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The  gift basket business is steadily booming largely because the number of home based businesses is continuously increasing.   According to statistics, the industry is worth approximately 3.5 billion dollars a year. Although many traditional flower shops also sell gift baskets and there are many basket shops around the States and Canada, this business is ideally suited as a home-based business. Creating gift baskets is one of the fastest growing types of businesses today that you can start from home. The advantage of starting  your business from home is that you can have the freedom to operate as you see fit and design it to flow around your lifestyle and family life. Since the gift baskets will be assembled in and shipped directly out of your home, the space you have and the amount of money you want to make will decide how long you will be able to work out of your home. If you have a large garage to work in versus an 8×10 bedroom, it will make a difference in how much business you will seek out and how long you can remain a home based gift basket business.

To start off your gift basket business from home with a bang, once you have set up your work area, created your marketing tools: your website, your brochures and your business cards;  let your creative juices flow to plan a grand opening of your gift basket business from home that will attract everyone`s attention and everyone will know that you are now open for business and eager to make beautiful quality gift baskets for all.

You will get more bang out of your grand opening by positioning it before a major gift basket rush holiday.  For example, starting a shop in October would be perfect for a Christmas  Rush. Consider your home based business  Grand Opening as a gradual process where you will do a series of activities to spark attention in the community.

Kick off the publicity week by sending a press release to all the local media.  You need to come up with a newsworthy situation that will be of interest to the media while spreading your name in a positive way.  Perhaps you will be visiting people in hospitals and  donating holiday gift  baskets to bring cheer. Maybe you will be visiting a local old age home to bring gift baskets for the residents who don`t receive any visitors at Christmas…. You get the idea…Use your creativity and come up with something that you would enjoy doing, would be proud of and that will get the word out about your business.

Since you will be in operation out of your home, you probably don`t want swarms of people in your home and don`t necessarily want to have a visit by the mayor and ribbon cutting.  But there are other ways to get out into the community and make it your storefront. For starters, I would highly encourage you to be part of your local Chamber of Commerce or local Economic Development Association.

Through the Chamber of Commerce, you will most likely have access to events and occasions such as Business After Five or some other type of members and non-member occasions. There, you can present yourself and your business in motel ballrooms,  board rooms or community halls.

Home Shows, Christmas Gift Shows, Flea Markets, Fairs, Home Business Shows, Penny Sales, any kind of local activity that screams community presence….is a perfect occasion to create an attractive display to showcase your goods, show the community what you can do and  distribute pamphlets, business cards.  This will also allow you to meet countless people and spread the word about your new gift basket business.  Bring along an assistant or family member to cut the monotony of being stuck in a gym for 8 hrs and to help you out, especially in moral support.

Demonstrations are another great way to  attract a lot of attention to yourself and your business. You can establish yourself as a local expert by doing this at shows, in community halls or in schools. You could do a 30 minute demonstration at a show on how to make a pretty basket for Christmas Gift Giving. Make sure to give out your cards and pamphlets at any event like this..Also make sure to call the media in order to ensure that someone will be there to take a picture. Sooner or later by participating in these type of events, photographers and reporters will be flocking around you and you will be in local newspapers and maybe even local TV and radio programs.

Here are other ideas to get your gift basket business from home off to a remarkable start.

1. Have a contest. People love contests.  For Christmas and New Year, you could host a contest that will be well featured in the media.  Maybe it will be advertised through a local radio station or through a local newspaper and you will have ballot boxes in many stores around town. Draw a Basket of The Month Package which includes a $40 basket a month for a year.  Make sure to have a simultaneous campaign to sell the same monthly basket package where the recipient receives a basket every month for a whole year…whether it be a fruit basket, a fruit and candy basket, a gourmet basket or a health food basket.

2. On your website, you could have a separate contest where you draw a basket a month online so you get people to sign up to your sales and newsletter mailings.  Make sure your website is displaying your product line in an attractive manner. Include  prices variations of each product in small, medium and large versions of your baskets for increased sales.

3. Place low cost classified ads in your community newspapers, everyone looks at those…or almost.

4. Network with other businesses such as restaurants, hotels, real estate offices, hospitals, schools, daycares, wedding planners and so on, tell them you have gift baskets for any occasion.

5. Distribute pamphlets to local businesses, especially where people will have time on their hand while waiting for their appointment such as at the hairdressers, the doctor`s office, the chiropractors or optometrist.

To find more information on how to start a home based gift basket business check out my Squidoo pages.

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Source by Sofia Rodriguez

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So you want to send a gift basket or two in appreciation but you don’t want to shell out the $50 to $100 a piece?  Here’s one money saving answer to your dilemma ~ Just Send a Can!

At present, conventional gift baskets are the widely accepted standard for signifying personal appreciation and for the remembrance of many holidays and special occasions.  Gift baskets can contain a variety of goodies, edible and otherwise, and they’ve been around forever.  Unfortunately, gift baskets can quickly become prohibitively expensive, especially when you need to purchase a gift basket for several customers or a special group of people.  Low end gift baskets like those with little soaps and teddy bears can start out at around $30 and by the time you add the shipping costs to your order… well, you know.  You can certainly purchase much more expensive gift baskets with the usual array of food items like wine, sausages, cheese and jams which are yummy, (or maybe not),  but guess what… The price for those gift baskets skyrockets toward or past the $100 mark along with the increasingly higher shipping fees for these tasty but heavyweight delicacies.  If you have ten people on your gift basket list, your last name had better be Trump.  Not to worry, you do have a unique and inexpensive option.

Enter… The Gift Cans!

New, exciting and fresh!  Every bit as appreciated and welcomed as its pricier hemp enhanced predecessor , gift cans are quickly becoming the compact, avant-garde alternative to that already well respected and timeless offering, the gift basket.  You might say, “It’s just a tin can”.  But is it really?  We think not!  These decorative containers can actually bear your special messages, sometimes inside, sometimes outside on their colorful gift can labels.  A gift can’s label is usually bright and cheerful and the label’s bold text spells out the exact reason for the giving of these unique and thoughtful gifts.  Also, a gift can is useful after the fact, is a decorative piece in and of itself and with its small footprint takes up little space to display.  Remember…by typing the words “Inexpensive Gift Cans” into your browser you will find gift cans you can afford to send to lots of your friends.

Here are some FAQ’s:

Will gift cans hold as many goodies as gift baskets?     Some gift cans are large, like gallon paint cans and can easily hold as many items as the largest gift basket.  Other gift cans are smaller and less expensive to purchase, fill and ship.  What you choose to fill gift cans with is only limited to the size of the interior of the gift can.  Here is where you can save some serious money because big gift cans might cost several times as much as their little brothers.

Can gift cans be personalized?     Gift cans are always personalized to one degree or another.  All gift cans have labels that make mention of the specific holiday or special occasion for which they were purchased.  Some gift cans may carry your special message on a note placed inside the sealed can.  Great gift cans take personalization a step further by allowing you to add a name or sometimes even your own special message to the outside of the gift can, laser printed right on the label for all to see. 

What products come in gift cans?     Gift cans are just like gift baskets in that you can get gift cans packed with many different goodies or you can buy them empty and stuff them yourself.  As with gift baskets, pre-packed gift cans come filled with your choice of a variety of items from cookies to teddy bears.  The more items you choose, the pricier the gift cans and the shipping costs.

Are gift cans inexpensive?     Just like gift baskets, gift cans come in an assortment of sizes and prices.  General speaking, gift cans are inexpensive when compared with their woven counterparts because of the difference in cost between a can and a basket.  Just type “Inexpensive Gift Cans” into your browser to find the best gift can deals.

How do I ship a gift can?     Most likely you won’t be doing the shipping unless you are buying empty cans with the intention of filling them with something personally unique and unavailable to the gift can vendor.  It is best to leave the shipping in the hands of the gift can vendor.  He has the appropriate packaging materials and the availability of a number of shipping services from UPS to US Mail at his fingertips.  This also takes all the work out of sending any gift.

Are gift cans available for all holidays and special occasions?     Some web sites offer a simple selection of gift cans limited to major holidays and special occasions which helps keep their costs low.  You will usually find your best deals on gift cans at these sites.   There are gift can sites that offer much larger selections.  Navigating these sites is a bit like reading a Mexican restaurant menu with so much to choose from.  Here you will find whatever you want minus the beans and rice.

What do recipients of gift cans do with their gift cans after they receive them?     Once someone has opened a gift can and removed its contents, the gift can could become one of a number of useful and decorative items.  At the very least, gift cans become colorful 3-D mementos of the special occasion they were given for.  As such, gift cans will usually be kept and displayed in places like bookshelves, office desks and fireplace mantels where traditional gift baskets don’t easily fit.  A gift can might also be used for utilitarian purposes as a decorative canister in which to place a dried flower arrangement, pens and pencils or kitchen utensils as a few examples.  One of the smaller gift cans available on line actually comes with its own coin bank lid which when attached, transforms these particular gift cans into useful, personalized change banks.  Two gifts in one!

Finally, gift cans are a gender neutral offering.  You can give these to both male and female recipients’ without fear of causing GBES, (Gift Basket Emasculation Syndrome).

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Source by Donald Wood

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In the recent times, Valentines Day Gift Baskets have gained tremendous popularity. A gift basket loaded with the goodies your friends shall always love to be gifted is both appealing and exciting. This is more because a specially wrapped gift basket shall add a touch of uniqueness to any gift that makes it special for the receiver.

This type of gift basket is very much dependent upon the person to whom it is going to be gifted. For example, if there is something favorite that you know about the recipient you can easily include it in the gift hamper. Handmade gift baskets shall include items fro children or other relations as well as occasions. Some of the common Valentine Day Gift Baskets could be Chocolate hampers or Bath gift baskets etc.

Chocolate gift hamper can include some best chocolates and sweets for a great gift basket. It could be a variety of milk and dark chocolates, creams, caramels or nut filled chocolates that shall be a delight for chocolate lovers.

For those you are fond of wine could be presented with a wine gift basket. It can include an exotic collection of wines and champagnes for the particular season along with a variety of cookies, jellies, cakes, candles, chocolate sticks and other cream biscuits.

If you wish to gift something to your girlfriend then you can present a Bath gift basket with toiletries such as natural soaps, herbal body scrub, herbal massage oil and candles. In the same way you can gift a male friend with men’s toiletries.

In case you want to gift something to the children then you can include items such as crayons, books, stuffed bear or other dolls to make a great gift basket. There are many creative ways in which you can create great gift ideas at your home with little efforts and skills.

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Source by Olivia Andrews

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History has it that the Romans had a rich culture of arts & crafts. The Romans keen enthusiasm made them create timeless pieces of crafts using dyeing, basket making, weaving, woodturning, cooking iron working and metal casting. Today too basket making is practiced but with more variations and details. Basket making for those who know it is an event in itself. Incase you too want to get up close with this art then it is better that we 1st learn the different types of types and methods of basket making. Enlisted here are few details that would be vital to start this art:

1. Let’s first learn some fundamental terms:

· Weaver: In here there are basket strands which have holes through which weaving is done, these are normally light, slimmer & more flexible as compared to spokes, this features allows for weaving inside out to take place.

· Spoke: In here the strands stands erect and form the support system of the basket; Spoke are rigid in nature compared to weavers & strong too.

· Inner & Upper weaving: This technique is the most common of all because it is the most simplest.

2. It must be known that double weaving is quite the same thing but there are two weavers implied for the job. This type of weaving is ideal on big surfaces, it is good for bands or designs of similar or dissimilar color on plain type of rattan baskets.

3. Keep in mind that pairing can be done with either even or odd number of spokes. 2 weavers are used behind 2 succeeding spokes, thereafter they make a cross between them, in this process the weavers change each time.

4. How to notice a triple twist. In here 3 weavers are there behind 3 successive spokes, beginning from back one, then above two & lastly the lesser spoke, each of these while going back of third spoke on being laid above other two weavers.

5. COILING: This method requires a group of strands or slim rods is sewed within round form having a slim, bendable element to make coiled baskets. There are numerous variations of stitching methods like interweaving multi-colored strands and copper, golden or silver metallic strands could be used for added attractiveness.

6. TWINING: Even in this method 2 or more bendable items can be used to join some other base element. Whenever 2 weavers work simultaneously, the method is known as pairing. Similarly when 3 or in access of 3 elements are curved it is known as waling. Many variations can be done just by binding rows hardly one row over the other or else by letting the warp be open, leaving a warp crossed, twining plain, wrapping the warp, among others.

7. WEAVING: There are two essentials in woven baskets. The 1st being unbendable spokes that form a warp & 2nd being additionally soft elements that are woven inside to outside so that a weft is formed.

8. PLAITING: The process of stitching similar elements together is known as Plaiting. Weavers & stakes are the same materials. The two are woven to cojoin at right hand angles in vertical, horizontal and diagonal orientation in simple or twill weaves. Plaiting can be done in either closed work or open checker-work.

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Source by Angela Smith

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Given the state of today’s economy, as well as the current unemployment rate, there will be many who will find it necessary to cut back on Christmas expenses this year. Chances are, there is at least one person on your Christmas list that is currently unemployed. Deciding what to give this person may be a difficult decision for some. An expensive, frivolous gift that they may not get much use out of is probably not a good decision. For the person who is currently unemployed, a thoughtful, more practical gift will likely be much more appreciated. Here are a few suggestions:

•Everybody loves to greet their friends and family with a fresh Christmas wreath hung on the door! In addition, a Christmas wreath can help bring joy and Christmas spirit to the person who may find it necessary to cut corners on Christmas this year. The person who is unemployed this season will likely not spend money on Christmas decorations.

•Buy them a gift certificate or tickets for some fun event or entertainment that their whole family can enjoy. If they love movies buy a gift certificate to the movies, skating,
sports events are all things they wouldn’t treat themselves to which would be a real treat for them. Also, gift certificates to restaurants are always a great gift.

•Buy a large, useful container, such as a laundry basket or trashcan, and fill it with everyday items. You may also include a few snacks or pampering items they may not think to buy for themselves, such as a package of fresh herbal tea, or some relaxing bath oils or candles.

•Take Christmas to them this year. Bring a little excitement and joy to what might be a bit of a depressing season for them this year. Load up your car with Christmas essentials, such as decorations, Christmas music, cookie or candy making supplies, and a bright, cheerful smile, and haul it all over to their home for some Christmas fun. You could even tie a tree to the top of your vehicle.!

•Think of a creative way to give them money, such as tied to the branches of a money tree. While some may consider a simple gift of money to not have much thought behind it, it may be the most thoughtful gift you could give to the person on your list that is currently unemployed.

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Source by Karen Jebbia

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A nice gift basket will definitely bring a cute and big smile on your partner’s face and in return you will just feel out of the world. The main thing to keep in mind is that you must stuff the Valentines Day gift Basket with perfect and reserving gifts that can set the day on fire. ifting a yoga class to your near and dear ones means your concern and care for their health and well being. Many instances people want to give a try to this but might be ended up postponing it regularly. When it came as a gift by you, they definitely feel this precious and feel like their dreams come true with the help of your gift.

A sexy present that you could both enjoy is lingerie. It doesn’t have to be expensive, heck it can come from the discount store, but it should be pretty. Anything red, pink, lacy, satiny, gauzy, or delicate is a winner. You might want to peek at her clothing size before you make a purchase though. These gifts are constantly rolling across your TV screens and there are many companies out there just waiting to take your order. Order by mail, over the phone, on the internet, or in person. You can even put one of these together yourself for a fraction of the costs.

By now you will undoubtedly be aware of your partner’s interests and particular strain of geekery, and thus you need to base your Valentine’s Day gifts around those interests. This shows your loved one that you’re well versed in what they like and that you care. Portable units are typically designed for temporary use, meaning they can be set up and used for a few months as needed, and then easily disassembled or collapsed and stored during the off season. Many portable greenhouses are ideally sized to fit on a small deck or patio, which can be great for townhome dwellers who don’t have any green space they can call their own.

These are available in various styles ranging from classical to modern. They are available in many exciting designs and you can select the ones to complement the wearers dressing style. The most common is the classical style in solid sterling silver. It is very flashy and stylish and has never been out of fashion since their inception. Some stores will charge you a small fee to deliver it to the receiver. The charge usually consists of handling and shipping. It may take hours or a day for your gift to reach the receiver based on the delivery store you make use of.

It will be a fascinating moment if you will present your lover with an attractive and beautiful collage of the photographs of you two. Trust me girls, this can be very beautiful if you know for sure that he is from head to heal in love with you. This kind of unique Valentines Day Gift. A lot of men like receiving Valentine’s Day gifts which they can relate to. For example, you can buy books or magazines for those who love reading, music CDs for those inclined to music and clothes for who love dressing well.

As weird as it may seem, if your guy is walking down the street and someone asks him what time it is, for a brief moment he will feel special and needed. A nice watch will also make him feel confident. With so many colors and styles to choose from, you will have to do a little investigating for this one too. Gift vouchers may not be the most innovative option but it is special all the same, as it gives the recipient the gift of choice and freedom to buy anything. Food coupons, life style and apparel vouchers make ideal for that special someone. They may be accompanied with other gifts like flowers, cakes or wine.

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Source by Benson Rudd

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Each Christmas holiday season, we may face a difficult task: purchasing Christmas gifts for family and friends. When it comes to buying for the boss, you may feel puzzle that how to approach it. You don’t have to get some expensive Christmas gifts for him/her, but it is just a nice gesture to show your boss you care and are thankful for them. Here are a few Christmas <a target=”_new” rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:ga(‘send’, ‘pageview’, ‘/outgoing/article_exit_link/3473108’);” href=”http://www.newgiftbag.com/”> gift ideas</a> for the boss who is hard to buy for.

It seems like most bosses like to golf. If your boss is also a golfer, buy him personalized golf balls for Christmas gift would be a hit. Print his name on these balls, but something you should notice that make sure these golf balls are really in good quality.

Calendar always is every boss’ necessity. A personalized calendar is one of great Christmas <a target=”_new” rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:ga(‘send’, ‘pageview’, ‘/outgoing/article_exit_link/3473108′);” href=”http://www.newgiftbag.com/”> gift ideas</a>. You can look for a calendar has pictures of his interest or some motivate quotes. A unique idea would be try to make your own one. You can collect all the employees’ photos with different expressions of them working. Then use online software to create a special calendar as his Christmas gift.

Another one of <a target=”_new” rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:ga(‘send’, ‘pageview’, ‘/outgoing/article_exit_link/3473108’);” href=”http://www.newgiftbag.com/”> unique gift ideas</a> is gourmet food and drink baskets. Gift baskets seem never go wrong with any occasions. So select some gourmet items that your boss favorite, gather them together in a nice basket. Now there are so many choices of gift basket in the market, or you can make your own one. But never forget that wrap with a card in it. You can only write: merry Christmas together with your signature.

At last, you should remember that keep the gift simple and appropriate. Your boss will appreciate your thoughtful mind.

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Source by newgiftbag

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It doesn’t matter that whether you and your boyfriend have been together for so long or not, you should focus your search for boyfriend gift ideas to just a few areas to begin with though. He still deserves a gift from you on his birthday, the idea of Boyfriend birthday gift are really great way in order to patch up a relationship at more warm level. If you start looking at too many different things you will find it harder to pick a good one and might even run out of time before the big day! If you are an intelligent gift selector, you can easily find a gift of his desires. As he celebrates his birthday, he typically expects something from you.

If you are thinking about his likes and dislikes then just think if he likes any particular sport or game, if he is a big fan of NASCAR you might even be able to get him a stock car driving experience. Give him something romantic for his birthday. If your boyfriend is sentimental then you could gift him flowers and if he likes the mushy stuff there are also a lot of different cute boyfriend gift ideas.

If you find flowers are only for women then you are wrong, he’ll probably never forget such day if you gift him a flower gift. To find the perfect boyfriend gift you need to take into account your boyfriends interests. If you would like to put on some efforts in order to select a gift then you might cook for him as well and then invite him for a dinner for two. If he is someone who likes sports, then tickets to a ball game or sports apparel might not be a bad choice.

Give him something that he wanted to own from a long time, it is always good to choose a boyfriend birthday gift that he is truly likes. No matters you need boyfriend birthday gift ideas or any other event ideas the first thing you need to decide is how much money you are willing to spend on this gift item. If he likes to own gadgets then you can get him something that he would truly love to have. If however, money is an issue you will have to be a little more creative. If he is a car lover you can buy something for his car.

If you are on the wilder side of imagination then you can give him something intimate yet an amusing gift. If money isn’t a concern and you just want to find something special and unique for your then you just need to find something that you think he will like. There are a lot of choices to think for so you need to just find the best one that can match your feelings of boyfriend gift, don’t get lost with all of the stores and online sites that you can search. The idea of a traditional gift basket is also nice you can fill it with sweets or personalized toiletries of his or your choice.

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Source by Anand

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Anniversary is always an occasion to celebrate togetherness and your bond of love. The tradition of celebrating anniversaries began in medieval times.  There is no better way to express your love for the beloved than giving the perfect gift. First anniversary is always a unique experience but this does not make the second or third one less important, rather every year brings itself more understanding and maturity. Most people get stuck with gift ideas for second wedding anniversary because they have now known the person for a longer duration and want to gift them something which is endearing.

The gift theme for second wedding anniversary is generally cotton and china. Cotton represents practicality, flexibility and durability, while China denotes beauty and elegance. They are both traditional concepts yet modern themes. Generally by the time couples reach the phase of second anniversary they become quite familiar with the habits and instincts of their soul mate. So gifting something which explains sensibility and grace makes a great gift.

With respect to cotton there is a wide range of products available. Buying something pertaining to your partner’s interest is a good idea. We can give shirts or jersey of their favorite teams or something that can be worn in the evening dinner on the anniversary day. Monogrammed or personalized towels, photo pillow, blankets, quilts, cotton robes and lingerie all make great gifts. To add an emotional touch we can write poetry or a love song inside the gift wrap.

China is a more modern gift. It is difficult to find a suitable gift for husbands which fits this theme because china is something which is more preferable for ladies. But the items made of china makes a great gift which the couples can cherish in their home for a very long time. It can be china dishes, vases, figurines or sculpture, and pen and pencil, keepsake boxes or photo albums made of china. Gifting a combination of both china and cotton is also a pleasant idea. Like a china vase having handmade cotton flowers. A Poem written on cotton cloth decorated in a china frame. With respect to the gift ideas for second wedding anniversary it is said that the more personalized gift you give the stronger your bond grows.

Gem Stones and Flowers are some of the traditional gifts which can go on any anniversary. Garnet is the official birthstone adopted by American National Association of Jewelers in 1912. Garnet may be given as a Gem on the 2nd and 6th wedding anniversary. Traditionally it is said that garnet has powers of healing and providing strength to a relationship. It is also believed to regulate the heart and blood flow and for curing depression. Some time ago, Garnets were exchanged as gifts between friends to show their love for each other and was symbolic of the idea that they will meet again.

Generally the color of the second anniversary is Lenin white, which represents calmness and awareness regarding the transition. Another way to make this day to memories is to pack a straw basket with lots of goodies, and take it along on a long drive or picnic in the countryside.

Every wedding anniversary is special and personal. Gift ideas for second wedding anniversary require the same spirit and love the way we found our first anniversary gift. It does not matter which anniversary we have reached, what matters is the affection and understanding level we have gained.

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Source by Fem Mascenon