YouTube | Rolling Project 10 Pan: Spring Update

Although it had been around 6 months since I last updated on my Rolling Project 10 Pan, it was something that I was still continuing behind the scenes. I'd planned on returning to YouTube a lot earlier, but I struggled to juggle my freelance photography work with finding the time to edit, but now that I have myself a shiny new laptop (my old one was so old that it doubled the time it took to do anything!), I'm able to work a lot faster therefore freeing up a little more time to get back into blogging and YouTube.

In the past 6 months, I've ended up finishing 4 products which I'm really pleased about. I've delcuttered/rolled out 3 additional products, leaving only 3 of my originals left in the project. So for this update I've rolled in a whopping 7 new products, which is quite exciting as it gives me new products to focus on for the next season. I'll be reducing my updates to one per season (3 months), as when I did film that ill-fated updated that never saw the light of day, I didn't feel like it was enough time to make much progress, given the amount I wear makeup typically.

I hope you enjoy the video. Let me know if you're doing any project pans currently! 

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Art de Parfum: The Fragrance Brand You Need To Try | AD

Art de Parfum is a British perfume house which launched in 2015 with the tagline "French sophistication". Created by Lithuanian-born Ruta Degutyte, the brand has a capsule of 5 core unisex scents: Gin & Tonic Cologne, Signature Wild, Sensual Oud, Sea Foam and Excentrique Moi, all made with highly concentrated perfume oils. No prizes for guessing which one I was the most excited to try... Art de Parfum is heavily influenced by the liberating style and effortless chic of the French Riviera, and so they wanted to create a perfectly balanced range of fragrances that would make the wearer feel sexy for any occasion. Art de Parfum also aims to be kind to both the environment and the wearer, without testing on animals and also being free from nano materials, CMR, GMO and colourants. A couple of weeks ago, I filmed my first impressions and I've never been so wowed by a fragrance brand. I never go into a testing perfume video expecting to like all of them, if any at all, so I was really surprised when consistently they knocked it out of the park. Now that I've had a bit of time to play around with the scents, here's what I think of them...

Signature Wild | The oriental-leather one, perfect for autumn

"Unapologetically dark and wild. This highly addictive fragrance combines a powerful leather accord with the boozy and syrupy davana herb and sweet delicacy of orange blossom". Despite being named as a range of genderless fragrances, Signature Wild* is the brand's more masculine scent, so I was surprised to find it to be one of my favourites on first impressions. Top notes are cinnamon, davana and cardamom, combining with a boozy note to give a sweet, warm and gourmand opening. The edible notes continue with dried fruits, and move into an orange blossom heart with radiant woods. The base is dry and woody, with labdanum, sandalwood, peru balsam and Haitian vetiver, with a spot of leather to add a bit of mystery. Signature Wild is decidedly autumnal, and reminds me of a dishy man in an aged brown leather jacket, drinking a honeyed whisky. Mmm now where's he been hiding all my life? It lacks the classic aftershave scent, so it is wearable to both genders. On me, the sweet cinnamon notes take centre stage (and reminds me a lot of my fave cinnamon honey almonds in the Graze Hot Cross Yum snack) but I'd love to see how this would smell on a man.

Gin & Tonic Cologne | The fresh one, smells exactly like G&T

"A sparkling cocktail of zesty, herbal and bitter notes. An ice-cool gin-tonic accord, brought alive with grapefruit peel, resinous juniper and a slice of fresh-cut cucumber." This green citrussy fragrance opens with notes of juniper berry for that authentic G&T feel, with grapefruit, lemon zest and cucumber giving it a refreshing true-to-life fizz. The heart is a mysterious gin-tonic accord, with a base packed full of botanicals including cardamom and juniper berry oil, as well as an ambergris note, cedarwood, vetiver, white musk and incense. On my skin, Gin & Tonic Cologne* becomes a unique citrussy floral and, although it's more of a summer scent, there's no denying it's a must for gin lovers!

Sea Foam | The marine one, smells like the ocean

"A true splash into the ocean. Iodic notes of seaweed and salt conjure up a purifying seascape. Drift away on a wave of a lactonic sandalwood, fig leaf and weathered woods." Sea Foam* opens with a spicy, almost gingery note of bergamot, mixing with soft marine notes and a heart of creamy guaic wood and fig leaf, giving an almost coconutty feel. It has a base of Haitian vetiver, driftwood accord, ambroxan, sea salt, sandalwood, patchouli and incense, but it is still a very light and fresh fragrance. It is a really interesting scent, and not what you would typically expect from a marine fragrance. It has a real softness to it, which makes it extremely wearable for women and I'm excited to wear this one more!

Excentrique Moi | The floral woody one

"Truly remarkable and unique, just like moi. Rich red fruits blended with flowers and dry tannic tea notes complement the dark woody base of patchouli and guaic wood, ushering in sensuality and depth." Excentrique Moi* has a dry, spicy opening, with notes of pepper, clove and red fruits mixing with black tea notes and woods in the base. Hibiscus provides a floral note lifting the fragrance and adding a little freshness, although the base of patchouli, white musk, cedar and wormwood ensure that Excentrique Moi retains its spicy, woodsy essence. 

Sensual Oud | The floriental one

"Seduction of the finest order. Blending dark woody notes such as cypriol and patchouli with warm spices, rosy geranium leaf and velvety suede for a sexy and sophisticated scent that will take your breath away." Sensual Oud* opens with clove, date and saffron to give the rose note a spicy, Damask Rose feel. It is aromatic, and the geranium leaf adds a little freshness. There is also a hint of Turkish delight to the rose, with a slight syrupy sweet edge. The base adds richness to the fragrance with notes of patchouli, oud, cypriol, jasmine absolute and clove. I'm not usually a Damask Rose lover, but Sensual Oud is really nicely balanced, with a mix of powdery, sweet and fresh notes making it smell more modern. It's heavier feel means that this will be the perfect winter rose perfume! 

It goes without saying that I am really impressed with Art de Parfum as a brand, they have a really solid wardrobe of scents and all are impeccably composed. Whilst not every fragrance is hugely groundbreaking, each fragrance has something a little bit unique about them which I love. In terms of picking a favourite, I'm not 100% sure if any of them are "me", but I'll definitely be playing around with them more over the next couple of weeks and taking full advantage of my samples. I wasn't overly excited by Excentrique Moi, but the rest of the scents really drew me in. Gin & Tonic Cologne really does smell amazing, and I could picture it being a great holiday fragrance, and Sea Foam would also be gorgeous in the summer. In terms of the warmer scents, Signature Wild is such a different scent and the boozy cinnamon tones will be gorgeous for this season as the weather drops. Finally, we have Sensual Oud and I didn't think it would be my favourite because I'm not too much of a fan of Damask Rose but it really surprised me. It is perfectly balanced between being a sweet and musky rose, and it will be gorgeous in the winter!

Which sounds like your kind of scent?

- Post contains PR samples (*) - 

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YouTube | Putting New Summer Perfume Launches To The Test!

Every month or so, I put together The Fragrance 411, a round-up of some of the latest and greatest new fragrances to hit the shelves. Some just pass by and I never get around to testing them, and there are some that I just can't not smell. I decided to pick five new launches to put to the test, and see whether they really lived up to the hype. I generally prefer sampling in the comfort of my own home rather than in a store as you can really take your time, so I grabbed my samples from both eBay and the Feel Unique Pic 'n' Mix Sample Service - which you can pick five free samples a month, and just pay £3.95 for the delivery, which is then redeemable against your next purchase. I decided to pick up Missguided Babe Power, Elie Saab Girl of Now, Mugler Aura, Guerlain Mon Guerlain and Kenzo World to put to the test, and you can watch my video below to see my first impressions.

Have you tried any of these?

What's your favourite perfume at the moment?

- Post contains affiliate links -

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YouTube | Celebrating 1 Year of the Dyson Supersonic! | AD-Event

AKA that £300 hairdryer. But did it wow me enough?

Images c/o Gary Price Photography bc gal was too busy vlogging but don't worry, you can watch that below!

Recently I was kindly invited to event held in Birmingham, with a group of other bloggers to celebrate the first anniversary of Dyson's innovative hair styler, the Supersonic. The event took place at Grand Central's huge John Lewis store, and when I finally found the Dyson Supersonic stand (went to the vacuum cleaners first didn't I, oops!), we were shown to a room off the shop floor, and greeted by champagne and cupcakes. We were off to a good start with two of my favourite things!

The Dyson team were joined by Dior, Aveda and La Prairie stands, so before the presentation started, we were able to mingle and see what the other brands had to offer. I had a beautiful hand massage from La Prairie, which was a) ridiculously relaxing and b) great as I hadn't explored them as a brand. I was introduced to a few products: the Cellular Refining Lotion, the Cellular Hand Cream which contains algae and marine extracts, and the Skin Caviar Essence-In-Lotion which was really refreshing. All the products smelt amazing, and although pricey, it's a little slice of luxury. I've seen their Foundation floating around the internet recently, and it's something I'm definitely keen on trying next time I pop by their stand!

Dyson stylist Tracie Bedwood

We were given a presentation by the Dyson team about the Supersonic, which was really eye opening as it really showed us just how much research, innovation, and technology goes into the product. 5 years, 58 million pounds, 600 prototypes and 100 engineers to be exact. It is then that the £300 price tag begins to become justified. They even built their own hair labs so they could test exactly how the product reacts, with over 1000 miles of natural hair. This was no typical hairdryer development. They created a completely different technology, based on the airflow dryers and fans already in their range, both which have changed the game in their respective categories.

So what makes the Dyson Supersonic different? Firstly, it has Intelligent Heat Control - a built-in thermostat so the temperature never exceeds the temperature you choose. Traditional hairdryers can go up to 230 degrees, yet the highest Dyson temperature is just 100 degrees, way below the 150 degree mark where it is shown to cause irreparable heat damage to the hair. You might be thinking, it can't surely work with such a low temperature, right? The reason why the Dyson Supersonic can operate at those lower temperatures is because it simply is more efficient. The motor sits in the handle  of the dryer and draws in 13L of air per second, but the Air Multiplier Technology boosts this threefold, giving you 41L of air per second, at 105 mph. Sounds more like an extreme weather warning than a hairdryer!

This advanced technology means that your hair dries quicker, with a smoother, sleeker result. The reduced risk of damage ensures your hair stays in great condition, and no one will complain about making fewer trips to the hairdresser! The Dyson Supersonic is also engineered for balance, as the motor is in the handle not the top, making it more stable to hold - definitely something to consider if you struggle with handling a hairdryer. As well as being lighter, it is also more quiet as it is acoustically tuned to a lower frequency. Additionally, the motor is surrounded by a rubber casing, which stops it from vibrating against the handle and creating extra noise.

I was all but convinced. The real question is: is it actually worth £300?

The Pros:

• Compact & lighter - better for those who struggle holding a hairdryer for a prolonged period of time
• Uses a lower heat - gentler on the hair
• Uses a higher speed - more efficient 
• Quicker drying time
• Much Quieter than a traditional dryer 
• Market leader, reliable brand
• Aesthetically pleasing, especially with the pink
• Suitable for all different types of hair with the variety of attachments
• Huge amount of research that goes into every single element, and advanced technology.
• Innovative - they've really redefined the market when it comes to hair drying 

The Only Con:

• The £300 price tag - the pros outweigh this if you're a big heat-styler user

So what do I think?

As much as I think this would be a brilliant investment, I generally leave my hair to air dry a lot of the time so I wouldn't get as much value out of it than someone who uses a hairdryer daily. That being said, maybe I would use it a lot more often as there is less damage to the hair and is quicker than a traditional dryer. If I was in the position where my existing hairdryer had broken and I could afford to invest, I probably would, although it would be a very well researched purchase (if you are thinking of investing, Josie from Fashion Mumblr has done a really thorough review and comparison video). As someone who doesn't have £300 of disposable income to spend on a hairdryer, it's not necessarily for me at this moment in time, but it would certainly make an incredible gift. This is definitely something to put on your wedding gift list, and it's also perfect for that person that has everything. The Dyson Supersonic isn't just a hairdryer...

What do you think of the Dyson Supersonic?

- Thanks to the Dyson team for having me at this event! - 
- Post features affiliate links -

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YouTube | First Impressions of the Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Lipsticks

The last drugstore brand to bring out liquid lipsticks. But are they worth the wait?

Budget Week is approaching (the first video goes live on Monday, so make sure you're subscribed), and a video that I've been planning for a very long time is one on the best drugstore liquid lipsticks. Now I thought I'd covered all bases, and tried all of the drugstore offerings (or at least the one's that looked decent), but then Rimmel threw a curveball and released their Stay Matte Liquid Lip Colours. I had a quick breeze through a few video reviews - they've been out in the States for a while - and after seeing a unanimous thumbs-up, decided I simply couldn't do a liquid lipstick round-up without at least giving them a go.

I picked up three shades (yasss 3 for 2!), but there are currently 15 shades in the range, including nudes, pinks, a red, a coral, a few plums and a few more out-there shades like a black, navy and a grey. I went for Be My Baby which is a peachy nude, Rose & Shine which is a rosy pink, and Blue Iris which we can all agree is a bit daring for me, but there was something about it that really drew me in.

Formula-wise they're pretty darn great, and they've really impressed me overall, with the pros outweighing the cons:

Pros

• Lightweight formula
• Affordable at £5.99
• Long-lasting
• Transfer-proof and lasts well through food and drink
• Easy to use applicator
• Comfortable to wear
• Not drying
• Matte finish that completely dries down
• Large range of shades, including some unique colours
• Good pigmentation

Cons

• A little crumbly
• Not much variation between shades
• Bit of a chemically, plastic smell, but you can't smell it once on the lips and has no taste

Have you tried the Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Lipsticks?

- Post features an affiliate link -

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YouTube | Highlights of May: Ibis Lates & Manfrotto Vlogging Masterclass | AD-Event

My first monthly vlog is here! This month, my Highlights post has come in the form of a vlog, and it documents some of the best bits from the past 30 days. I kicked things off at the start of the month by heading to Birmingham with my gal pal Emmie, for the Ibis Lates event at their New Street Station Hotel. In a collaboration between Ibis and The Roundhouse, the Ibis Lates events aim to raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust while showcasing some of the best upcoming artists in an intimate gig setting.

After a quick burrito (can't argue with that), we made our way to our home for the night and got ready for the evening ahead. When we went downstairs, the lobby/breakfast area of the hotel had been transformed into a fully fledged gig venue, complete with green room which became our base for the event. First in the line-up was Kenan Kian, the perfect choice to open the event with his upbeat sassy tunes, and let's be real, anyone that starts a track "this is for all the bullshit bitches out there" gets my seal of approval! What was most inspiring was to hear how he had dealt with homelessness and other issues, which obviously have influenced his performance and songwriting. Next up was soulful Malunga, who brought a beautiful voice with an eclectic mix of influences before the headline act. Birmingham-based duo Ekkah took to the Ibis Lates stage to deliver an upbeat set, full of good vibes and 80's/electro-pop influences. It was a brilliant night and I'd definitely recommend going to any of their future events for a budget-friendly night (tickets are £5) of great music, all in aid of charity.

My other Highlight of the Month had to be going down to London for the Manfrotto Masterclass, a day of vlogging education from the experts. After bumping into pal Annie at St Pancras, Starbucks in tow (I learnt the hard way that their Cinnamon Buns don't taste as good as they look), we headed to the event held at Lumiere Studios in Southwalk. First up was a masterclass in all things YouTube, direct from a vlogger's mouth. The lovely Josie from Fashion Mumblr gave us the inside scoop on everything from turning viewers into subscribers and how to beat that bloody YouTube algorithm (don't even get me started...). It turned into a bit of a Q&A situation and I left confident that I was on the right track, with a few new things to try too. Some key things that I took were: a) publish straight after uploading instead of scheduling (the algorithm doesn't priortise scheduled videos) and b) publish outside of "popular" times (lessens the competition to get your video seen).

The next masterclass was from expert photographer Jim Marks (who has produced both still and video campaigns for big-name brands like Dove and Nike, as well as shot with celebrities including Hugh Laurie and Jennifer Saunders) all about lighting, something that I was very eager to learn about. One thing that I really took from the talk was that it wasn't so much about the type of lighting you have, more so what you do with it. He spend a lot of time explaining how light moves and how to manipulate it to get it to work for you, with things like diffusers and reflectors. I currently have a pair of softboxes, and had been wondering whether to purchase a ringlight, but I've since altered the positioning of the light source. Having one light above you pointing down at a 45 degree angle works best (although watch the dark shadows underneath your chin as you might need a reflector) and then the other light can be used to brighten the background. It's made so much difference!

Out of anything, Jim recommended the Lykos LED lights (from £300.95), which are expensive but a lot more space-saving than my current setup, as well as the Lumimuse 3 LED Light (£45.95) for vlogging. I've opted for the more affordable, pocket-friendly ML120 12 LED Light (currently £19.98), which I'm looking forward to playing around with on my camera, as well as on my iPhone with the help of the ShoulderPod G1 Grip* (£24.90), which we were kindly gifted at the event. The last masterclass had a focus on iPhone photography, and it's definitely encouraged me to ditch the camera in favour of more "in the moment" content for vlogs, and they recommended using an app like FiLMic Pro (£14.99) where you can use manual functions to manipulate your lighting situation for better quality footage. It was a really informative day, and I've already put some of the tips into practice! P.S. You can use code FOLLOWER17 for 20% off on the Manfrotto website!

Make sure you check out the vlog and subscribe in time for next month's!

What has been your highlight from the last month?

- Many thanks to both the Ibis Lates and Manfrotto teams for having me at their events -

- As always, this does not affect my view and I will always give an honest opinion of a product/brand/service -

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YouTube | May Empties: Regret or Repurchase?

There was a time when I never used to finish products, but doing my Declutter series has really made me see that having a collection of products hidden away in storage was defeating the object. I wanted to have a collection that I could actively use and enjoy, and so I've made it my pact to try and use up more products this year, both in general and as part of my Project Pan. 

Because of this change in thinking, I've been doing a lot more empties videos, and who am I to complain? They have always been some of my favourites to make, and indeed watch! There's something so satisfying about finishing a product (even if you know you're going to have to shell out for a replacement), and I believe it conjures up the most honest of opinions. I think we're all guilty of proclaiming our love for a product in a first impressions or haul, but you only know your true feelings when you have used the whole lot, and so you're getting the most reliable recommendation from an Empties.

In my May Empties, I've used up mainly skincare products, and apparently I had a thing for sheet masks. There's everything from the affordable 7th Heaven, to the much more pricey WOW and Estée Lauder, and I'm chatting about whether they're worth the hype and the money. Of course there are the staples, Lush Big Shampoo and the Colab Dry Shampoo, which seem to make their way into every single empties. I always find that I don't love a lot of the products I use up, and that's certainly the case here, not being overly taken by any of the samples that I've tried, however I did love a good few, and I've repurchased (or already had backups) all of the products in the image above.

Products I've used up...

Botanics All Bright Soothing Eye Makeup Remover

Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins Cream

Superdrug Vitamin E Intense Moisture Cream

7th Heaven Charcoal Mask*

7th Heaven Black Seaweed Peel-off Mask*

7th Heaven Dead Sea Sheet Masque*

Tony Moly I'm Real Pomegranate Mask Sheet

WOW Luxury Facial Mask Treatment*

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrated Recovery PowerFoil Mask*

Rodial Dragon's Blood Sculpting Gel

Nude Detox Brightening Fizzy Powder Wash

Caudalie Vinosource Moisturising Sorbet

Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief

Colab Sheer Invisible London Dry Shampoo

Lush Big Shampoo

HIP Ultra Shine Shampoo 

Tresemme Beautiful Volume Shampoo

Tresemme Beautiful Volume Pre-Wash Conditioner

Lush Rose Bombshell Bath Bomb

Mitchum 48 Hour Protection Pure Fresh Deodorant

Boots Medium Blister Plasters

Prestat 60% Cocoa Dark & Rich Hot Chocolate Flakes

Twinings Sleep Tea

What have you finished up recently?

- This post contains PR samples (*) and affiliate links -

- This does not affect my views and I will always give my honest opinion of a product/service -

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YouTube | The Perfume Society X Latest In Beauty Scented Skincare Unboxing | AD-Gifted

The Perfume Society have teamed up with Latest In Beauty for their very first collaboration, combining forces to create the Scented Skincare* bag, which features products specially selected for their gorgeous fragrances. I'm a big advocate of scented skincare, basing much of my opinion on the experience of the product rather than the results I (rarely) see. Co-founder of The Perfume Society, Jo Fairley agrees, stating "Something I learned long ago as a beauty editor is that the fragrance... is intrinsically linked to its effectiveness. When we love the scent of our skincare, we use it often, and that's when we see results".

For £22, there are 10 must-have products, spanning skincare and body care with a value of over £65, including the Aromatherapy Associates Renewing Rose Body Cream, the MOA Fortifying Green Bath Potion and one of my personal highlights, a full size Sukin Detoxifying Clay Masque. Most of the products are really good size samples, so there's none of the teeny sachets you usually find in subscription boxes, which means you can really get a good sense of the product.

The Scented Skincare bag contains...

This Works Sleep Plus Trouble Shooter - 10ml, worth £2.92

Balance Me Restore & Replenish Face Cream - 15ml, worth £12

Amie New Leaf Deep Pore Exfoliating Polish - 25ml, worth £1.49

Aurelia Aromatic Repair & Brighten Hand Cream - 7ml, worth £2.61

Ultrasun Face SPF 30 - 25ml, worth £10

MOA Fortifying Green Bath Potion - 10ml, worth £2.75

Sukin Detoxifying Clay Masque - 100ml (full size) worth £11.49

Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Lotion - 20ml, worth £2.30

Aromatherapy Associates Renewing Rose Body Cream - 40ml, worth £7.60

Rosalena Rock & Rose Face Oil - 5ml, worth £14

In my latest video, you can see me unboxing the Scented Skincare collaboration, and giving my first impressions of the products inside and their scents. I'll be back in a few weeks once I've had chance to properly try each of the products, letting you know what worked and what didn't (if anything!). It's early days, but everything I've tried so far has been fab and I'm really impressed overall with the collab. It's definitely something to check out if you're into skincare, fragrance, or both!

Which products are you most excited to try from The Scented Skincare bag?

- This post contains PR samples (*) kindly provided by The Perfume Society and affiliate links -

- This does not affect my views and I will always give my honest opinion of a product/service -

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November Empties

It's pretty safe to say we all know how much I love empties posts and videos by now, they're my all-time favourite to both watch and make myself. I have the hugest stash of empties residing in my room, and I'm slowly making my way through sharing them through monthly videos. This month, there's a good mix of body products, hair and makeup, with a lot of skincare! I finally finished up a ton of minis that I just couldn't seem to get rid of, it's always such a relief when you can finally see the back of them!

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Autumnal NARS One Brand Tutorial

If you asked me what my favourite high-end brand was, or even "which high-end brand do you own the most products from?", I never really would have said NARS. Recently, I sat down and shuffled around my makeup, which I like to do on a monthly basis, and realised just how many NARS products I actually owned, in both palette form and individual products. There are some products I absolutely adore, as well as others I'm not so keen on, so I thought I'd bung it all in one chatty video, along with a little first impressions of their latest foundation release, the Velvet Matte Skin Tint.

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The Bloggers Ball & My First Vlog!

Last Saturday I headed down to London to attend the much anticipated Bloggers Ball, held by Scarlett London Events. After a bit of a panic tweet that I didn't know anyone going, I ended up arranging to meet the lovely Emily from Emily Loula, and after a cheeky TGI Fridays stop (you need to try the Bubblegum Daiquiri), we headed to DSTRKT where the event was being held. We were one of the first to arrive and were greeted by Scarlett, the event organiser. It was so lovely that she took the time to speak to each of us!

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