Heyyah!
So... I know this blog o' mine features a lot of girl or mom-related stuff but for today, I'm in the mood to feature something for the gents.
These products are straight from the husband's vanity kit. 
*small talk* 
His regimen is pretty simple. He's loyal to one variant of facial scrub or else he gets zits so I know that what he uses is really THEEEE "sikreto ng mga gwapo". Over the course of our 10-year relationship, I've only seen him use one brand of hair wax, so much so that I've associated the scent of *cough* Bench Clay Doh *cough* with him. One way to put him in a bad mood is to hide his hair wax and I am not exagerating here. He only ever likes one particular deodorant, that's why I hoard whenever there's a BOGO promo. He might use whatever bath soap there is but I am aware that he prefers the Piolo-endorsed papaya soap, not that he cares. 
Whilst I, love switching from one product to another, he sticks with what works for him. But I heard that most member of the male specimen are like that so I am not surprised. 🤣
For his fragrance, I'll admit that he has no particular brand. He agrees on experimenting and is not averse to buying blindly. He sprays generously though, so a bottle can only last about three weeks on him. 
Today I am featuring his two latest, one of which is already empty and the other one is about 30% away from. They are from a well-loved Filipino brand - Penshoppe.  I like the Penshoppe website because they include the notes of their fragrances. Even though I know very little to none about fragrance notes, I still enjoy reading them and I love validating them with my own thoughts about the fragrance. Check 'em out after the jump!

Penshoppe Hustle EDT for Men 
Price: Php 329.00 for 50 mL
Fragrance Details (as taken from www.penshoppe.com)
Olfactive - Floral Musk
Top Notes - Absinthe, Anise, Fennel
Middle Notes - Lavender
Base Notes - Vanilla, Musk
I purchased this fragrance a few months back when he tasked me to get him a new one. I was at the Penshoppe store and I had to take photos of the racks of fragrances to get his approval thru Fb Messenger. But that's ridiculous though, it's not like you can smell it through the photos. 😜 In the end, it all came down to my decision. Too bad, I easily get nauseous with strong scents and I was already dreading the task before I even started.

Hustle is a scent that would call your attention. Kinda like it could make your head turn when somebody who's wearing it would walk by. I would describe it as a sweet musky scent. I definitely detect the lavender - vanilla but they don't come off as feminine probably because some of the other notes balance them out. For someone who is easily nauseous, I can tolerate it but it borderline makes me heady. It got his seal of approval naman, although I felt that he was still looking for something else. 

Penshoppe DenimLove EDT for Men
Price: Php 399 for 70 mL
Fragrance Details (as taken from www.penshoppe.com)
Olfactive - Citrus Fruity Musky
Top Notes - Ozone, Bergamot, Lime, Lemon, Orange
Middle Notes - Coriander, Fruity, Jasmine, Muguet
Base Notes - Musk, Moss, Sandalwood, Cedar, Olibanum, Caramel, Amber

DenimLove was what he purchased for himself. When I opened the bottle and took a sniff, I realized that the scent definitely suits his personality. It is very subdued, you'd think it's just a clean after-shower smell because it is fresh. It doesn't scream "look at me!" and it is very simple. The citrus fruity musk description is very apt. Or I would say citrus and greens with a tiny hint of sweetness. Since this is a scent that he personally chose for himself, I could imagine a repurchase in the making. This could be his signature scent from hereon. 

If your concern is the staying power of these fragrances, they are both EDT or eau d toilette so expect them to last about 4 hours on the average. They linger if sprayed on clothes. They are affordable and the packaging looks great. They are definitely great for gifting for the men in your life, especially that Father's Day is just around the corner.

I loved these scents and now I am convinced that I should get something from Penshoppe for myself.

Someday.
xO,

caRissa 🖤
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Another blog post? Yeeaap! The lockdown has afforded me more time for online ramblings. I'm on a skeletal/wfh shift, so don't be surprised if I blog even on weekdays and office hours.
I've also used this time to bond with my daughter and to take a closer look at the things that interest her these days. Well, she's doing a lot of Minecraft, I can barely keep up. 😆 She also loves watching YouTube videos. Last year, I often caught her watching unboxing videos of different toys on that platform. She has repeatedly asked me to get her an LOL Surprise Doll similar to the ones on YouTube and I would have happily obliged. However, when I checked the price tag of the said toy, I was like, hold up, no way! 🤣
Thankfully, she does have an enabler of an Uncle/Godfather who bought her one during the holidays. 
If you are curious about what an LOL Doll is, or you are collecting them and you don't have this variety yet, you can check it out after the jump.
BTW, L.O.L. stands for Little Outrageous Littles. Hold on to that information as if your life depended on it.
When Celestine got this, she actually made an unboxing video. It was 30-minutes of being tongue-tied. 🤣 I guess she got overwhelmed  because she has wished for this for so long. If this were a real time unboxing, the toys would have come in layers or different packaging with a "surprise" being revealed as you tear away the layer. We don't have the layers now, as they've already been previously opened.
So this is what the container looks like. 
It's supposed to resemble a hairspray can, because this is the LOL Hairgoals after all. Then it opens up just like a closet. The top can be opened to reveal a "nozzle".
The doll has a container within a container. Which doll do you think she got?
And there she is... my daughter got the Witchay Babay. Again, this is a surprise doll so you don't get to choose who you get. 
According to the lolsurprise.fandom.com, Witchay Babay is a popular doll from the Spooky Club. These are the accessories that came with Witchay Babay. She has a sippy cup, a comb, a see though top and skirt fit for a witchy, a pair of booties and a hat. There's also that magnifying glass with all the sparkles. The tiny ones were contained in that pink barrel that resemble a roller, again going with the Hairgoals theme.
Witchay Babay is a color changer. When you dip her in ice cold water, some marks appear on her face and on her belly. Put her in warm water and the marks disappear like magic!
I dressed her up with the clothes and the accessories. She's such a badass, with her white hair and lavender-purple eyes.
The removable top can be used as a stand. Here's our Witchay Babay in her full glory. 
The funny thing about kids: they seem to loose interest the moment they get what they want. Or is it just my observation, but I have barely seen Celestine play with this.
When I asked her, she said that she's just being careful because she doesn't want to loose the tiny pieces of this toy. Okuuuur.
But the last time I checked, she's always on Minecraft and it seems that she has already moved on to a Barbie-looking doll.
She's moving on so fast.
Well, this is a P 1, 375.00 doll so Imma take care of it. 
This will make for a cool collection.  

Does your kid have an LOL Doll? 
Which one did he or she get?
Drop a comment below.

Xo,
caRissa 🖤
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You mean after screaming her heart out?
Author Stephenie Meyer's cameo appearance on the Twilight movie.
She will whip out her collection of Twilight merch, just because.

She will reread the books because she needs to brush up on her knowledge about the series. It's been more than a decade, after all. So cut her some slack.

She may say she's not that much of a rabid fan but she low-key has a Twilight playlist containing songs from the movie soundtrack, and then some, that she plays from time to time. Yes, from Supermasive Blackhole to Clair de Lune. No doubt she'll be listening tonight.
My collection of Twilight Saga Movie Companions. L-R:  Eclipse, Twilight, and New Moon. I don't have the Breaking Dawn one though. I couldn't find it anywhere. Interested buyer here! 😜
She's been watching the five Twilight Saga movies over and over but it won't hurt to watch again. She could watch it with you and she'd gladly narrate some trivia while she's at it. She's generous when it comes to information.
I was a quick, wet boy, diving too deep for coins...-Flightless Bird, American Mouth by Iron & Wine
She is over-the-moon! Do you have any idea how many times this prequel has been shelved? Well, she already read the parts that got leaked. No matter how blurry it was, she tried very hard. She was happy when Steph officially released the manuscript that got leaked (at least it was blurry no more). 

And now she's wondering if Steph wrote a different, new "Midnight Sun", not like the one that got leaked. She can't wait to find out!
New Moon Movie Companion
Who knew a "paper cut" could change the course of things?
Now, she's harping on the idea. Will get it to a point where Steph would write about Jacob and Renesme? Anything is possible, under the moon!
Eclipse Movie Companion
Fire and Ice. 
She bothered to write this much on her blog. She really still loves Twilight. It was 2008 when she first discovered the books, while hanging out on Multiply. She learned about it in time for the movie release, and while the fourth book was about to come out. Just thinking about those days fills her with warmth. Falling over Twilight, agonizing over New Moon, feeling conflicted over Eclipse. Pooling funds with her brother to buy the hefty Breaking Dawn book, and feeling happy over things coming full circle. She shipped RobSten but isn't delusional; she's happy that they're happy with their private lives. 

She's already counting down to August 4th. Something to look forward to while life takes its course.

She is me.
XO,
caRissa 🎔
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These aren't exactly fresh. I got these products at the end of 2019. Can you believe it?
It's been four months and I'm only blogging about them now. What a slacker!
Well anyways, I have more time to blog these days. And as you can probably see... I'm on a roll. ;) 
I've been posting at least once a week. I'm meaning to do more. Bringing back my 2017 level of blog productivity. Oh yeah!
Working on a skeletal shift has it's benefits. I've also been doing lots of DIY stuff these days.
So, let's move on to the topic at hand: these are the latest products that I got from Sample Room.
I prefer getting skin care or daily essentials from them because I am practical that way.
You know, it seems that no matter what happens, I will never not use skin care products.
So this time, I got me a toner (because I will never skip toning), a sunscreen (because, duh), and a face mask (no, not THAT COVID-related mask).
Check 'em out after the jump! ;)
Belo Essentials AcnePro Treatment Toner
Price: Php 79.75 for 60 mL
What is it? What does it do?
An anti-acne toner that is infused with Purified Bee Venom which is clinically proven to treat mild to moderate acne and reduce inflammation. It unclogs congested pores & dries up pimples, reduces inflammation and red marks and soothes skin from irritation. It is oil-free, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and non-comedogenic.
Belo Essentials AcnePro Treatment Toner ingredients and other details
My Take
When I read the details of this toner, it felt like this is THE ONE made for me. Those ⬆️ are the skin problems that I always encounter, albeit not on a large scale. And I enjoyed using every single bit of this product because it really helped in calming down the zits and the oiliness. What saddens me is that this isn't the usual Belo toner that I see in the local stores because I've only seen the pink and orange ones. I haven't spotted this toner in town. If it were available, I'm pretty sure I would always purchase this one. 
Rating: 4.5/5

Vitapack Whitening UV Sunscreen
Price: Php 449 for 40 mL
What is it? What does it do?
It is a soft cream that protects the skin from harmful UV rays to prevent premature skin ageing while keeping the skin light and moisturized. It is infused with antioxidants in Sunflower Oil and Vitamin E to nourish, speed up rejuvenation and even out skin tone, and Sodium Hyaluronate to plump up skin for a lightweight, non-sticky and water-resistant finish.
Vitapack Whitening UV Sunscreen ingredients and other details
My Take
I've always associated suncreens with stickiness so I was overjoyed when I road tested the Vitapack Whitening UV Sunscreen. It comes in a creamy formula but when applied to the skin, it leaves a matte finish. It also spreads easily on the skin so it's hassle-free. It makes the skin look smooth and at times, I would apply it and skip the bb cream or liquid foundation and just top it with powder. Even when I sweat out, my skin doesn't look oily or sticky. The label says that it is water-resistant, however I was not able to try it out because swimming got canceldt because of COVID19, so I won't be able to make a sound comment on that aspect.

The BIG problem that I had is that I believe it has been causing my pimples on my temple area. I used this a lot earlier this year and I kept having pimples on the same area. And then I stopped using it for a while, but not because I suspected that it was causing me pimples but just because I had other products to try out. And then a week ago, I used this because I was in a hurry to go out and it was the only sun protecting product I could grab. And voila, within that day, I had a painful red bump and I am still currently dealing with it. So. And there isn't a chance that I'll be using this sunscreen again because it is about to reach the end of its life, according to the label.
Rating: 3/5 (Truly, I wanted to love it, but.)

Papa Recipe Bombee Honey Mask
Price: Php 149.00
What is it? What does it do?
Indulgence in a sheet mask! A treatment sheet mask made with nature's best ingredients including honey, propolis, and royal bee jelly.
Papa Recipe Bombee Honey Mask ingredients and other details 
My Take
The first few days of May has been rough on me. These aren't exactly huge problems but it's been stressful that I couldn't take it any longer: I had to pamper myself a bit. So I grabbed this mask. As I pried it from the protective film that was covering it and tried to put it on my face, the first thing I noticed about it was that the material was too thin. I wasn't too gentle but I didn't exert too much force and I seem to have stretched the mask so easily that the hole for my left eye was bigger than the one for the right. When I tried to adjust it, it kept stretching that the mask became too big for my face. The only solution for me was to try to make it fit by crumpling some parts of the mask. WHAT A MESS! But after wearing it for 30 minutes, I felt nothing but appreciation for how soft and bouncy my face was. It still felt that way even the next day. I could have given it a better rating if it wasn't so difficult for me to use. Rating 3.5/5 (I loved it, but...)

***
And now it's time to calculate how much these products cost versus how much I spent to get them. 
Belo Essentials Acne Pro Treatment Toner   -  Php   79.75
Vitapack Whitening UV Sunscree                   - Php 449.00
Papa Recipe Bombee Honey Mask                  - Php 149.00
Total                                                                  - Php 677.95

I got all of these items for only Php 150.00 because of the shipping fee.
Isn't it that a delight?
Thank you again Sample Room! Until next transaction!

XO, 
caRissa ♥️ 
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Smith & Cult The Shining Lip Lacquer
Shade: Her Name Bubbles
Price: $22.00
Where I Bought It: Instagram seller

My Take
I am not a fan of glossy lips! Something about flying hair clashing with it spells hot mess for me. But I am willing to make an exception for Smith & Cult's The Shining Lip Lacquer! Everything about it, from the unique dented cap to the sweet tangy scent and the cushiony feel on the lips, is worth all the love. It is long-wearing, something that I do not expect about lip glosses or lacquers because it transfers. But somehow, even if it transfers, it still looks fine on the lips. I don't even need to reapply and I just press my lips together and they're fixed. They look lovely and the second next best thing about it is what happens after I've taken it off: my lips look and feel baby smooth. Like, it sloughs off every flaky bit of dry skin off the lips, like a lip balm would,  without leaving it dry. Find out more about this product after the jump!

Packaging and Applicator
At first I thought that my cap was damaged or dented. Then I saw on the S&C site that it is just the design. It gives you a good grip of the cap.
The dented cap
The lip lacquer bottle. It has a bit of a heft to it.
The doe foot applicator
Swatch
smith and cult swatch
"Her Name Bubbles" is a coral shade.
In Action
This color brings a youthful glow to my face. I love wearing it when I am wearing a bright top or that bright scarf in that photo because I don't like my lip color clashing with whatever color of clothes I am wearing. This color's also perfect this summer. It's a shame I can't wear it out often because I'm wearing face masks when I am outdoors anyway. Aaaaanywayyyys....COVID19 I hate you!

Despite having this high shine, trust me they aren't uncomfortable to wear. I love the cushiony feel that sometimes I can't help pressing my lips together. And did I mention they smell divine? That's the second time now.

Smith  Cult products are cruelty-free, paraben-free and phthalate-free.

Smith & Cult The Shining Lip Lacquer in "Her Name Bubbles" Rating
Packaging: 4.5/5
Quality: 4.5/5
Performance:4.5/5
User-friendliness: 4.5/5
Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Will I buy it again? Haha. I bought it at a discounted price. I will buy it again if I can afford it. If not, I hope I will be able to get a gloss or a lacquer with a similar formula and are just as kind to my lips.
Will you recommend it? Definitely! If you can drop that much cash for a gloss or a lacquer, do it! 

XO,
caRissa ♥️
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Meow! I see you not.
My eyes are. 
I am not blind, but I might as well be. Ha ha. 
Okay, why am I sounding so grim about this when in truth I am not?
My vision has been malabo for as long as I can remember. As far back as high school?
My hobbies were all very damning to my eye sight, which included reading (mostly in the dark), learning to type on an old school typewriter, and cross stitching. 
Taking care of my eyes was just one of the many things that I took for granted as a teenager.
My mother got me a pair of prescriptions glasses in college. I lost them in a few months.
I didn't have the heart to ask her for new ones. 

Now, I broke my eyeglasses (again; twice for the past year). 
Impeccable timing, too.
I actually planned on getting new ones in Tacloban. Not happening. A taga-Burauen who traveled from Northern Samar and who passed through crucial parts of Samar. I'm sure they would shake. 😝
I thought about taking a jeepney to Catarman, with its skyrocketing fares. 
But I'm not sure if the optical clinics are open.
I didn't want to go home empty handed.

There is an optical clinic in my town tho that I have previously overlooked. 
Probably because it didn't look so appealing back then.
But the clinic has been recently repainted, the interior revived.
Why go far when you have one down the road?
They now have a digital eye examination equipment and the owner was very chatty and accommodating.
Some don't even bother. 

I just found out that my left eye is worse than my right. 
Left is -4.00, Right is -3.75.
I am nearsighted and again my friends, I can't stress this enough.
If you see me in public from a distance and I am not wearing my glasses,
don't expect recognition. 
I CAN'T SEE YOU.
Doctor said that I don't need to wear my exact grade because they would be too heavy on my eyes.
We tried different combos but settled on -3.50 for each eye.
unbreakable eyeglass frame, durable eyeglass frame
Fresh.
I splurged this time, with my husband's encouragement. I kept getting cheaper frames that easily break apart. 
Why not get something more durable?
Now, I got me a pair of eyeglass that I can literally flex. The lenses are blue light blockers too. But I didn't go all the way to get transitions....too expensive! 😆
I kept looking for a website for this brand, S7 ILUVU, so that I can find out more about it. 
There is no official site. All I know is that they are  ultra-light, screwless glasses made of polyamide66.
And they're uber cool.
How do I understand these icons? I can wear these while doing sports? Well, I don't do sports. It can withstand those temperatures? It's not like I'll boil or freeze them. Is that cross medical-related? And I can whack 'em with a hammer? Whoa.
I paid upward of six thousand grands for a new pair of glasses.
If you ask me about my hazard pay for reporting to work three times a week during Community Quarantine, you know where the money went.
And if that amount is not enough to remind me about being mindful of where I put these babies then I don't know what is.
I pray I don't loose them because they are really good. They're weightless. They don't hurt despite the all day wear.
They don't break, but I am not putting them to the test. The color and design is very simple. Very me. 
The good doctor stretched the glasses in front of me and I just stood there slack-jawed. Point taken, doc. 

I was broken, but now I am whole again. Maybe the wallet got broke(n) a bit but this is all worth it. 
These glasses are literally extensions of my body and I should take care of them too.
I see clearly now. I have learned my lesson.
With these fresh lenses everything seems brighter. (Even the future!)
Like deeyyyyymn. I feel like I can see through your soul.
And I wasn't squinting when I wrote this blog entry. 

I feel like a million dollars right now, baby.
XO,

caRissa ♥️
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Hey!!! Last time, I did a skin care roundup involving my facial cleansers/washes. 
This time, I've rounded up all the makeup removers in various formulas currently in my stash. I also mentioned my empties, just because they were good and are really worth the mention.
Once upon a time, I didn't bother with makeup removers. I just washed my face with whatever, maybe with a facial wash that was not pH balanced. Yikes! Never again. I've reaped the benefits of being careful with what I put on my face and I am never going back. 
I've learned about the pre-cleansing stage because of the Korean Skin Care Regimen. Although I don't do the full ten steps, I believe that the first and second steps are really necessary. 
So here are the pre-cleansers or makeup removers that I bought last year. I will try to consume them all first before moving on to other products. 
Hope you enjoy reading the quick reviews!
L-R: 2 bottle of Pond's Brightening Micellar Water, Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover, Klorane Waterproof Eye Make-up Remover, Drunk Elephant Slaai Makeup-Melt Butter Cleanser with the Bamboo Extract Charcoal Powder.
Bottom: Banila Co. Zero Clean It Cleansing Balm
Currently Using
➤Pond's White Beauty Brightening Micellar Water/Price: Php 99.00 for 100 mL/Where To Buy: Mercury Drugs
I think I am currently on my fourth bottle of this micellar water. Needless to say, I think I am pretty much "hiyang" with this product. Personally, I am okay with my micellar water being just that: something for removing makeup, no frills or extra functions needed. Pond's micellar water gives us something extra because it is infused with Vitamin B3, commonly known in skin care jargon as niacinamide which brightens the skin and tightens pores. It effectively removes makeup and my skin feels clean and fresh after using it. I think I do at least 3 passes before I get a satisfying clean. What else do I say? I will keep repurchasing it, especially that my other favorites, the Garnier and Nivea Micellar Waters are nowhere to be found in my locality atm. 
pond's micellar water ponds micellar water ingredients
Pond's Brightening Micellar Water ingredients and other deets
➤Klorane Waterproof Eye Make-up Remover/Price: $16.00 for 3.3 floz /Where I Bought: My favorite seller on Instagram
This product is quiet pricey and I am glad that I was able to try it out with this travel sized bottle which I bought on Instagram. What do I say? Hmmmm. This product actually reminds me of the Nivea Daily Essentials Double Effect Eye Make-up Remover. They both make use of cornflower extract, they both have plant based oil and the same blue tinge. Most of all, they are both great in melting down waterproof eye makeup with just the slightest force of swiping in the eye area. If you can't afford the Klorane one, then there's always Nivea. ;)

Coming Up 
I have not yet used the following products so I can't really give a feedback for now so I'll just give an overview. They're both part of the Sephora Play! Dessert Island Essentials so they are just minis or travel-sizes:

➤Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover/Price $19.50 for 125 mL (clinique.com) 
"Dissolves and "lifts away" long-wearing makeup, even waterproof mascara. Non-irritating, non-stinging. This product is free of synthetic colors, gluten, denatured alcohol, SLS, SLES, talc. It’s also vegan."

➤Drunk Elephant Slaai Makeup Melting Butter Cleanser/Price: $34.00 for full size (drunkelephant.com)
"Slaai™ is an innovative cleansing balm that melts all traces of dirt, makeup and sunscreen from skin. Gentle enough to be used around the eye area, it quickly transforms from oil to milk upon contact with water. Skin compatible Slaai™ effortlessly removes even water-resistant formulations and is free of PEGs and essential oils." 

Empties
➤Banilla Co. Clean It Zero Original/Price: Php 995.00 for 100 mL, but this one I have here is a mini so I bought it for a tiny fraction of that price/Where To Buy: www.beautymnl.com
The Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm in Original
This is a balm-type cleanser and I love how it melts into oil upon contact with my skin. It easily dissolves makeup, even hard to remove mascara. I also love the light floral scent. I get a small amount of the product and massage it on my entire face. Then I wash it off with lukewarm water to get rid of the oily feel together with my preferred facial wash for my second cleansing. No tight and dry feeling after using but instead, it keeps my skin soft and supple. Sometimes I just can't help touching my face.

➤Estee Lauder Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion/Price $30.00 for full size (esteelauder.com)
The Estee Lauder Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion
Here's another pricey product that I was able to try out because of my fave IG seller who sells travel/mini sized products, be it drugstore, mid-range or high end. All I can say is...some pricey products are pricey for a reason. This one is a gem. It is lotion type but it feels oh so light on the skin. You only need a small amount of the product to work. There is no greasy feel, and on the contrary, it leaves a cooling effect. Upon application, I really felt that the makeup was coming off without struggle. Ha ha. I could only wish that I can afford to get the full sized one. Until then, I will just make tambay on IG and wait for the next sale. Baka after the lockdown pa. 😆

***
If I were to make a rating, I would definitely give the Estee LauderTake It Away Makeup Remover something close to 5/5. The Banila Co. Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm is somewhere behind with a 4.5/5 above rating. All the micellar waters are 4/5+++. The Klorane Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover was so-so for me, as I have tried a similar one from Nivea that works just as well.

I know I made quick blurbs about these products and there could be some details that I have skipped so if you have any questions about any of them, feel free to drop a comment down below. ;)

Stay safe. Wash yo' hands. Wear face masks. Stay indoors.

XO,
caRissa ♥️
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Thanks for visiting my blog! Don't forget to follow or drop some comments!

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