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15 Hyper Realistic Models – Art Imitating Life

Cheryl Ragsdale — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 13:26:48 +0000

Adventures in living a healthy, juicy life

Reprint suggested by Amy Leigh

Get ready for the unusual. Some of these pieces are surprising and shocking – often both at the same time.

Check out Amy’s latest list of things that make you go hmmmm~ Cheryl Ragsdale

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Much of art focuses on what reality could be.

It could be argued, however, that the best art is a true perception of reality as it is.

Some of the keenest artistic eyes are those of the world’s best hyper-realistic sculptors. Here’s some of their work:

1. Two People Spooning

Ron Mueck, an Australian sculptor, is the talent and genius behind this work of art. If the name rings a bell, you may have seen Mueck’s name in the closing credits for movies such as Labyrinth (1986) and Photographing Fairies (1997). The inspiration behind this particular sculptor is unknown by the author.

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2. Kennedy Space Centre

All that’s missing from this sculpture are the billows of acrid smoke and flames spewing from the rockets. MINIMUNDUS specializes in creating impressively authentic models of well-known structures such as the Eiffel Tower and Kennedy Space Center (pictured above). They even have a park, where visitors ogle 150 miniaturized models of the world’s most prestigious structures.

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3. Aurora Borealis

This recreation is amazing in its accuracy. Amazingly, this effect was fabricated by shining turquoise –colored light across a black curtain. The stars are made by simply poking holes in a piece of cork board and setting a light behind it.

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4. Women in Bed

This is another of Ron Mueck’s creations. The sleeping giant-lady looks lifelike enough to make God do a double-take, but the model won’t win a beauty contest anytime soon.

5. Tornado

The brutal fury of Mother Nature, emulated using nothing more than handicraft material. This hyper-realistic model is nothing more than an amalgamation of steel wool, parsley, moss and cotton wool.

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6. Baby Model

This baby model just looks mean… but, then again, wouldn’t you be too if you were the size of small car and perpetually laid on your side? The faux hair on his head is particularly impressive.

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7. Glass Flowers

There’s a certain intricacy to shaping artwork from glass… and more so for realistic creations. Solid glass flowers were borne from late 19^th century science, as a means for Harvard botanists to retain the look and feel of discovered fauna before they deteriorated en route to Cambridge. Leopold and Rudolph Blaschka did the artistry. George L. Goodale cut the checks on behalf of Harvard.

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8. Old Man

Evan Penny reproduced the age spots and wrinkles on this “man”.

Penny is a master of the hyper-realistic bust, going as far as to plant each strand of hair by hand.

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8. Super Real Ginger

Most “redheads” actually have hair that’s slightly orange – exactly like the sculpture above. Kudos to Evan Penny for nailing the intricate details of the human body with yet another magnum opus.

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9 Pierced Man

Even the skin looks supple and lifelike. Jamie Salmon, a Vancouver-based sculptor, uses real human hair to add to the authenticity of his creations. According to Salmon, he and his partner Jackie K. Seo subject each model to months of intense deliberation to yield such true-to-life models.

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10. Cleaning Lady

Hanson started making hyper-realistic models back in 1966. Over 40 years later, he shifted from the grotesque tableaus he began with (such as an abortion scene) to less poignant but just as realistic sculptures such as the one pictured above.

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11. Baby in Thought

The baby in thought was crafted from silicone by the fatherly hands of Sam Jinks. Many of his creations are bizarre, such as a man with a fox head. This one is pretty normal, even if the baby does look slightly disquieting.

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12. Sweaty Lady

Carole Feuerman is one of a few scultors that can stand on even footing with Ron Mueck. This sculpture is proof. Despite the lasciviousness implied by a soaking-wet woman, what really holds one’s attention are the details. Just look at the “sweat drops”. No wonder her work has been showcased from Russia to New York and everywhere in between.

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13. Another swim girl and Meditation

Another delectably authentic female model from the genius hands of Carole Feuerman. This is, as top art collector Richard Shack says, an example of artwork that will “prove [itself] over the years.”

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14. Sperm Wale

You’re looking at 59 feet and 2 full tons of wood, aluminum and polyester. No wonder this model, by artist Dirk Claessen, is so amazingly lifelike. Captain Boomer, a Belgian art group, says the model represents the “magic of sperm whale stranding” – whatever that means.

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15. Holding the Dead

Sometimes there is beauty in morbidity, as Sam Jinks can attest.

The creation pictured above is crafted out of silicon, and aims to capture the sublimity only death can reveal.

Jinks has been a full time artist for the past 5 years after working as a commercial sculptor for 11 years.

Source

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Cheryl Ragsdale’s MMA posts also appear on Yahoo! Sports

Perfect Female Androids Can Sing, But Can They Cook?

Cheryl Ragsdale — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:02:21 +0000

Adventures in living a healthy, juicy life

by Cheryl Ragsdale

Androids. Perfect Female?

How many more years before we have the option to purchase or lease the perfect man or woman programmable to fulfill our every human need?

Yes, even the need for intelligent conversation.

Well, ok, maybe you have other needs on your list.

Introducing a female humanoid robot that sings…

Click here to view the embedded video.

…but can she cook?

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Cheryl Ragsdale’s MMA posts also appear on Yahoo! Sports

Cheryl Ragsdale, BJJ blue belt, trains in Mixed Martial Arts with UFC Fighter Kenny Florian and Keith Florian at Florian Martial Arts. She applies her fight training to teaching people how to handle verbal skirmishes in professional and personal relationships. For more information, please contact her directly by email – cheryl@thatgirlisfunny.com

15 Gym Freaks Who Pushed It Too Far – Different Strokes For Different Folks

Cheryl Ragsdale — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 15:55:51 +0000

Adventures in living a healthy, juicy life

by Guest Author Amy Leigh

Um, trying to keep an open mind whilst looking at these pictures of athletes who’ve done amazing things to the human form. I just can’t get used to the idea that this is a healthy way to treat your body.

Renee Willis Female Bodybuilder

One of my Top 5 Most Popular Posts on thatgirlisfunny is about my blogging buddy, Renee Willis, female Figure Competitive Bodybuilder. Her muscles aren’t as jacked as some of the people on this list. Renee is easier to look at – more like number 11, Jaslyn Hewitt.

If you’d like to read more about why people practice this sport, her post is entitled “10 Reasons Why Female Bodybuilding is the Greatest Sport“. Renee is disciplined and very intense about her training regimen.

We all travel different paths. I’m still trying to understand this one. But, to each his own.

What do you do that makes you different? Or are you a blend in with everyone else kind of person?

If you could do or have something that makes you stand out, what would it be? Super Fierce? Super Smart? Super Sexy? What gives you edge or makes people think you’re kinda “sketchy”?

Comment box is half-way down on the right hand side of this post.

Thanks again to Amy Leigh who delivers another fascinating list of 15 things ~ Cheryl Ragsdale

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15 Gym Freaks Who Pushed It Too Far

There are amazing benefits to being in shape… but how do you know if you’re going too far? Maybe it comes down to one honest friend sitting you down and saying something; that is, if they’re not petrified of you.

Apparently the following 15 gym rats didn’t have such honest friends or those friends never sent the memo.

1. Greg Valentino

Gun show over here? More like a cap gun convention; Greg Valentino’s abnormally large 28” biceps are the result of a Synthol injection. That’s right… those ‘rounder-than-rims’ arms have been inflated by a synthetic chemical.

Source

2. Stephanie Kessler

Now that’s a washboard stomach. It might even be appealing, if I didn’t feel like her gaze alone could snap me like a twig. Want a whammy? Stephanie’s birthday is October 31… 1969.

Source

3. Kim Harris

Kim Harris says she likes to eat French Fries and banana splits, but I don’t believe she eats anything besides nails and washes it down with diesel fuel.

What’s disheartening is her eyes say she could’ve been a beautiful woman if she wasn’t into turning barbells into bow ribbons.

Source

4. Rosemary Jennings

Strangely, looking at Rosemary makes me feel like less of a man. Aereal Johnson is to blame, as the “old scholar” who recommended that she turn her muscles into living piles of steal. These days, she’s just another run-of-the-mill, grotesquely large bodybuilder and has been such since 2002.

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5. Dayana Cadeau

Deyana’s favorite colors are black, purple and red. Her favorite thing to do is to chisel her body into a freakishly defined symphony of straight lines and bulging curves.

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6. Stan Efferding

Is it normal for a midsection to have that many muscles? Whatever happened to the old-fashioned six pack? For the record, Stan is the #1 raw powerlifter in America, and can chuck around 2,000+lbs like handfuls of snow.

Source

7. Nicole Bass

It’s not every day I see a woman with legs the size of my trunk. Then I saw Nicole, and was almost tempted to try her $4.00 a minute fantasy phone session. Almost.

Source

8. Ronnie Coleman

Ronnie Coleman is living proof that even veins can look jacked (picture left). Before retiring, Coleman won 8 straight Mr. Olympia titles, 26 IFBB wins and the “99% of men are shit-scared of you” award. Another freakish fact: Coleman also holds an accounting degree, which he earned Cum Laude… proving even his brain muscle is toned.

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9. Eulalia Santos

Eulalia is the kind of woman that would prompt a grown man to cross the street as she approaches. She’s from Portugal, assiduously studies nutrition and supplements… and, oh yeah, she’s built like a skirt-wearing house.

Source

10. Betty Pariso

Betty Pariso is one cougar that could go to prison and make Bubba her girlfriend. At 54, she’s the oldest competing bodybuilder… and she’s still more ripped than most men. In between competitions, she acts as the female competitor’s Rep in the International Federation of Bodybuilders.

Source

11.Jaslyn Hewitt

The top picture is Jaslyn Hewitt when she was still a bikini model, looking hotter than Venus herself. Then Jaslyn found the weight room, to the bitter disappointment of men across the nation. The bottom picture shows the new – and slightly depressing – Jaslyn Hewitt.

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12. Too much Tan?

Apparently the tanning bed malfunctioned… poor kid. Now he looks less like a young (and ripped) Bob Saget and more like a jacked Steve Urkel.

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13. Dianne Solomons

No, there’s nothing extra behind the bikini bottom and no Adam’s apple to see. Dianne Solomons doesn’t have a Y chromosome in her body… but something’s wrong when that same body could crush a normal man like a soda can. For the record, she’s a 3-time NPC Ms. Los Angeles winner.

Source

14. Markus Rühl:

There’s jacked… there’s freakishly big… and then there’s Markus Ruhl. He’s a former IFBB pro bodybuilder and has amazingly large shoulders, but he’s gotten to the point where it’s hilarious to watch him tie his shoes.

Source

15. Mercedes Yvonne Bazemore

Mercedes Bazemore didn’t start pumping iron until age 40, and it’s my guess she hasn’t pumped much of anything else since. Why a woman would want this type of physique is beyond me, but Bazemore says she continues to body build because – and I quote – it helps to “feel sexy about myself.”

At least somebody feels that way.
Source

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Cheryl Ragsdale practices martial arts for fun and physical fitness at Florian Martial Arts Center. Stand up for yourself and stay young from the inside out.

Who Do You Trust to Tattoo You?

Cheryl Ragsdale — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:20:59 +0000

Adventures in living a healthy, juicy life

by Cheryl Ragsdale

4 Stories of People and Their Tattoo Journey

Living vicariously through other people works for me…especially when the conversation turns to getting a tattoo.

Visit with the following four people to see where their desire for body art took them:

Ladies first! Say hello to Tina currently living in Bulgaria
Lloyd Banks, well-known Rap Artist chooses Miami Ink
Mark, a 6’9″ guy who plays for a French basketball team
National Geographic presents a Japanese man fighting tattoo prejudice

Miami Ink reality TV show Tattoo Artist Kat Von D

Choosing a Tattoo To Tell Your Story Requires Trust

When you’ve chosen to use your own skin as your canvas, these are the questions to consider:

how do you choose your tattoo design?
how do you select the tattoo artist to do it?
how do you relax and let it happen?

My Research

Lance, my friend who lives in Bulgaria at a ski resort, meets the most interesting people.

Looking through his blog today, I found a story about an unusual young woman Lance met whilst sampling Bulgarian nightlife – bar hopping.

Seeing Tina was sporting some conversation-starter ink, Lance introduced himself. He shares some of his conversation with Tina here…

Tina Lakin

Tina Lakin

“Whenever I go anywhere today, and wear short sleeves, you can be certain for some sort of reaction. Here in Bulgaria, tattoos on women are not considered that great, well only if you are foreign — and then I guess you can get away with anything!

People stare and friends have fallen about laughing.

I’ve seen people almost walking into lamp posts and falling off bikes, staring at my tattoos on my arm.

People double take, grab my arm, want to photograph it. Some would probably be happy to saw it off, if they could — and have it stuffed (and displayed) on their sideboard.

Tina's tattoo on her arm

Ok, so my tattoos are different, yes and that’s what I like. All my life I have strived to be that little bit different. I mean, why would anyone want to be like anyone else??

And I write about haunted houses and take people on tours of graveyards! I guess that’s not your normal British womans’ occupation.

So, here I am, after spending 18 months living in Bulgaria and what do I have to show for it?

Well, I have some of the best artwork ever tattooed on my left arm for EVER!

And it doesn’t get much better than that.

So, you have 101 questions to ask me? Well, I have anticipated what you may ask and here are (my answers) for you…the top 5, most asked questions of me… READ MORE about Tina’s tattoos“.

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Lloyd Banks – Miami Ink

Miami Ink – Tall Guy

Full Body Tattoos

prejudice, camoflage and body art in Japan

Beautiful Bodies: 10 Full Body Tattoos That are Beyond Bizarre (quazen.com)
Feminine Tattoo Designs & Meanings (tattoosbodyart.suite101.com)
Do Tattoos Hurt? (tattoosbodyart.suite101.com)
How to Care For a New Tattoo (tattoosbodyart.suite101.com)
TLC Renews ‘L.A. Ink’ (tvsquad.com)

sharing chocolate covered strawberries on Valentine’s Day: juicy, sweet and delicious

Cheryl Ragsdale — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:03:46 +0000

Adventures in Living a Healthy, Juicy Life

Here’s a delicious recipe to share with your sweetie on Valentine’s Day – or any day that you feel like sharing something special with anyone you love. Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! – Cheryl Ragsdale

Chocolate Covered Strawberries –

A Delicious Combination!

By Colleen Maguire

The dipping of lush red strawberries into chocolate for the making of different types of desserts has been a common practice for many years.

As a matter of fact, no one can quite recall when this tempting dish was first created. However, the idea of mixing sweet and tart has led to this dish becoming a particular favorite of many people!

Since fruits are our top vitamin providers, dipping different fruits into chocolate has become a favorite method of creating a healthy, scrumptious dessert!

The different types of fruits that can be covered with chocolate are: apples, apricots, cherries, strawberries, peaches, grapes, and a variety of other tropical fruits. In today’s world, strange and exotic tasting chocolates are favored more than the normal chocolate bars.

In fact, different chocolates are being tried out and released into the market every year, with claims of exotic tastes to tempt the jaded palate! Bearing this in mind, the makers of chocolate covered strawberries create new recipes, with a special flair used to bring out the tart sweetness of the berry, mixed with the melting scrumptiousness of the chocolate covering!

In some countries, chocolate covered strawberries are created using dried strawberries. Although these do taste wonderful, there is nothing quite like the taste of freshness! If you’re ever on a tour to Malaysia, make sure you visit their chocolate industry. While the actual chocolate is rather standard, the fruits that are dipped in it are so varied, it boggles the mind! However, you ought to be prepared for dry, tart and spicy!

So where was this art of making chocolate dipped strawberries first born? Although it isn’t exactly known, there are some wild theories that this practice first began with the Sultans in the Arab World. However, considering the fact that strawberries seem to be found mostly in wet climes, this theory doesn’t seem to be valid!

Chocolate covered strawberries are a treat in any season and more so when they’re out of season!

When creating this wonderful dish, make sure that you’ve got the freshest strawberries in the market! Perfectly ripened ones have a taste that’s out of this world, but ensure that there are no stragglers with green on them, or you might just be serving more tartness than sweetness!

What you need to create this wonderful dessert

30-40 fresh, ripe strawberries (with the green stalks cut off)

250 g of Chocolate chips or your favorite chocolate bar whether dark or milk chocolate

Approx. 40 thin skewers of bamboo

How to make chocolate dipped strawberries:

First of all, wash the strawberries with warm water, to remove any dirt and germs. Let them dry out gently, but completely, or the chocolate won’t take.
Place the chocolate chips or favorite chocolate bars in a small pan. Take a larger pan, and add some water, and then put it to boil.
Cover the smaller pan containing the chocolate to prevent any moisture from mixing with the chocolate, since this may cause it to seize. Place the smaller pan atop the larger one, but not so that the water from the larger one overlaps the smaller pan.
Alternatively, just place the chocolate chips or chocolate bars in a glass bowl, cover and use the microwave to melt it. A minute should be enough!
After the chocolate has melted, place each strawberry onto a skewer, and then dip into the melted chocolate. While removing the strawberry, rotate the skewer to form swirling patterns as well as to cover any nooks left with chocolate.
Turn the strawberry upwards by inverting your hand to let the chocolate settle with an extra bite at the tip!
Place the dipped strawberries on absorbent paper after the chocolate has hardened slightly.
And you’re done!

For the ultimate chocolate sensation, chocolate dipped strawberries should be eaten the same day that they’re dipped, for the ultimate decadent delight! Storing these in the fridge is done, but not advised since the chocolate may firm up in a haphazard manner.

Chocolate covered strawberries can be served as an elaborate dessert, normally set within a silvered tray, and eaten with a chilled glass of red! However, having chocolate dipped chocolates for high teas or during breakfast is also a wonderful idea (even if it isn’t mother recommended)!

Ordering chocolate dipped strawberries is best done online, or from a delicatessen closest to you!

Colleen Maguire
Writer, Traveler and Chocolate Lover
For More Delicious Chocolate Ideas and Tastes:
http://www.UltimateChocolateShoppe.com

Article Source

Colleen Maguire

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Flaunt Your Flaws!

On Fridays, I’m joining Staci from justbloggled.com to provide a forum to discuss what we find to be “not quite right” about ourselves. The objective is to celebrate what supposedly “doesn’t work”. For instance, I have really big feet – haha! Staci complains about having a flat butt.

Juicy strawberries! What a wonderful way to think of fruit on Valentine’s Day. What’s that you say? You can’t imagine your husband waxing rhapsodic over a few strawberries dipped in chocolate? Hmmm…is anyone else available to enjoy your strawberries with you?

There must be someone cute and fun to enjoy your Valentine’s Day strawberries with you!

I used to think that not having a boyfriend / husband on V-Day was the end of the world. A serious FLAW!

Now, I just think that I don’t have a boyfriend or a husband. What I do have are lots of people to share love and smiles and strawberries with every day of my life.

What could be better than that?

Talk to me! Leave some good comments. Comment box is on the right hand side of this post half-way down the page.

Stay tuned! This could get really good. If you’d like to join in by submitting a guest post on a “flaunt your flaws” topic, please send me an email – cheryl@thatgirlisfunny.com

photo credits: boy, girl, woman, strawberry

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Attention People Who Love to Guest Post

on Other People’s blogs!

Bloggers who guest post on ThatGirlisFunny generate GREAT traffic on a blog with a steadily improving Alexa ranking.

Plus, they achieve high placement on my Top 25 Most Popular Posts list (page down to see list of guest posts) and lots of excellent comments too.

If you’d like to submit a guest post, please contact me cheryl@thatgirlisfunny.com

_______________________________________________________________

Guest Posting for Quality Links and Targeted Traffic

on February 1st, 2010

Jake’s Guest Post generated 53 comments. Jake is currently #1 on the Most Commented List.

Fred’s Guest Post generated 26 comments placing him #2 on the Most Commented List.

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Marcelle’s Guest Post is #1 on my Top 25 Most Viewed Posts list with 5,018 views on 02/01/2010.

Fred’s Guest Post is #4 with 4,212 views.

Renee’s Guest Post is #5 with a fast moving 3,640 views.

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Want to find out how we make this happen?

info on Chris Garrett’s Guest Posting ebook

You might have heard of my friend and blogging consultant, Chris Garrett. He wrote the Problogger book with Darren Rowse.

Well, he has a new ebook out that tells you everything you need to know to get quality authority links and a boost in traffic, all through a quick and easy approach to guest blogging.

Right now he is offering it for the crazy low introductory price of only $10! The price is sure to go up again as the reviews and testimonials start to pour in, so make sure you grab your copy and check out all the bonuses fast.

Check it out here: Chris Garrett’s Guest Posting ebook

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thatgirlisfunny.com » art

15 Hyper Realistic Models – Art Imitating Life

1. Two People Spooning

2. Kennedy Space Centre

3. Aurora Borealis

4. Women in Bed

5. Tornado

6. Baby Model

7. Glass Flowers

8. Old Man

8. Super Real Ginger

9 Pierced Man

10. Cleaning Lady

11. Baby in Thought

12. Sweaty Lady

13. Another swim girl and Meditation

14. Sperm Wale

15. Holding the Dead

Perfect Female Androids Can Sing, But Can They Cook?

15 Gym Freaks Who Pushed It Too Far – Different Strokes For Different Folks

15 Gym Freaks Who Pushed It Too Far

1. Greg Valentino

2. Stephanie Kessler

3. Kim Harris

4. Rosemary Jennings

5. Dayana Cadeau

6. Stan Efferding

7. Nicole Bass

8. Ronnie Coleman

9. Eulalia Santos

10. Betty Pariso

11.Jaslyn Hewitt

12. Too much Tan?

13. Dianne Solomons

14. Markus Rühl:

15. Mercedes Yvonne Bazemore

Who Do You Trust to Tattoo You?

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Lloyd Banks – Miami Ink

Miami Ink – Tall Guy

Full Body Tattoos

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sharing chocolate covered strawberries on Valentine’s Day: juicy, sweet and delicious

Chocolate Covered Strawberries –

A Delicious Combination!

What you need to create this wonderful dessert

Flaunt Your Flaws!

Attention People Who Love to Guest Post

on Other People’s blogs!

Guest Posting for Quality Links and Targeted Traffic

Want to find out how we make this happen?

info on Chris Garrett’s Guest Posting ebook

Check it out here: Chris Garrett’s Guest Posting ebook

Guest Posts by bloggers on ThatGirlisFunny’s

Top 25 Most Popular Posts List

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