Tag Archives: Essie

NAIL FILES: The Milkshake Parlour

milkshake parlour

Happy Friday, my sweet readers! Why not welcome March and kick-off this weekend with a fun and really, really sweet post! The nail files are back and cuter than ever. The weather is finally starting to change and mi mind is definitely on Spring mode, why not get those nails in warmer temperature mode too. For this edition, I got my inspiration from one of my all-time favorite drinks: the milkshake. One of my biggest pleasures in life? Having a supersize, frothy, vanilla milkshake. What’s your favorite flavor? choc milkshake

CHOCOLATE

  1. Beige Nude, Dior Vernis
  2. Smoky Canvas, Revlon
  3. Beige Leger, YSL
  4. Fashion, Deborah Lippmann
  5. Glamour Purse, Essiemint milkshake

MINT

  1. Fiver, Butter London
  2. Valley, Topshop
  3. Minty, RGB
  4. Minta Candy Apple, Essie
  5. Minted, Revlonstrawberry shake

STRAWBERRY

  1. Dear Diary, Sephora by OPI
  2. Rose Petal, Dolce & Gabbana
  3. Teddy Girl, Butter London
  4. Penelope, Julep Maven
  5. Ballerina, Chanel Le Verniscoffee shake

CAPPUCCINO

  1. I Need Space, Sephora by OPI
  2. Undercover Nude, MAC
  3. Did you Ear about Van Gogh, OPI
  4. Sand Tropez, Essie
  5. Frenzy, Chanel Le Vernisvanilla shake

VANILLA

  1. Load, Illamasqua
  2. Instant Hot, Essie
  3. Reflection, OPI
  4. Pall Mall, Nails Inc.
  5. Flo Naked, Tom Fordcaramel shake

CARAMEL

  1. Nonfat Soy Half Caff, Sephora by OPI
  2. Muscle Tone, MAC
  3. Tigress, Paul & Joe
  4. Toasted Sugar, Tom Ford
  5. Safari Beige, Dior Vernis

banana shake

BANANA

  1. Bees Knees, Topshop
  2. 15 Minutes, Nars
  3. Sunshine Sparkle, Revlon
  4. Lemon Meringue, Models Own
  5. Why Yellow There, Sephora by OPI

berry shake

BERRIES

  1. Powder Lilac, Anny
  2. Lilac, Dolce & Gabbana
  3. Charming, Revlon
  4. Pilates Hottie, Essie
  5. Speckle, Illamasqua

Strawberry, Vanilla or Caramel? What’s your favorite?

Wishing you a great weekend, sweet kisses…

Illustrations: Ana Sofia Alanis
Image sources:  Selfridges, Chanel, Sephora, Essie, Asos

All texts, illustrations and collages are made by me, it’s forbidden to re-post without previous request (sweetnrawme@gmail.com) and images must link back to this site

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NAIL FILES: I’ll take you to the candy shop…

CANDY SHOP

Hello, hello, my sweet readers! It’s that time of the month, Nail Files time! Once a month, for those of you who are new kids on this block, I like to put a together a themed nail polish selection. It has nothing to do with beauty novelties or trends, it’s just fun to put together and fun for you to read. A little break or detour from all the fashion overdose I’m always giving you. For this Nail Files edition I wanted to do something cheery and colorful, the snow and the terrible weather we’ve been having these days call for some serious pick-me-ups. What’s more colorful than candy? In a very “Willy Wonka gone cute” kind of way, I have put together a sweet, sweet selection of nail enamel, guaranteed to give you a sugar high. Let’s start!

PEPPERMINT CANDY

peppermint candy

  1. Alpine Snow, OPI
  2. Rouge Pop Art 1, YSL
  3. Highland Mist, Scotch
  4. Snap Happy, Essie
  5. Attraction, Chanel

CANDY CORN

candy corn

  1. IM Beauty, Sephora by OPI
  2. Distraction, Chanel
  3. Ivory 108, Dior
  4. Meet me at Sunset, Essie
  5. Lemon Highlander, Scotch

COTTON CANDY

  1. cotton candyTutu, Dior
  2. Havana Dreams, Sephora by OPI
  3. Strawberry Milkshake, Ciaté
  4. Bikini so Teeny, Essie
  5. Tendresse, Chanel

BUBBLEGUM

bubblegum

  1. May, Chanel
  2. Rosy Bow, Dior
  3. Groove is in the Heart, Deborah Lippmann
  4. Jolie Rosalie, Lancome
  5. Seashell Pink, Nars

CANDY HEARTS

candy hearts

  1. Fiver, Butter London
  2. Morning Glory Fizz, Scotch
  3. Blanc Symboliste 26, YSL
  4. Check-up, Essie
  5. Mimosa, Chanel

LICORICE

licorice

  1. Licorice, Essie
  2. Dragon, Chanel
  3. Dark Side of the Moon, Deborah Lippmann
  4. Jungle Red, Nars
  5. Noir Primitif 27, YSL

CHOCOLATE (dark,milk & white)

  1. chocolateChocolate, Dolce & Gabbana
  2. Dune 715, Dior
  3. Load, Illamasqua
  4. Glamour Purse, Essie
  5. Vertigo, Chanel

RUNTS

runts

  1. Tentation, Chanel
  2. Rose Romantique 25, YSL
  3. Yellow Brick Road, Deborah Lippmann
  4. It’s totally Karma, Sephora by OPI
  5. Action, Essie

candy shop

That’s it for the day! The countdown for NYFW has officially begun and we couldn’t be more excited. As always, we are gonna be holding a very special coverage, but this year, it’s gonna be a little different from what I’ve been doing for the past seasons. Are you ready for fashion month?

Sweet kisses…

Illustrations: Ana Sofia Alanis
Image sources: Selfridges, Sephora.com, Essie, Chanel, YSL Beauty

All texts, illustrations and collages are made by me, it’s forbidden to re-post without previous request (sweetnrawme@gmail.com) and images must link back to this site

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NAIL FILES: The Jungle Book

jungle book

Good morning, my sweet readers! It’s been a while since our last Nail Files post so it’s only fair to publish one right now. I’ve had this sitting in the oven for some time. Right now I am leaving for a mountain holiday with my bf’s family, I have my posts armed and ready, so I won’t leave you without reading material (I promise). For all you nail enamel addicts, here it is, wild and fun: THE JUNGLE BOOK!

SEEING SPOTS

leopard print

WILD STRIPES

zebra

PRETTY PYTHON

python

SEE YA LATER, ALLIGATOR!

crocodile

THE SCARLET MACAW

macaw

POSH PANTHER

panther

GEOFFREY THE GIRAFFE

giraffe

Sweet kisses…

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Sweet n’Raw’s X’mas Shopping Guide: LADY BLOOM

lady bloom

Another day, another post! Today I have for you the second part of Sweet n’Raw’s Holiday Shopping Guide. Yesterday, the Francophile got amazing response from all of you and I sure hope that today’s personality gets the same treatment. As I told you before (also, if you didn’t read yesterday’s post), the gift  includes two selections: the pricey one (the splurge) and the affordable one (for us girls on a tight budget).

Today’s personality has two of my favorite things: she dresses like a lady and she is a sucker for flowers (even more so when she finds them printed on a pretty, flared dress). She is into ladylike silhouettes (pencil skirts, bubble dresses, cap sleeves, short jackets). She’s into soft and delicate fabrics (lace, crepe de chine and silk are favorites in her repertoire). She loves bows, she loves embroidery, she loves bold and dramatic colors (nothing tops a violet dress and a rouge pucker).  Her perfumes are spicy, but always on the floral side. She is into lively florals, it’s the Secret Garden all the way. So if you have a friend (or mother, or sister) that matches this description, this is the list you need to be looking out before venturing into tat X’mas shopping spree. Here she is: LADY BLOOM

splurge romantic

  1. Bikini set, Zimmermann
  2. Nail polish selection (Rose Renaissance, Violine Surrealiste, Beige Leger), YSL
  3. Lace jumper, Valentino
  4. Nude Oxfords,
  5. Jasmin Rouge perfume, Tom Ford
  6. Crystal ring, Bijoux Heart
  7. Lace & silk dress, Valentino
  8. Leather scented candle, Assouline
  9. Watersnake sunglasses, Linda Farrow
  10. Floral handbag, Valentino
  11. Crystal statement necklace, Bijoux Heart
  12. Carioca sandals, Charlotte Olympia

steal romantic

  1. Rose violet frame, Urban Outfitters
  2. Nail polish selection (She’s Pampered, I am strong, Lapiz of Luxury, Stylenomics), Essie
  3. Flower textured jumper, New Look
  4. Blue flower ring, Banana Republic
  5. Green statement necklace, Modcloth
  6. Summer Rose perfume, Stella McCartney
  7. Layer dress, BCBG
  8. Crochet doggy, Anne Claire Petit
  9. Glitter bow flats, Faith
  10. Gingerbread man bath & body, Philosophy
  11. T-bar sandals, Zara

I really hope this guide helps you find that special something for that special someone! Two down, a lot more to go! We even have something for the lads cooking in the oven, so be sure to check back!

Have a great day, the weekend is almost here!

Sweet kisses…

Illustrations: Ana Sofia Alanis

 

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Sweet n’Raws X-mas Shopping Guide: THE FRANCOPHILE

the francophile

Hello, hello my sweet readers! December is finally here and it’s definitely starting to feel like Christmas (or like Winter, temperature has really dropped today): the big and bright tree in Piazza Duomo, the lights inside the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, the beautifully decorated windows at the shops in Via Montenapoleone (even if the cold is almost deadly, Milano sure knows how to suit up for the Holidays). As the first parties and dinners start to happen (the one thing I miss about Mexico during this time was the booze-fest me and my friends used to organize every year), so does the shopping. As I told you on Saturday, Sweet n’Raw is armed and ready with a bunch of gift ideas that can help you sort out what to give who. In my Holiday shopping guide you will find that there is everything for every budget: from a $2,000 Chanel vintage bag to a $4.00 lip gloss.

As I mentioned before, Sweet n’Raw’s Christmas shopping guide is personality-inspired. This year, I wanted to think a little bit out of the box, not your usual “rocker chick” “boho chic” kind of guide. I have prepared two selections per personality: the splurge (if you are going all out) and the steal (if you are smart shopping). To get things started, a personality I really identify with: the francophile.

Us francophiles know exactly what “francophile” means. For the rest of you, don’t panic, it’s not a disease (but it is an addiction). A francophile is a non-french individual obsessed with all things gallic. There are many of us out there, we know we are not alone. In fact, I bet you have a friend who dreams about Paris even when she is awake. A friend who dreams of a house in the French countryside. A friend who has read every single expat memoir for sale on Amazon. A friend who, if she had the money and the speediest metabolism in the world, would live on Laduree macarons. In case you wondered, I am all of the above. If you have a sister or a colleague that goes crazy with la France and all that it has to offer, this is the list you need when shopping for her gift. Let’s get started!

splurge pastel

  1. Sea green stone Arty Ring, YSL
  2. Fuchsia gloves, Miu Miu
  3. Pink nail polish selection (Tendresse, May, Ballerina and Rose Exuberant), Chanel Le Vernis
  4. Powder blue vintage bag, Chanel
  5. Mint snakeskin flats, J. Crew
  6. Lace dress, Oscar de la Renta
  7. Detailed jumper, Moschino Cheap & Chic
  8. Glitter sunglasses, Miu Miu
  9. Stripe pajama shirt, Bodas
  10. Santal Blush perfume, Tom Ford
  11. Statement necklace, Erickson Beamon
  12. Pom pom sandals, Charlotte Olympia

steal p

  1. Ballerina flats, ASOS
  2. Essie nail polish selection (Like to be bad, Love and acceptance, Who’s the boss), ASOS
  3. Baby pink satchel, Zatchels
  4. An Extraordinary Theory of Objects book, Stephanie LaCava
  5. Cream dress, Topshop
  6. Ruffle jumper, Romwe
  7. Vanity mirror, Urban Outfitters
  8. Petit Cherie eau de toilette, Annick Goutal
  9. Kitten ring, Modcloth
  10. Ankle-strap heels, Zara

Ready to shop for your wannabe French girlfriend? If you are my friend (or my boyfriend) and you are getting me a Christmas present, this is the post you should be looking at. Need more ideas? A lot more personality-inspired gifts coming your way!

Happy shopping and sweet kisses…

20 days till X-mas!

Illustrations: Ana Sofia Alanis

 

 

 

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SWEET TROUBLE: Pink gets me high as a kite…

When it comes to pink nail polish, I admit it, I am a compulsive shopper. But I am not the cheese who stands alone in this one, I know that for sure (my sister is to nail polish, what Berlusconi is to Viagra).

How many times have you had to explain le boyfriend that the pink Dior is creamier than the Chanel one (even though they look almost the same) and that’s why you need them both.

How many times have you stood before the impressive nail polish line-up at drugstore aisle, trying to decide between barbie pink, candy pink or mauve. After a 30 minute deliberation (the security guard walking around you, eyeing you suspiciously, as a potential shoplifter means you’ve been in there for too long) you decide to take them all along with that neon pink that just caught your eye (even though you promised you would only buy one).

You feel the need to gift yourself Tom Ford’s Private Blend Nail Lacquer set this Christmas (click HERE if you wish to see it, at the risk of feeling greedier than Gollum). You are willing to pay 400 pounds for the box, only if the sales lady agrees to substitute the 16 shades inside with 16 bottles of Indian Pink.

You get your Essie parcel at home, only to discover you bought 15 shades of pink and one coral.

Your Instagram account could easily be mistaken for an OPI catalogue (the pinks and roses section, of course).

Does pink get you high as a kite? Is pink your favorite crayon? Yes, I’m kinda quoting Aerosmith.

If the answer’s yes, I rest my case.

A girl can never have too many bottles of pink nail polish.

Sweet kisses…

Illustration: Ana Sofia Alanis

All texts, illustrations and collages are made by me, it’s forbidden to re-post without previous request (sweetnrawme@gmail.com) and images must link back to this site.

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Sweet n’Raw’s styling sheets: VFNO

Hello, hello my sweet readers! The day is finally here, NYFW is on and today, in most of the world’s biggest cities we get to celebrate fashion. Vogue Fashion’s Night Out has become one of the highlights of the season. VFNO is a night where the streets become ours and the stores even more (even if that Chanel 2.55 will still be out of my budget tonight), a night where bumping into Anna dell Russo is 99% possible (trust me, that happened to me last year and yes, then I followed her around), a night in which even if fashion is not your thing, you get to join the cult (the coolest cult of them all, if you ask me). So before heading out the door with your 5 inch heels and all your fabulousness, I whipped up an outfit that may or may not inspire your VFNO ensemble. Of course, the Jonathan Saunders t-shirt is the main item. Ready?

This little t-shirt is what almost everyone will be wearing tonight and that, most of the time in fashion, is a true crime (someone wearing the same dress you are wearing at the same party, oh God), but not today. Today we get to wear the same t-shirt because we get to put our on spin on it! It’s a celebration of personal style! Some may wear it underneath a tutu dress, some with a biker jacket and a skirt, some with some fierce, printed jeans Me? I went for sequins and tuxedo! I added some leopard and pink because the outfit was just screaming leopard and pink! Here it is:

For all the details on today’s look, go to FASHIOLISTA

  • Card holder: This baby from Smythson fits perfectly inside your fabulous clutch. Don’t forget your ID, your gonna be needing it for the fabulous party you will be attending after!
  • Camera: sometimes the iPhone is not enough. You outfit, the people you meet, the fabulous thing you’ll see are camera  worth. Even if it doesn’t fit inside the bag, it’s a must!
  • Mints: fresh breath and no chewing, you’ll be needing it after one to many champagne flutes.
  • Note pad and a pen always come in handy! Need to make some notes for a post? Need to remember what you saw? Need to give out your digits to some hunky male model? Thank me later!
  • iPhone with a fab cover: Swash, that’s all we need to say… Oh and Instagram too!
  • Hot pink lips: hey, it’s a night about fun and bright lips are fun!
  • Blush and brush: Keep you cheekbones picture perfect with Nars Orgasm, this baby never leaves my bag
  • Body butter: I’m the ultimate moisturize junkie! If I know I’m gonna be flashing my legs, I like to keep them shiny at all times! Bliss body butter kills it!
  • Black eyeliner: party lips need party eyes!

That’s it! Now we are ready to go! Tomorrow we will be starting the runway coverage so stay tuned!

Sweet kisses and happy Fashion Week…

Illustration: Ana Sofia Alanis
Image sources: ASOS, Gap, Farfetch, Net-a-porter, Essie
 

All texts, illustrations and collages are made by me, it’s forbidden to re-post without previous request (sweetnrawme@gmail.com) and images must link back to this site

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The Goodbye Summer/Hello Fall Mash-up: Flowers and lace

Afternoon, my sweet readers! August is almost over and so is my Summer, with the bf back in Italy and only two weeks left with my family, I’m starting to feel the nostalgia. God, time sure flies when you are having a good time. Anyway, back to what concerns us, fashion. As you probably know, we are in the middle of our season transition series, the Goodbye Summer / Hello Fall mash-up. Going from a season to another is much more fun (at least for me) than the start of a new one. Why? Because you get to play with the trends from both Spring and Fall, it’s the best of both worlds! Today I combined two trends that ooze romance and beauty, Spring’s vivid florals and Fall’s lovely lace. To me, the result of mixing them both is just a match made in heaven. And yes, to make things even more beautiful, I threw in a peplum (it was around for Spring and it’s even stronger for Fall). So without further ado, let’s start dissecting so we can later proceed to mash them both up.

  • THE TREND: Vivid Florals
  • Season: Spring 2012
  • As seen in: Preen, Erdem, Docle & Gabbana, Mary Katrantzou, Balmain (pictured)
  • Key wardrobe pieces: Nothing like a blooming dress and a chiffon blouse

Flowers are a constant in fashion but on Spring it was all about the real deal. No, not about making a bra out of real peonies but about the prints, prints so vivid and beautiful that they almost looked alive. And since we are not ready to give up this pretty trend, brace yourself for the Fall florals, the baroque ones (thank you Domenico and Stefano).

The selection: Sneakers, WET SEAL / Blouse, ROMWE / Dress, TED BAKER / Pants, TED BAKER / Boots, JEFFREY CAMPBELL / Bralet, TOPSHOP / Bag, DOLCE & GABBANA

  • THE TREND: Lovely lace
  • The season: Fall 2012
  • As seen in: Colette Dinnigan, Erdem (pictured), Lanvin
  • Key wardrobe pieces: the shorts, the jumper, the pencil skirt and the blouse

Lace is definitely one of my all-time favorite trends, I’m always happy to see it on the runway. I’m even more happy when I see retailers carrying a great variety of garments made with this ladylike and sexy fabric. This coming season won’t be the exception. One of the major trends we got to see on fashion week was the lace blouse with a different collar and the pencil skirt. J’adore!

The selection: Dress, TOPSHOP / Bodysuit, NORMA KAMALI / Blouse, FAITH CONNEXION / Shorts, ROMWE / Clutch, ASOS / Skirt, HAUTE HIPPIE / Shoes, CHARLOTTE OLYMPIA / Jumper, ISABEL MARANT

For me, playing around with textures and prints feels like I’m a kid and I just got a new toy. The key: never be afraid to try. You won’t know if you’ll like it until you wear it so start experimenting. I paired up a pair of vivid floral jeans with a blazer. To give it a twist, the hard lace top with the peplum and the pumps to add up some spice. What do you think? Oh, and about that Rebecca Minkoff carved satchel… It’s the ultimate dreamboat!

For all the details on today’s look, go to FASHIOLISTA

That’s a wrap for today! And remember, Fashion Week is just around the corner!

Sweet kisses…

Illustrations: Ana Sofia Alanis
Image sources: STYLE.COM, ASOS, Nasty Gal, River Island, Rebecca Minkoff, Essie
 

All texts, illustrations and collages are made by me, it’s forbidden to re-post without previous request (sweetnrawme@gmail.com) and images must link back to this site

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NAIL FILES: Farmer’s Market

Good morning my sweet readers! It’s finally Friday and Friday calls for a fun and simple post. Each month, around the 24th, I publish what has become a regular on Sweet’n'Raw, the Nail Files. If you are new to the site, it’s a themed nail polish compilation that includes the hottest shades of the moment from your favorite brands. Ans since we always give this posts that cute twist (think rainbow, berries, candy and macaron), this time I wanted to go fresh. What’s fresher than fresh produce (pardon the redundancy), right? So here it goes, Sweet’n'Raw’s veggie-inspired, nail enamel selection. Enjoy!

GARDEN CUCUMBERS

  1. Bossy Boots, BUTTER LONDON
  2. Navigate her, ESSIE
  3. Celtic Mix, SCOTCH
  4. Green Flash, MODELS OWN

BABY CARROTS

  1. Coral Blame, TOM FORD
  2. Atomic Orange, OPI
  3. Paisley attention to me, SEPHORA by OPI
  4. Meet me at the sunset, ESSIE

CURLY KALE

  1. Hunter, AMERICAN APPAREL
  2. Beetlejuice, MODELS OWN
  3. I come in peas, SEHORA by OPI
  4. Kink, ILLAMASQUA

HEIRLOOM TOMATOES

  1. Holiday, CHANEL
  2. Pom Pom, CIATÉ
  3. Clambake, ESSIE
  4. A roll in the hague, OPI

RED BEETS

  1. Macbeths Dream, SCOTCH
  2. Tentation, CHANEL
  3. Disco Biscuit, BUTTER LONDON
  4. Super Bossa Nova, ESSIE

GLOBE EGGPLANTS

  1. Chelsea, NAILS INC.
  2. Purple Rain, ESTEE LAUDER
  3. Damsel in a dress, ESSIE
  4. Flo Viper, TOM FORD

WHITE ONIONS

  1. Amazing Grace, DEBORAH LIPPMANN
  2. Marshmallow, ESSIE
  3. Highland Mist, SCOTCH
  4. Attraction, CHANEL

Ready for a night out? It’s Friday, time to let our hair down! So, which shade is your favorite one? I think I’m gonna go Red Beets today, you?

Bottoms up and sweet kisses…

Illustrations: Ana Sofia Alanis
Image sources: Deborah Lippman, Sephora, Selfridges, Essie, Scotch Minerals, Nails INC.
 

All texts, illustrations and collages are made by me, it’s forbidden to re-post without previous request (sweetnrawme@gmail.com) and images must link back to this site

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SUMMER GETAWAYS 2012: The Jet-set Junkie (evening)

Good Thursday, my sweet readers. The weekend is just around the corner and as days keep passing by, Summer’s end is near. This is the last post from our Summer Getaways series, after almost two months of destination and occasion-inspired ensembles. We are closing up with our Jet-set junkie. So if you are still on the chic French coast, if Porto Cervo is on the menu today, if you are happily stranded on an island of the Caribbean and you need the perfect look to party, you’ve come to the right place. As you probably have noticed by now, I rarely use black for my compositions but when I saw the shoes, it was love at first sight. Along came the playsuit and it was a match made in heaven. Let’s see the complete look:

  • Structured playsuits give out both, classy and sexy vibes.
  • If the romper has a plunging neckline and no embellishments or details, add a statement necklace (one that looks like part of the whole thing, not the star of it).
  • Quilted shoulder bags are the perfect complement for this type of outfit.
  • For the nails, add some berry nail polish for a sassy twist. This one is form Essie’s Fall 2012 collection and I think it’s a must-have for the coming season.
  • Pull your hair into a side ponytail to make it clean and primp.

WHAT PEARL WOULD WEAR

For all the details on today’s look, go to FASHIOLISTA

It’s a wrap everyone! From tomorrow on, we’ll be tackling the new season and bidding farewell to the current one. Also, the official countdown for Fashion Week has just begun, so brace yourselves for a September packed with new trends and lots of fashion!

Sweet kisses…

Illustrations: Ana Sofia Alanis
Image sources: ASOS, The Outnet, Modcloth, Essie, Max & Chloe
 

All texts, illustrations and collages are made by me, it’s forbidden to re-post without previous request (sweetnrawme@gmail.com) and images must link back to this site

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