely disappointed with the nail colour the first few times but I'm not in two minds. I'll use it again, but I'm still dubious.

RATING Price: 2 STARS £7.00 Considering the iffy quality, this nail polish isn't worth £7.00. I have used less expensive ones at much better quality.
Promises: 3 STARS After application, the nail polish did have a gel-look about it and it was shiny, although it lasted very well the last time I used it, I'm dubious and worry if the quality will be disappointing like the first few times.
Ease of Application: 5 STARS The polish was easy to apply and dried pretty quick too.
Would I Recommend to a Friend?: The colour - yes. The nail polish -  no. This nail polish didn't live up to any of my perceptions considering the brand and the quality for the price was disappointing.
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Dorothy Perkins | The Red Rose Autumn Edit |

| The Red Rose Autumn Edit |

It's soon time to say goodbye to Summer and Hello Autumn! Autumn is my favourite season - I love the colours, the leaves falling from the trees and the fact that it's not too hot or too cold! So, I thought I'd share my favourite Autumn look this season by my fave retailer, Dorothy Perkins.

 

Ivory and Red Print Scuba Top £18 - Mulberry Twist Eden Jeggings £20 - Gold Rose Necklace £12.50 - Sunglasses £6

I am a massive Dorothy Perkins fan. I love this look. It screams autumn, so I've broken down the look by each item to get you ready for when the leaves start falling from the trees! This look is taken from their Red Rose collection featuring "standout florals and and striking red shades".

Ivory and Red Print Scuba Top - £18

This is definitely going to be my favourite piece of apparel this Autumn. I love the rich reds and the floral print screams Autumn don't you think?! It's not made of think fabric and it's quite stretchy - handy for getting my head through the small hole! Other than the rich pigmented colours, the 3/4 sleeves really caught my attention! -  perfect for when the Autumn nights start getting cooler and for a more grown-up and smart look. I'm wearing a size 6 which is very true to size as it fits lovely! The pictures really do not do this top justice. £18 is a very reasonable price for the quality!

...

Mulberry Twist Eden Jeggings - £20

In total I have 6 pairs in a variety of colours and I they never disappoint me! Being a jegging, they have elastic around the waist which makes them handy if you gain or lose a bit of weight! They are available in short, regular and long lengths - and also available in sizes 6 - 2: perfect for all shapes and sizes.This is the main reason why I only buy jeggings by Dorothy Perkins as their size 6 jeggings are a perfect fit and are great quality! The only downside is that the stores near me very rarely stock a size 6 and therefore I have to go through the pollava of ordering it online.

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Sunglasses - £6

You can never have too many sunglasses. Dorothy Perkins have a vast amount of styles available online and in-store and I couldn't resist these! They remind me of the ones celebs use and they're great for hiding your eyes when you're not looking your best!  £6 is also a reasonable price for sunglasses considering others on the high street which are very similar!

 Gold Rose Necklace £12.50

Gold Rose Necklace - £12.50

I usually only wear one necklace and it's always pretty simple, however when I saw this one I knew I had to have it. It drapes around the neckline of most tops which is great for jazzing up a plain top or adding to a particular print or colour code. I chose to team it with the ivory and red print scuba top because of the flower theme and also the gold and red colours which remind me of Autumn. I think it looks amazing with this top and I'll definitely be teaming it up in the future! £12.50 might seem a bit pricey for some considering it's just a base metal necklace, but I'll be getting many uses out of it so it's definitely worth it considering my wardrobe matches.

Total look cost: £56.50* 

*(excluding shoes)

...

I love this look. If you see me about, you'll probably see me over-using this look haha. I'm not a massive lover of the colour red but I think this look looks great for Autumn. Let me know what you think, do you like it or have you got something similar? 

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Old Wives Tail Hair Care

I was recently contacted by Lily at Old Wives Tail for the opportunity to test and feature one of their organic hair oil treatments.
Old Wives Tail has recently been launched and aims to provide high quality, natural, chemical free, environmentally friendly hair care. They are 100% against animal testing - none of their products are tested on animals and neither do they buy from suppliers that are concerned with such activity. OWT also donates 10% of their profits to charities that protect animals from being tested on. Animal testing is something I am strongly against and this is why I am glad for the opportunity to work with a great cause. 
OWT products range from £13.99 - £24.99 for organic oil treatments and mask treatments and offer free worldwide delivery on any order.

Coco Loco Organic Coconut Oil Hair Mask - 150 ml - £14.99*

I was kindly sent the Coco Loco Organic Coconut Oil Hair Mask - 150 ml - £14.99, part of their organic hair mask range. The mask is made with certified organic ingredients, is paraben and sulfate free, not tested on animals and whats perfect for my sister is that it's suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Ingredients consist of: Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) oil, Prunus Dulcis (Almond) Oil, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil.  These natural ingredients means the mask is bursting with natural proteins and aims to add;

 "add lustre, strength and shine to any hair type... which will stimulate each and every hair follicle and promote healthy hair growth. Its natural antibacterial properties and nutrients get to work at calming and soothing any dry or flaky areas of your scalp. What's more is when this mask is used over a period of time it can aid in protecting the natural colour pigmentation of your hair and prevent early greys from sprouting!"

My sister and I both shared the product. My hair that is in very good condition, however my sister is the complete opposite. Her hair is quite dull and is always in serious need of TLC but nothing seems to help, so we thought we'd give this a go!

Application of the mask

First, we applied the mask into her hair by rubbing it into our hands and smothering it from roots to the ends. We massaged it into her scalp as it states to help flaky and dry skin - something that she suffers with. The mask was very greasy and it did act as a waterproof mask when we tried washing it off of our hands! We then wrapped her hair in a warm towel - aided by the tumble dryer - and left it to work its magic for an hour. Heather then washed her hair as normal, adding only a touch of conditioner to the ends.

Heather did have to repeat the shampoo and rinse process a few times before all of the product was out of her hair and she was worried it wouldn't work and only leave her hair looking more greasy. However, after drying it, her hair look much improved! It was definitely shiner and less frizzy and damaged as it had the day before. She will definitely be using it again as it's the only thing we have found to help for a long time! - plus it's all natural ingredients and suitable for vegans and vegetarians. 

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Giveaway Competition Time! Old Wives Tail are currently running a giveaway competition to raise awareness of cruelty free activity within the beauty industry as well giving readers the opportunity to win Old Wives Tail products! Here's what you have to do: [  ] Comment on any post or video Old Wives Tail has across their social media pages with the hashtag '#CrueltyFree' [  ] You will instantly be put into a free draw to win two hair oils of your choice! [  ] This can be done via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Google+ Pages Winner will be announced November 1st 2014 and will be contacted directly.

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RATING Price: 3 STARS There are cheaper hair treatments on the high street and even the cheapest oil treatment at £14.99 is a bit expensive for my sister and I, however if it's a treat - there can't be any harm to the purse strings.
Promises: 4 STARS My sister suffers with very dull and lifeless hair and we could see the difference instantly. I think it would take a few uses to ensure the results are more long term as it's in a bad state but the smells were amazing and we could definitely see a difference.
Ease of Application: 4 STARS The treatment was very different to applying our usual shampoo and conditioner, and although it was greasy, it wasn't hard to apply.
Would I Recommend to a Friend?: YES Organic hair treatments are ideal for the hair due to their natural originals and ingredients. I think everyone needs to try an organic hair treatment at least one and they will see the difference - plus, OWT is against animal testing and donates 10% of their profits to help protecting animals against such activity - what's to say no to?!

What do you think about OWT products? Have you tried any of their products or have you only just discovered the brand?
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My Thankyou, courtesy of Cadbury Gifts Direct

I was kindly contacted by Cadbury Gifts Direct with the chance to thank those who have supported me throughout my University studies with gifts of chocolate! I was generously given the opportunity to choose from various hampers from their collection of Graduation Gifts which range from £6.50 to £50, perfect for all budgets! I chose the 'Sharing Hamper' priced at £30 and you can see why!
"An amazing 'thank you' chocolate gift full of all your Cadbury Chocolate'

Sharing Hamper - £30

Containing: 1 x 200g Milk Tray, 1 x 187g Roses Carton, 1 x 420g Cadbury Chocolate Eclairs, 1 x 130g Cadbury Chocolate Popcorn, 1 x 111g Dairy Milk Marvellous Mix-ups, 1 x 90g Dairy Milk Bubbly Bar, 1 x 120g Dairy Milk with Daim, 1 x 120g Cadbury Dairy Milk Caramel, 1 x Cadbury Treasure Box: 1 x Dairy Milk Bar, 1 x Dairy Milk Whole Nut, 1 x Dairy Milk Marvellous Creations Jelly Popping Candy, 1 x small Dairy Milk, 1 x  small Dairy Milk Caramel, 1 x Crunchie, 1 x Flake, 1 x Curly Wurly, 1 x Wispa, 1 x Double Decker, 1 x Fudge, 1 x Treatsize Twirl, 1 x Chomp, 1 x Freddo Caramel, 1 x Treatsize Buttons Bag. 

When my hamper arrived, it was in a purple box - Cadbury's classic colour, it looked so regal. Inside, the contents were packed firmly together, coated with a layer of foam pieces, purple and glitter paper pieces and a card addressed to me! There was soo much crammed into the box it felt like a never ending supply! I loved the Cadbury Treasure Box and although I was excited, I felt awful opening it as it was perfect and small and I didn't want to ruin it.
Even though I love chocolate, it wasn't for me - it was for those who have helped and supported me throughout my three years of study at University. No doubt. there have been a handful of people that have been there and supported me every step of the way; family, friends, work colleagues and lecturers, they all got something, but here's the main 2 and why;
The Best Friend; Sophia

Sophia's gift consisted of the Milk Tray and Dairy, Dairy Milk Marvellous Mix-ups and Milk Bubbly Bar. Sophia and I met in our first year at University however only started to get to know eachother properly at the end of our 2nd year. We're both bloggers and we both share the same mindset - work now, play later; driven to achieve the best which is why we get on so well!
We were on the same course and therefore shared the same anxiety and stress over the same assignments, exams and individual Dissertations! Sophia and I were regular visitors to the library on our days off, evenings and late nights and were study-buddies during the exam period. I just wanted to say thankyou for being a great and true friend throughout one of the hardest years, sharing the stress, anxiety and demands of University life and making me laugh when I wanted to cry.
Mum and Dad

Dad has a very keen eye for Cadbury Chocolate Eclairs, so that was the easiest decision made of what he would get! Mum on the other hand was a bit more tricky as she pretty much eats anything! In the end I gave them both a selection of the little goodies left which included Cadbury Buttons, Double Decker, Dairy Milk Caramel Bar and the small Dairy Milk Bar.
No matter what we say, our parents always know best. Fortunately I learnt this before starting University and therefore learnt to take good advice when I heard it! Without my parents, I wouldn't of had the confidence to have carried on with my studies - 1 year into my course, I felt like dropping out and if it wasn't their advice and support, I wouldn't have graduated with a 2:1.
They have also put up with a lot (and when I say a lot I mean it), blood, sweat and tears when it came to my Dissertation, assignments and final exams, even though when they said "It will be okay" and I really didn't feel it would be at the time!
Most of all, I wanted to say thankyou for not putting me under adverse pressure. We all feel pressure to perform and achieve the best grade and qualification possible and  my parents have always made it clear that they want me to achieve the best I can and regardless of what I was aiming for, they made it very clear they were proud no matter what - that was the best feeling.  ... Work Colleagues I did treat my good old friends and colleagues at work to a few treats! I bought in the box of Roses and shared between my Sunday team - a team that have listened to me go on about my Dissertation and make me smile when I was exhausted form late nights at the library!
Lastly, I've never had Cadbury Chocolate Popcorn before and I'm glad I kept them in particular to myself - just a little thankyou and well done.

Cadbury Chocolate Popcorn

I loved my Sharing Hamper from Cadbury Gifts Direct! It's such a great way to say thankyou and their gifts range for every occasion and perfect for various budgets! I'll definitely be ordering from them in the future when I want to make a statement with chocolate! 

What do you think about it? Would you consider buying one for a special someone or a special occasion?

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