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A Day in the Life of Australian Sister Blogging Duo HOW TWO LIVE

HOW TWO LIVE

We discovered the sisters from How Two Girls Live via Instagram and also through our friends at About Blank, who also shoots their Youtube videos in a new reality series. These two ladies stood out to us due to their colorful fashion sense and fun personalities. Plus, there’s always something that stands out when it comes to a sister blogging team. 

Being that these two are from Melbourne, Australia we were intrigued to learn more about where they grew up and what their city was like in terms of fashion and blogging. 

With the launching of their own brand Twoobs, which is a fun and flirty footwear line that can take you from the beach and then out for a night of dancing, these two young entrepreneurs are taking full advantage of their growing audience and a social media following that they’ve grown through Instagram (122k+ followers) and Snapchat (their new favorite platform)

One thing is for sure with these two, they are having fun and genuinely enjoy spending time as sisters. 

Read our exclusive Q&A with this awesome pair and get a glimpse into their daily lives! 

jess and stef of how two live

Hometown/origin city/country? Melbourne, Australia.

Current location: We just arrived back in Melbourne after a huge two month trip to the US, France, Greece and Israel.

What is the focus of your blog and how did you first start out in your journey? 
We started How Two Live as a diary to each other when Stef was moving to Paris for six months. Each day one of us would post an outfit shot and tell the other what we were wearing, doing, eating etc. Since starting our blog in 2012, it has definitely evolved and grown with us, but the theme of travel, friendship and fashion will always remain.

When did you both realize you could make a career out of your blog?  
It was six months into How Two Live when we started being approached by brands to feature in their campaigns and use our platforms to promote their products. At that point we started to realise the huge potential of the industry and where our blog could take us. After around one year the blog became our full time, and we began travelling around the world and working with some amazing brands.

Twoobs are such fun shoes! How did the brand come about?
We recently launched our first independent line of shoes called TWOOBS. It’s something we’ve been working on since 2014, and only recently released in February this year. It’s a line of fun, comfortable and affordable footwear, and it was really a natural progression for us. Stef studied PR and Jess studied fashion and after working with other brands to promote their products, we were excited to create a product of our own.

#howtwo live the book

After four years of blogging we also got to know our followers and what they like really well so we were able to create something we knew they’d love.

 What is your favorite social media channel?
If you would have asked us last year we would’ve probably said Instagram, but 2016 has been all about Snapchat for us. We love how real and raw the content is, and we have a large following of young girls, it’s the perfect platform to reach them.  

Dream brand to work with?
Jeremy Scott.

What's been your ccomplishment as bloggers?
Publishing our book #HOWTWOLIVE.

What are you working on next, or excited for?
We’re very excited about the launch of our next TWOOBS collection, which is coming out in a couple of months. We’ve recently started an online series where we’re uploading daily episodes to our Facebook and Youtube, and we’re also gearing up for the release of our book #HOWTWOLIVE into The US in time for Christmas this year. 

aussie fashion bloggers

How would you describe Australia in terms of fashion?
The fashion is pretty laid back in Australia but definitely super cool. The best part about the fashion scene here is all the amazing up and coming fashion designers. Some of our favourites are Alice McCall, Cameo, House of Cards, Casper & Pearl... the list is never ending! 

What piece of advice would you give to new bloggers?
Find your unique voice and the followers will find you. People can tell when the content you're creating isn’t authentic so make sure you’re creating something that you love, not that you think others would like to see, and people will be drawn to it.

Any productivity hacks/tools that you absolutely need for blogging? 
We’ve learned consistency is key - in the first year of our blog we would post at 10am everyday, and we noticed people responded really well to that reliability.  

❤️A DAY IN THE LIFE OF HOW TWO LIVE❤️ 

jess and stef of how two live

9-10AM

We meet at Jess’ house for breaky and to plan out the week ahead. Breakfast is never too exciting, usually toast with peanut butter (Stef) and strawberry jam (Jess), or oatmeal if we’re feeling particularly adventurous. We use this time to discuss what we’ll each be focusing on that week that way we’re both across everything that needs to be done. 

10AM-12PM

These hours are always filled with responding to emails and getting on top of things. We work with a lot of different brands through How Two Live, and with the recent launch of our shoe line TWOOBS, we have a never-ending supply of emails to attend to.

 12-2PM

We schedule in any meetings during this time – usually we organise to meet people at one of our favourite cafes that way we can grab a yummy lunch while we’re at it. Our go-to Melbourne cafes are Journeyman, Pillar of Salt and Paperboy.

2-5PM

a day in the life of australian bloggers

These are probably the most productive hours in our day. We use the afternoon to work on any projects we have coming up, whether it be styling for a photo shoot, working on new TWOOBS styles, putting together a proposal for an upcoming job, or writing content.

5-630PM

More emails zzzzzzzz. We’ll revisit our old friend inbox and see what needs to be ticked off before we start winding down for the night.

630-830PM

We’re early to dinner and early to bed people. We’re not great cooks and neither are our boyfriends so dinner is either takeaway or eating out. Uber Eats recently launched in Melbourne so now we can get delivery from all our fave places – things are about to get dangerous.

 830-1030PM

TV time! We like anything trashy – Real Housewives of NY and OC are our favourites (blush), and we’ll usually try squeeze in a couple of eps before heading to bed. We also film daily webisodes with About Blank that air on our Facebook and Youtube so we use this time to upload all the footage from our day to be edited.

How Ana Dominguez Runs TWO Successful Blogs

ANA DOMINGUEZ

Running one successful blog is one thing, but what about running TWO successful blogs? Meet Ana Dominguez. As the Editor-in-Chief of IFB- Independent Fashion Bloggers or as most people know HeartIFB.com, Ana has a lot on her plate to say the least. She also runs her own personal blog about travel and helping creative entrepreneurs at The City Sidewalks. 

In our interview with Ana, she discusses everything from her best blogging tips as well as her productivity hacks. Be sure to read her "Day in the Life of.." at the end where she describes her daily routine. Talk about organized and strategic! We took some major inspiration from this post and we hope you do too! 

Where are you currently located? Chicago & NYC
Hometown/origin city/country? Tell us about how you grew up?
My family is originally from Puerto Rico and then transplanted to Carmel, IN. I always felt like a fish out of water growing up where I did. Suburbia never really spoke to my soul and I always felt like I was meant for something bigger. I moved to the big city as soon as I could and am never looking back!

What is the focus of your blog:
I am the Editor in Chief of Independent Fashion Bloggers, where we focus on blogging, fashion, and other helpful tips helpful for to grow their business.
I also have my own personal travel + lifestyle blog, The City Sidewalks, where I help other bloggers, creatives, and entrepreneurs grow their businesses so that they can achieve financial freedom to travel the world on their own terms.

IFB EDITOR IN CHIEF

How many years have you been blogging and is this your full-time job:
I've been blogging for two years and yes this is my full-time job.  But I have at least 10 different revenue streams (including e-courses, consulting, and sponsorships). That's the key for monetizing as a blogger! You need to have more than 1 way of bringing in money!

How long did it take you to build your following or until you could start blogging full-time?
For my personal blog, it probably took about a year and a half until I really started seeing significant changes and big opportunities coming through.

THE CITY SIDEWALKS

What is your favorite social media channel?
I've got 2... Instagram is my favorite to get creative and grow my audience, but Pinterest is my favorite to grow my blog and business! Pinterest is amazing and all bloggers should be using it to grow their businesses.

The BEST and WORST thing about blogging?
For me, the best thing about blogging, is all the unique opportunities that arise from it. Job opportunities, photo shoots, networking, and more. Blogging has opened so many interesting doors for me that would have never been opened had I still been sitting behind a desk.

The worst thing about blogging is probably trying to keep up with everything you need to! When you run your own business (because bloggers ARE business owners), there are so many things that can always be done, always be tweaked, or always be changed. It's kind of a never ending to-do list... But I still love it!

What's your biggest dream/goal?
I would love to have a TV show on Travel Channel one day a la Anthony Bourdain (maybe a little less abrasive, but still with plenty of personality)

Biggest Accomplishment as a blogger?
Landing a partnership with Four Seasons Resort and becoming the Editor-in-Chief of IFB were definite highlights of my year so far. Also making my first $1 from my blog (yes--even the little wins need to be celebrated!).

TRAVEL BLOGGER

What are you working on next, or excited for?
With IFB, we are working on incorporating tons of new content and free workshops that are relevant for bloggers who want to continue to grow their presence and brand online, make more money, and be more efficient with their processes (seriously so many great things coming with this...be on the lookout!). With The City Sidewalks, I'm working on starting a YouTube channel/mini-series, and even creating a new e-course for bloggers who want to work with brands. I got into consulting bloggers on a number of topics this year (and even created an Instagram e-course), so I'm excited to expand that side of my business too!

the city sidewalks

What do you love about fashion in your current city and in other parts of the country?
What do people think about fashion and fashion blogging in your opinion?

What I love about fashion in the United States is that every city has it's own unique sense of style. In New York you see eclectic, modern, experimental, and everything is always changing; in LA you see funky, boho, artistic, and unique; Miami has lots of Latin and Caribbean influence; Chicago is chic and put-together... The list goes on and on with every region and city of the country. It's actually something that I really love about traveling--seeing all the different styles in every location. I think people in the US also look to fashion and fashion blogging as a way to express themselves and connect with other like-minded people. It's an incredible phenomenon that I'm so excited to be part of!

How did you become and editor for IFB?
Our previous editor decided to take a new route with her career and the position became open this past Spring. I had started working with IFB as a Content + Marketing Editor and stepped into this new role as a promotion. It was an incredible opportunity that I couldn't pass up! 

What piece of advice would you give to new bloggers?
BE CONSISTENT. No matter what you do, be consistent. There are so many things that we have to juggle around--from social media to blog posts to monetizing--it can get overwhelming. The best thing you can do is to always be consistent. The easiest way to do this is to simplify. Example: Don't worry about being on every social platform all the time. Have a profile on all, but BE CONSISTENT on only 1-2. It's better than stretching yourself too thin on all of them.

travel blogger

Any productivity hacks/tools that you absolutely need for blogging?
Keep a calendar and a daily schedule! I have a planner that I look at literally every single day to see what I need to get done and where I'm at for the week. The calendar serves as my to-do list, my planner (for implementing concrete deadlines), and my goal tracker. It's the best thing that you can do to hold yourself accountable to getting things done.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF ANA DOMINGUEZ OF THE CITY SIDEWALKS

independent fashion bloggers

Oy... With all the travel I do, my schedule is ever-changing and hardly ever consistent, which I actually love. I hated the mundanity of the 9-5 life and decided to pick a career where every day is always different. But, when I'm at home for more than a day, this is usually the schedule I follow:

7:00a - Wake up and start my morning routine. I usually start off by meditating, writing in my journal (goals, affirmations, and positive vibes to start the day!), and reading something of value and learning.

7:30 - Workout. I like to get it out of the way so I don't keep putting it off in the afternoon/evening!

8:30 - Breakfast and get ready for the day

9:30 - Read and respond to emails and other general prep work for the day

10:00 - Start Work: Creative Block #1. I usually pick whatever creative task I have that will take the most mental energy to complete first. This can be blog posts, creating things for my courses or webinars, newsletter preps, etc.

ana dominguez from ifb

12:00p - Creative Block #2. This block is usually for the slightly less mindful tasks that I need to complete, but are still important. This can be sending newsletters, updating social media, making graphics on Canva, or creating proposals for partnerships. I also use this time for meetings or phone calls.

1:30 - Read and respond to emails and prep for the afternoon

2:00 - Lunch break! I put my work completely away for the hour to give my brain a little rest.

3:00 - Promotion Block. I take this time to promote anything I need to--IFB posts, my own blog posts, my courses, etc.--on social media.

4:00 - Creative Block #3. This block is to do anything else that needs to be done for the day. That can be meetings, catch up, finishing blog posts, or anything else.

5:30 - Read and respond to emails and prep for the next day

6:00 - Finish any other work for the day and make a list for the next day

8:00 - Dinner and chill for the rest of the evening!

11:00 - Usually when I tryyyy to go to bed (sometimes earlier or later depending on my day). It's VERY important to me to get my 8 hours. I cannot function without proper sleep!

Be sure to read more about Ana and City Sidewalks! 

Did you like this article? If so please leave us a comment below! What is one of your best blogging tips and how are you the most productive in your day? Let us know! xo

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A Day in the Life of Blogger and Creative Consultant Larissa May of Livin' Like Larz

Livin Like Larz blogger and creative consultant

Since we've started "A Day in the Life of.." series, we've organically met many different bloggers around the world doing so many diverse things in addition to blogging.

Today's interview is no different. Meet 22-year-old Larissa May of Livin Like Larz and Half The Story.  Larissa, a soon to be New Yorker is both a blogger, creative consultant, and founder of Half the Story which is a social media campaign featuring the untold stories of people around the world. 

Larissa is definitely up to some big things and we couldn't help but be inspired by her entrepreneurial journey and what she's been able to accomplish so early on. 

Name: Larissa (Larz) May  also known as @livinlikelarz

Blog name: Livinlikelarz

Hometown/origin city/country: Chicago, IL

Current location: Nashville >> NYC

What is the focus of your blog: Fashion, Lifestyle, + Creative Hacks

Years blogging: 4

Is this your full-time job? If not, how do you pay the bills? Tell us a little about your current job.

It’s a full-time lifestyle, but not my full-time job. I began my blog when I was 18 and I moved to Los Angeles after my freshman year at Vanderbilt University. I used my blog as a way to connect and find like minded individuals when I moved to different cities. Now I’ve transitioned my blog into a creative consulting company/ blog by leveraging the relationships I have built with brands in the past.

Also, I started a sort of “anti-blog” social project called
#HALFTHESTORY, which is a platform for individuals to share a part of their story that is not revealed through social channels. My idea for #halfthestory sparked during September NYFW, as I was running from the Betsey Johnson show to AOL HQ because I was covering for their lifestyle network. I got lost on the subway, face planted, and cracked my phone, but somehow made it in time for DVF's live taping. Later that day, I was challenged by my social media "conscience" as I posted a "picture perfect" image as if nothing had happened. I failed to share the truth behind what it really takes to be a 21-year-old student at a top tier school, struggling between class, work, and NYFW. I was exhausted and burnt out, skyping into class between shows and pulling all-nighters to make my deadlines for fashion week and school. Now people are sharing their stories from all over the globe @halfthestory.

a day in the life of blogger Larissa May

How long did it take you to build your following or until you could start blogging full-time?Every day I am working to build my following and connect with like minded people. I’m not full time (yet!).

What is your favorite thing about blogging?
The ability to move anywhere in the world and find someone who shares a similar passion, and inspire people to follow their dreams. I’m just like any other 22-year-old girl, so I think it's important to share my story and inspire others.

What don't you like about blogging?
Definitely the pressure that comes with creating. Part of why I created #halfthestory was because I felt like SO many bloggers forget to tell their readers the truth behind what it takes to run a blog. I think transparency is important for your followers and yourself. YOU HAVE TO KEEP IT REAL.

What piece of advice would you give to new bloggers?
Work on the target system. For example, when I began blogging I would shoot repeatedly in Free People clothes and reach out to the stores in every city I traveled to in hopes of a collaboration. Since then, I’ve collaborated with Free People on several posts and #FPME events! If you create amazing content, brands will come to you!

Dream brand to work with?
Tough one… probably Puma or Adidas. I’m a freak for sneaks.

Biggest Accomplishment as a blogger?
Definitely creating #halfthestory and building relationships with people in every country I have visited.

What are you working on next, or excited for?
I’m moving to NYC! I’m hoping to collaborate with many more brands and KILLER creators.

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
I see myself evolving into a worldwide creative director and inspirational speaker. My motto is “I just want to help cool people do cool things.”

Larissa May of Half the Story

How would you describe your hometown fashion sense?
My style grows where I’m planted. I’m a mixture between boho + urban chic. Think free spirited with a pair of killer hightops.

What do people think about fashion and fashion blogging in your opinion?
Like anything you have your fans and your haters. The industry finds bloggers to be extremely influential because we develop micro-communities of trust and influence. However, it is INCREDIBLY important to remain authentic and represent brands that embody you. Trust takes a long time to establish, yet it is incredibly easy to break.

DAY IN THE LIFE OF @LIVINLIKELARZ

6:00 AM: ALEXA ALARM GOES OFF  & I PRESS SNOOZE

6:30 AM: ALARM GOES OFF AND I SUBMIT TO A DANCE PARTY

8:00 AM: FIRST CONFERENCE CALL WITH LONDON.
One of the crazy things about my job is that I work with people in nearly 6 timezones. As a result, I usually have my first conference call before I even have a chance to sip on my coffee.

9:00 AM: COFFEE STOP
One of the ways that I find inspiration is by finding new workplaces. I love the buzz of a hip coffee shop. Plus I usually warm up my creative senses by snapping a typical latte pic for insta’.

Living Like Larz Interview .jpg

10-12 PM: CONFERENCE CALLS
Ring...Ring….Ring… I spend a huge part of my day on the phone or skype. The best part of my job is that I can do it anywhere, but it definitely comes with a cost.

12-3 PM: CREATIVE TIME
I always try to find a time each day where I can create mood boards for upcoming shoots, snap a few looks for my blog, or dream up creative collaborations with friends. I typically shoot for client product shots once a week and for my blog twice a month.

3-5 PM: ME TIME
My worst time of the day is usually from 3-5pm. I lose focus and like to switch things up. My favorite things to do in my free time are BOXING, write letters or catch up with an old friend. I always like to communicate with those I love over phone calls because so much of my business life involves texting and emails.

6- DINNER TIME
I’ve learned how to cook this year thanks toNutrition Stripped. She’s my favorite blogger and started a community called the NS Society which taught me how to batch cook for the week.

8-830 PM WRAP UP + ASSISTANT CALLS
Around 8pm I always take inventory from the day prior and send emails to individuals I work with in Australia. They are SO far ahead :). I also tend to call my assistant to give her an overview on the day and prepare for the day ahead.

9:00- CALL IT A NIGHT
I tend to make 9pm my cut-off during the weeknights. I don’t like to work late because it’s not good for the mind, body, or spirit. When I have deadlines that can be a different story! 

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A Day in the Life of Sonia from The Cherry Chapter

We recently discovered Sonia from the Cherry Chapter via Instagram as an up and coming
V-logger from Paris, France. Unlike the U.S., fashion blogging and vlogging (video blogging) is still not as prevalent yet despite Paris' fashion capital status in the world. 

Regardless of this mentality, Sonia and her gorgeous vibrant red hair, are pressing onward to establish herself as the boho-chic blogger and stylist that she is. 

As a full-time account manager, Sonia has to juggle her time during the weekend with building her blog and shooting her youtube videos. 

We can't help but admire hard working individuals like Sonia, who continue to go for what they want, one Instagram post or You Tube video at at time. 

Read on to learn more about Sonia and her daily blogging schedule. 

fashion blogging daily schedule

Name: Sonia Besnainou
 
Blog name: The Cherry Chapter
 
Hometown: Paris, France
 
Current location: Paris, France
 
What is the focus of your blog?:
Fashion styling, personal style, and hairstyle inspiration
 
Years blogging: a year and a half
 
Is this your full-time job? 
Not a full-time job, no. It was my main full-time well as being a personal stylist until March, but I have a MAJOR life change coming up in the next couple of months and had to take on a full-time job. I currently work as an Account Manager for a web marketing firm; which is also super interesting and rewarding since I get to deal with affiliate marketing a lot! But I am definitely planning on going back to my old routine!

As a stylist, I worked on photo shoots, during Paris Fashion Week, for private clients…and I miss it a lot! It just wasn’t reliable enough as an income for me right now.  I’m glad I have the weekends to blog though! 
 
How long did it take you to build your following? 
I would say that’s always an ongoing thing but it has definitely improved in the last few months, especially on Instagram I’m noticing a real growth so let’s hope it will continue this way. I love it because I feel like everyone is so supportive of each other and that’s exactly what bloggers need!

How did you come up with the idea for your blog and what made you want to start blogging? The idea came from both myself and others.  I really liked reading fashion blogs and looking at tons of Instagram hairstyles or YouTube videos. I wanted to be on YouTube more at the beginning actually. And then I kept meeting people at events or even on the streets telling me they loved my style or my hair and thought “Maybe I should try it out! If I combine my fashion knowledge with my personal style, it could be fun and people might be interested!” Every day I have more and more ideas for the future of the blog, it’s so much fun and I have learned so much since I’ve started! 
 
What's the best thing about blogging? 
Doing what I love and whatever I want with it - total creative freedom and, of course, meeting super interesting people all the time! Oh and I almost forgot: learning. There is something new to learn every day when you blog, it’s amazing!
 
What's the worst thing about blogging? 
There's not really a downside to blogging, more of a problem that I have which is staying consistent! My blog and YouTube channel kind of follow my life and sometimes I have a lot of inspiration and/or time for new content, sometimes I’m super busy or have writer’s block. I know it’s definitely something I need to improve on!
 
What piece of advice would you give to new bloggers?

Well, to organize your time well since being consistent is harder than it looks! And network, a.LOT! As well as being important, it’s really fun, you will make like-minded friends and will be able to support each other. 
 
Dream brand to work with? 
Many brands like Free People, American Apparel, Wildfox… and if Vivienne Westwood did collabs with bloggers, that would be the absolute dream.
 
Biggest accomplishment so far as a blogger? 
Somehow, even if my blog is not big, I have random people I meet telling me they’ve seen or read my blog before. I am still shocked as to how that’s possible haha! 
 
What are you working on next, or excited for? 
I have 2-3 major life events coming up in the next few months that are definitely going to change my blog too! I am oh so very excited and will be talking about it very soon, so stay tuned...
 
How would you describe the fashion/style of the country/city you live in?
What do people think about fashion and fashion blogging in your opinion?

Well, I feel like the first part of this question was written for Paris!! People in Paris tend to really pay attention to what they’re wearing but without really making an effort, it seems more like a natural thing and it definitely had an influence on me when I first got into fashion. A lot of people stay on the “classic” side of things though, wear a lot of basics and neutrals, especially black, but they are generally dressed pretty well!
 
That being said, people who are not in the fashion industry don’t care much about fashion; and to the people who are, it’s a very small bubble, hard to get in but where everyone knows each other.
Now, fashion blogging is a whole different story. It’s still very new in France, I think there are those clichés about bloggers, it can be seen as the black sheep of the fashion industry, and it is very rare to see French brands paying bloggers for anything for example. It’s very different from other countries for that I think, especially the US!

Favorite look of the moment 😍😍😍🙈😎

A photo posted by Sonia Besnainou (@thecherrychapter) on

SONIA'S DAILY BLOGGING SCHEDULE 

Since I currently have a full-time M-F job with 4 hours of commute a day, it is sooo hard for me to do anything related to blogging during the week. The only thing I really try to do is brainstorm new ideas for posts, photos, videos… I do the rest on the weekends so they are pretty packed with blog stuff! Here’s a typical Saturday of mine:
 
9-10am: 
I usually wake up around 9 and answer any emails/comments/messages I’ve accumulated in the past couple of days. Sometimes I also do some yoga!
 
10-11am: 
I cook and eat breakfast. I know, it seems like it takes a really long time – and it does! Breakfast is VERY important to me (I know, that’s a super French thing to say). Whenever I can, I also try to cook different things like French toasts, banana pancakes…or if I’m in too much of a hurry, I can always take a trip to the bakery nearby! And I try to relax while watching an episode or two of my favorite shows!
 
11am-2pm: 
I pretty much 1-try to figure out if want to take photos, write blog posts, shoot a video, make a DIY… 2-get ready accordingly and 3-spend a little time with my family and have a quick lunch (sometimes) 
 
2pm-6 or 7pm: 
Depending on what I decided to do, I could be going shopping for DIYs, doing pulls, rehearsing and shooting one or multiple videos, writing one or several blog posts, taking pictures (especially later in the afternoon), editing pictures, posting/scheduling posts on/for social media….literally everything there is about blogging haha
 
8-9pm: 
I watch another show or 2 (hey, it’s the weekend after all!) and I always use that time to select, edit and schedule my Instagram posts for the upcoming week. I’m absolutely obsessed with Instagram so that is THE one thing I’m super consistent about haha
 
Any time after that: relax, eat dinner and get ready for bed!

…ok so that’s a Saturday packed with blog-related things…but the truth is, I also spend a lot of weekends hanging out with friends in the afternoon, going out to dinner or to a party at night. When I do, I still try to do some extra work the weekend before or after if I have time to plan it ;-)

Sonia Besnainou
Blog: http://www.cherrychapter.com

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