The year I QUIT leggings

Okay, opinions aside with all this ‪#‎leggingsarenotpants‬ talk... let me take you back a to a few years of my life when I LIVED in them all winter long.
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After Nate and I got married, I started a slow & steady weight gain.. we'll call it the "newly-wed 15," but honestly it was more like 20 pounds- and on a 5'3" frame that was pretty significant. But this post-white dress, newly wed bliss weight gain is something I think a lot of women can relate to.
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I became so ashamed at how I neglected myself that I began to use my clothing to HIDE... the weight... the expanding curves.. and ultimately, my insecurity.
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I had tons of pants sitting in my closet that I didn't wear because either they wouldn't fit over my butt/hips (hello, hour glass frame) OR because I was so self conscious about my muffin top. -----> In came the "leggings phase" of my life.... I wore them initially because they were trendy and comfy, but eventually they became my method of concealing & all I wore...
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Last fall, I took charge of my health, fitness & over-all wellness.. I made the DECISION to try something different. I was NERVOUS that it would be too hard. I was nervous I would quit. I was nervous I'd waste money. BUT, I needed SO desperately to find my confidence again. I NEEDED to get rid of the sick-to-my-stomach feeling I had on occasion when I was intimate with my husband (keeping it real, girls). I wanted to go in my closet and throw on my PANTS for goodness sake!
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So, I got T25 and shakeology, I synced up with a coach and joined an online accountability group. I checked in with my coach every Sunday & STUCK WITH IT for 8 weeks ----> through early morning work outs.. through traveling ... CHOOSING to saying NO to dinner party food and wedding reception snacks and weekend drinks.. I ENVISIONED what sticking with it would look and even FEEL like & that's what fueled me!
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Nearly 60 days later, I finished T25/shakeology/healthy eating... and I lost 3.PANT.SIZES. I cried when I tried on pants that STILL didn't fit.. because they were too big. I felt SO healthy, STRONG and confident.. I felt proud of myself ---> and that meant so much to me.
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So yes, leggings are great & I wear them [[the right way wink emoticon kidding.. ]].. but I'm not TRAPPED in them.. I'm not HIDING anything..
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This may not speak to the masses, but that's okay. My hope is to be a LIGHT of hope and promise to a FEW. You CAN change your circumstances.. and I'd like to help you. Be free, be proud ladies. Love yourself

Click here to learn more about my health & wellness accountability groups!

Master Bedroom Update on a Budget!

Here's the promised post about our master bedroom update {on a budget}!!

So if you know me well, you know that I LOVE all things pottery barn, restoration hardware, crate and barrel & so on. BUT, as much as I love the looks of their furniture and design, we're just simply not at a place in our life that we can afford that kind of bedroom update.. and if I'm being totally honest, I don't think I could bring myself to pay that much even IF we had the $$.

So let me clue you in on where I HUNT for quality items at a lower price. Just know that you MUST be willing to take your time looking for what you want and do your research on how it's made, but it's so worth it!!

These are my GO TO places to hunt for furniture and home decor!

Ross

TJ Maxx

Target

Groopdealz.com

Overstock

Not only did these stores & sites help us update our bedroom, but the majority of my house the past couple of years!

Here was my original inspiration with a heavy price tag::

Gorgeous, right???

I was envisioning something simple, with clean lines, a little rustic, slightly mismatched & a smidge romantic.

I wanted something I could create with a few pieces and add to over time or swap out bits & pieces as I felt like it.

Here is where we're at now!

I want you to know that wall color can make a HUGE difference in how your room looks- it can make your furniture look different in color and your room appear LARGER.

The house we just recently moved into was built over the summer and by the time we found it, the walls were already painted. I have to say that I'm not much of a tan gal myself, don't love the yellow undertones, but I can work with them! I chose items that would work in the room we have now, with the paint color that was there, but that will also transition into our next home with walls the color I choose- probably a faint grey!

So let's get down to the nitty gritty.

I'm going to show you what we wanted & what we ended up finding!

What We Wanted

(Pottery Barn, $1299, link HERE)

What We Got

(Overstock.com, less than $400, link HERE)

What We Wanted:

(Restoration Hardware, $796 each, link HERE)

What We Got:

(Overstock.com, $139 each, link HERE)

What We Wanted:

(Crate and Barrel, $170, link HERE)

What We Got:

(Overstock.com, $59..plus I got an additional % off, link HERE)

What We Wanted:

(Pottery Barn, $140 each, link HERE)

What We Got:

(TJ Maxx STORE, $40 each WITH shade.. no link,

but they always have a version of the mercury lamps on the shelves!)

What We Wanted:

(Pottery Barn, $249 each, link HERE)

What We Got:

(Target, $25 each, link HERE)

What We Wanted:

(Pottery Barn, $49, link HERE)

(Pottery Barn, $35, link HERE)

What We Got:

(groopdealz.com for the monogrammed case $15

Ross STORE for the faux fur, pattern lumbar and round tufted pillow- all under $12 each)

What We Wanted:

(Restoration Hardware, $159, link HERE)

What We Got:

(Target, $45, link HERE)

What We Wanted:

(Pottery Barn, $49, link HERE)

What We Got:

(TJ Maxx, $10, no link, but they carry

these in store ALL the time)

FYI::The little trinkets like candles, moss balls, picture frames, etc were from TJ Maxx and Target!

Friends, you don't have to dump mega bucks into a room to make it beautiful! Hop on to pinterest or some of your favorite websites to draw inspiration- save photos in one place. Then slowly start looking at other websites for items that compare & look for COUPONS or wait to see if they go sale during a holiday weekend.

Gimme the DISH on Coaching!

"So..... what exactly DO you do for work??"

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I get this question fairly often....ESPECIALLY now that 1) we've moved to a new area and we're meeting new people all the time 2) people seem posts about being at home everyday
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The short answer is:: 
...I'm a health & wellness coach
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The real answer::
...I'm 25 years old, working from home, building an online health & wellness business that changes peoples every.single.day.
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I help people get started on their journey or amp up their current routine with at-home exercise programs and healthy eating.

(ever heard of Insanity, P90x, etc? yep, those types of programs!)I work WITH them providing support and accountability, meal planning tips & ultimately, we build a relationship!
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I run monthly support groups for busy people working on their goals. We work TOGETHER. We encourage and support one another. I sweat WITH them!

Sounds pretty great, right?
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I get to lead a team of AMAZING women {& a couple of dudes} who have all decided to become coaches to help others also.
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So why should YOU consider coaching??
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>Because you need the accountability yourself. You need a REASON to stop giving up on your health and fitness goals.
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>Because you are CRAVING a deeper purpose...a job that actually helps others...a job you can feel good about...one that doesn't drain you everyday of energy meant for your family and passions.
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>Because an extra $100-$1,000 a month would make all the difference for your family.
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>Because you have a burning desire in your GUT to do something BIG with your life. You're tired of the 9-5. You're tired of your cubicle. You're tired of your holiday hours dictating your time to enjoy life...
->You CRAVE living a life that YOU DESIGN.<- br="">.
Join us THIS Thursday night at 8:00pm EST to get the DISH on this opportunity called beachbody coaching. Listen to our live, 30 minute webinar to find out if this might be the missing piece you've been looking/waiting/longing for.
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No strings attached, I'm not going to hound you. Just come and listen.
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Comment below or send me an email to lindseykollar(at)yahoo(dot)com  to get the link for Thursday night's call.

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Don't look back wishing you had gone for it, friends!!

*following the rules as a coach:: Team Beachbody® does not guarantee any level of success or income from the Team Beachbody Coach Opportunity. Each Coach's income depends on his or her own efforts, diligence, and skill. See our Statement of Independent Coach Earnings for the most recent information on the actual incomes of all our Coaches.

 

Master Bedroom on a Budget

Champagne taste on a beer budget- story of my life 🍾😂🍻

As a kid, I worked for my $$. I had a babysitting job as soon as I was old enough. Paid for my first car and phone bill, etc. It wasn't that my parents refused to help me along the way, the resources just weren't available. I learned from my momma early on to stretch a buck and search for a bargain! {Love that lady!} Growing up in a frugal family carried over to my adult life.. FOR sure. 💸

Nate gets annoyed all the time when I bug him about not wasting food, hunting for gas 2 cents cheaper or waiting for things to go on sale-- BUT on those occasions that I bring home BOGO deals, find things for a steal of a price or choose Target over Nordstrom, I'd say he's a happy camper when he SEES my savings!

We very recently moved to a new home in Panama City Beach, FL and decided to update our master bedroom! I was stressed about how much it might cost, but was DETERMINED to get what we wanted for how much we wanted 👊 Commence decor hunt!

I'm going to walk you through our master bedroom and share with you my FAVORITE places to find home decor and furniture..

Stay tuned this week for the rest of this post! 

White Chicken Chili

Fall means cool evenings, SEC football, warm blankets, woodwick candles, thick socks, oversized sweaters & .....HOT soups.

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Not only are soups seasonally appropriate during autumn and winter, but they are also SUPER easy to make & are great lunch/dinner options throughout the week!

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I got this white chicken chili "recipe" from my momma. I use the word recipe pretty loosely because we don't measure & often just use what we have at home!

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This particular pot of soup was made something like this:

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Boil 2 chicken breasts in a half {ish} full, large pot of water. Once chicken is cooked, remove from water to shred. Use a hand-held strainer to remove fat, etc on the water's surface. Dissolve TWO chicken bouillon cubes - this chicken broth will now be your soup's base!

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To chicken broth, add  ::

2 (drained) cans of great northern beans + 1 can of rotel tomatoes and green chilis + 1 tbsp of minced garlic + chopped onion + frozen corn + minced jalapeño + shredded chicken + {optional} taco seasoning

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Let this pot simmer until all the flavors are combined. Depending on what you have on hand, serve solo //OR// with tortilla chips, quinoa or brown rice!

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Happy Fall, Y'all!

November CHALLLENGE Group

Believe it or not, October is coming to a close.. and we're all starting to think about & make plans for :: Turkey Day!
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I'm dreaming of green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, mac-n-cheese & pie!! Oh yeah, & maybe a side of turkey 😜
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But you know that >>guilt<< you feel later on? Those tight-pant-jokes that everyone starts making and comments about how to you need to work off the meal? Yeah, I'm not doing that! ...... My turkey day feast is going to be EARNED this year! 👊
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Beginning Nov 2nd, a determined group of us are committing to a {slightly} different kind of thanksgiving preparation. We're going to be THANKFUL for our health & strengthen our bodies daily as we count down to a special time around the table with our loved ones.
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We're committing to 30 minute daily workouts... simple nutrition with easy meal plans... group support to NOT quit when people are all pumpkin-this, caramel-that... we're going to feel PROUD when turkey day rolls around & ENJOY that well-earned meal! heart emoticon 
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Are you at all curious? Want to make this year different? Need to know a little more? Well, I'm enrolling TWO more participants and YOU have one more day left to join us! Make this holiday different. Apply Below. Message me to reserve YOUR spot!
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http://bit.ly/GetFitWithLinz
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lindseykollar@yahoo.com //or// fb message
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‪#‎EARNyourTURKEY‬ ‪#‎losethewobble‬ ‪‪#‎novemberCHALLENGE‬

**new participants MAY join after October 26th, but must understand that they will not finish the 21 Day program before Thanksgiving. They ARE, however, welcome to complete program in the follow challenge group as well!**

**21 Day Fix and 21 Day Fix extreme challenge packs are available ON SPECIAL thru 10/31/15 HERE and HERE **

Oh Hey, Moringa

According to this article, there's a new superfood in town

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Say hello to M o r i n g a !

{link HERE}

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This kind of information intrigues me, because I like to stay educated in my knowledge of nutrition & over all wellness. When I popped open this link though, it seems that I've already been on this "next superfood" train every day for about 13 months now! The kicker is, my daily dose of moringa is usually chocolate frosty flavored :)

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So what the big deal with this stuff???

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<> TWICE the protein of yogurt

<> THREE times the potassium of bananas

<> FOUR times the calcium of milk, ounce for ounce 

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"Ayurvedic medicine has called on the healing power of the "miracle tree" for hundreds of years, for more than 300 ailments."

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Do you know how many times I've been ailing the past 13 months?  Nada.

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13 months consisting of a 7 month deployment, strenuous exercise programs, travel, holidays, plane rides, selling a house solo, stresses of starting a brand new business, moving 15 hours & just life in general... I've had a secret weapon {besides, Jesus y'all!}

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So you can go snag your moringa now, or you can consume it daily with about 70 other superfoods in one glass... of shakeology..

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Read about mine and my hubby's experience with shakeology here.

Or maybe pop over this way to try it risk-free for 30 days!

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Happy Super-Fooding!

XO, Linz

Beauty in the JOURNEY

Ever scroll through photos & reminisce in gratitude on the beauty throughout your journey? 

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I used to be a frustrated newly-wed feeling self-conscious, discouraged and "stuck." I settled into my circumstances because I forgot what it was like to dream & dare. I depended on my spouse for my happiness, which led to resentment and sadness. That was then.. Fast forward a bit.

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I found an incredible opportunity in network marketing as a health & wellness coach last fall & now spend my days helping others. I am FINALLY confident. I am a dreamer. I KNOW that I serve a great purpose. For the first time in a long time, I truly believe in myself. The person in the left photo couldn't have typed those words.

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Because of this opportunity with Beachbody:

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I am no longer chained to a schedule.

I am planning for our future family.

I have confidence in my own skin.

I feel purpose in my work of helping people.

I am experiencing freedom on a daily basis.

I am an entrepreneur.

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This journey has transformed me from the inside out & has been one of our biggest blessings as a couple... finding like minded friends to surround ourselves with. Becoming healthier so we can affect our families through our own example. Finding a level of financial freedom that allows us to spend more time on our relationship doing things we've alway wanted to! We're so grateful & now it's time to pay this forward!
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I’m starting an online New Coach Mentorship training in a couple of weeks. During this training, I will personally mentor you on a daily basis and provide one-on-one encouragement as you learn the ropes. I will teach YOU how to create a thriving business.
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I have 5 mentorship spots available. So, if you want to be considered for one of the spots for my November training, fill out this questionnaire & I will send you some information. 

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Know someone who may a good fit? Send them to this post! This could DEFINITELY change the course of your family's life like it has for us.

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Questionnaire Application Link HERE.

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I can't WAIT to work with you!!

~Lindsey

**This is not for current coaches. Please do not apply if you are already working with a coach**

 ** Beachbody does not guarantee any level of success or income from the Team Beachbody Coach Opportunity. Each Coach’s income depends on his or her own efforts, diligence, and skill.

Statement of Independent Coach Earnings which can be found in the Coach Online Office.

Lean, Mean & Easy Chili

One of the Ghoens' fall recipe staples is CHILI... You aren't a red blooded American if this doesn't frequent your fall meal plan.. Kidding. Kind of..

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One of the reasons I love this classic, cool weather dinner is that I can basically dump {any} soon-to-be-expired veggies into it!

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The bones of my chili are:

• 1 (Large) Can of CRUSHED tomatoes

• 1 Can of diced tomatoes & green chilies

• 2 Cans of kidney beans

• 1 lb. of lean ground turkey

• 1 packet of HOT chili seasoning

•  any available veggies

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I don't like to babysit dinner when I don't have to and I LOVE to cook ahead, so this is a no brainier crockpot concoction.

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Here are some of the veggies I have added to my chili before:

• cubed squash &/or zucchini

• onion (basically always)

• minced garlic

• green beans 

• tomatoes- yep, more of 'Em. I HATE wasting food!

• corn

• mushrooms

• okra

• carrots 

• cubed sweet potato (or russet!)

• jalapeño

• the list goes on!

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I don't think you can really go wrong with chili variations. Sometimes if I have black beans and no kidney beans, I'll rock it out and call it "southwestern."

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One of our favorite ways to eat a bowl of this goodness is on top of quinoa or brown rice. Then -> portion put your leftovers for lunch -> or use it as a non-conventional "spaghetti sauce" & put it on top of spaghetti squash, noodles made with a vegetti or whole grain pasta -> or scoop it onto a whole grain pita or bread for some fancy sloppy joes!

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I don't want to blow your mind too much in one post, but I've heard (and yet to try) that dark chocolate is a great addition!! We HAVE boozed our chili up before though with a bottle of red wine that needed to be finished.. YUM!

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I hope you get the gist and decide to liberate yourself of the plain Jane chili out there. Be resourceful and use what you have.. Or get a little crazy and surprise your taste buds!

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Drop any suggestions below that we need to try.

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Happy cooking, friends!!

Xo, Linz

Time to REFRESH

Our bodies are a direct reflection of our daily choices. -> Yikes...

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Moment of honesty:: these past 6 weeks of moving have consisted of many days in which we made quick, "convenient" and stress based choices. And we're feeling it. 

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Nate and I are committed to getting our groove back in October. There are always reasons to wait for anything in life... Family visiting, weddings & holidays.. But we've decided to find our rhythm at a pace we can be consistent with.

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For the next month, we will stick to our normal 80/20 rule of nutrition and fuel our bodies with superfoods from Shakeology each day. For the next month, we will exercise utilizing our at home programs to cultivate consistency. We will dive in with our online accountability group to spur on not on each other, but our community of friends, family and even new acquaintances who want to live the same lifestyle and accomplish big goals.

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To get started right, we're spending the next three days <beginning tomorrow> using a plant based cleanse called the 3 Day Refresh to jump start our metabolism, shed some water weight/bloat, reboot our system and prime our bodies for change.

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This is an all-natural, gluten-free, vegan cleanse that allows you to EAT and only lasts 3 days. This will be my third go around with the refresh and each time gets better and better--> this, however, will be Nates first time and I can't wait to share his experience with y'all!

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Follow our journey this week and consider committing with us in October to join our health and wellness group online.

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Imagine what you might miss out on if you wait for the "perfect" time to start something that could change your life.

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To read more about the 3 Day Refresh click here:: http://bit.ly/1MUnEWC

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Here goes!!