 Say hello to our $16 tees of the week! Offer valid 4/13/2019 - 4/20/2019 Shop our Happy Mother's Day baby bodysuit and toddler t shirt HERE. Shop our Happy Father's Day baby bodysuit and toddler t shirt HERE. Shop our Let My Adventure Begin baby bodysuit and toddler t shirt HERE. Subscribe to our emails to make sure you never miss a sale HERE Subscribe to our YouTube channel below. Shop our sister company, Blue November for unique apparel for men and women. Shop Blue November for women HERE Shop Blue November for men HERE Shop Blue November drinkware HERE Shop Blue November trucker hats HERE
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 One thing I think I underestimated the most about having babies is having enough blankets. You really can't have too many blankets. We had stroller blankets, car seat blankets, nursing cover blankets, receiving blankets, swaddle blankets, and I stashed them everywhere. It was the one thing I found myself on the way out the door always making sure I had. The great thing about these baby blankets I've chosen to share is their versatility. I'm extremely frugal, so what I appreciate about these blankets is that they are made from lightweight, breathable fabrics, so they can be used year round. I hate buying seasonal items, especially for babies, because they grow out of whatever it is by that season the next year. I also love their size. A lot of baby blankets are really small. These blankets are large enough to grow with your baby all the way through their toddler years. Let's shop, shall we?... 1.) Outer Space Spaceships and Rockets Blanket What makes this blanket a favorite? What DOESN'T make it a favorite is more the question. I mean, the smile on that baby's face says it all! Get it HERE.   2.) Donuts Blanket The fun part about these baby blankets is that a lot of them come with coordinating bodysuits to match. Donuts are all the rage right now, so it's no surprise that this donut print blanket made the list. You can get it HERE.   3.) Dreamy Muslin Double Gauze Swaddle Wrap This cotton muslin baby blanket it so dreamy! The perfect blanket for swaddling your little bundle of joy and an excellent gender neutral baby shower gift. You can get yours HERE.  4.) Pink Camouflage Baby Girl Blanket Too. Cute. For. Words. This camo baby blanket is the perfect gift for every daughter of a hunter, right?! You can even get the matching pink headband! Find it HERE.   5.) Outdoorsy Blanket This blanket is so Colorado! Perfect for your outdoorsy baby girls and boys! Get this blanket HERE.   6.) I Whaley Love You Whale Blanket I always wanted to be a marine biologist growing up, so of course, I had to add this whale blanket to the list! Get it HERE.  7.) Cactus Blanket The cactus theme has been around for the past couple of years, proving it's not just a trend - it's here to stay. This blanket is everything. Shop it HERE.   8.) Woodland Animals You can't go wrong with woodland animals. The cutest creatures fill this blanket and with it's personalized coordinating deer bodysuit counterpart, makes it a great baby shower gift set! You can find it HERE.   9.) Dainty Deers Deers aren't just for boys and hunting. These dainty deers are just darling! It's no wonder this blanket is almost sold out. Check it out HERE.   10.) Friendly Foxes How could you not fall in love with these friendly little woodland foxes? Check out the personalized bodysuit! Side note: If you're into woodland creatures, especially foxes, you should check out this blog post for the ultimate woodland baby shower gift guide. Shop for this adorable blanket HERE.   11.) Not All Who Wander Are Lost This quote is so near and dear to my heart. This is for my free spirited, adventure seeking, bus/ RV living spirit animals! Not all who wander are lost features animals, nature, bonfires, canoes... all the things your outdoor loving self adores. Get yours HERE.  If these particular blankets don't tickle your fancy, I don't know what will, but there's plenty more where these came from, so you can shop your heart out for more styles HERE. Subscribe to our blog HERE! What qualities do you look for when shopping for baby blankets? Tell me in the comments below! Full disclosure: We blog about an array of topics from recipes and our favorite products to small business advice and tutorials. We may receive a small commission from links in our posts to keep this blog running, however, we do not represent any companies or products that we do not absolutely love and stand by 110% because that's not how we roll. The opinions expressed are our own. Our blog is for informational purposes only and any information found on this site is not substitute for professional advice. My name is Liv & I own Liv & Co. and Blue November. I make fun t-shirt and accessory apparel for children and adults. Check out Liv & Co. and Blue November . Follow on social media: Blue November Facebook Liv & Co. Facebook Blue November Instagram Liv & Co. Instagram Liv & Co. Pinterest Liv & Co. Twitter Subscribe to our YouTube Channel HERE.
Choosing a theme for your baby's first birthday party can be hard! There are so many different options, and you want the first birthday to be so special. We're going to be sharing some of our favorite first birthday themes with you to help you with your party planning! Today's theme we will be sharing is Lumberjack! What's cuter than buffalo plaid, a woodsy feel, and red & black all over!? What themes are you considering for your little one's first birthday party? Tell us in the comments below!
The buffalo plaid 1st birthday bodysuit is from our Etsy shop. You can purchase it HERE. We have tons of first birthday outfits, but this one fits the lumberjack theme PERFECT.
Other lumberjack themed items & ideas can be found here: Lumberjack cake: http://www.creativemornings.blogspot.com The lumberjack sign pictured is no longer available, but we love this buffalo plaid happy birthday banner and this buffalo plaid one year stat poster. Lumberjack leggings are from Midbest Threads on Etsy HERE. Buffalo plaid lumberjack hat is from Party Decor and Moore on Etsy HERE. The ONE letters in the image aren't available anymore, but we found these HERE and love them more, anyway! High chair banner is from Lil' Crafty Chickadee on Etsy HERE.
Some more great ideas for your Lumberjack themed birthday party: Cupcake liners 
Lumberjack name puzzle
So, this Lumberjack Name Puzzle isn't exactly for a lumberjack birthday party, but we couldn't go without adding it to this list because it'd make a great first birthday gift for a little one having a lumberjack party! 
Buffalo plaid containers
I thought these would be perfect for party favors to give to guests or for setting out on your display table! 
 A movement is underway. A handmade movement. Every day more and more people are becoming privy to shopping handmade, and with good reason. When you purchase something handmade, you support a persons dream. When you shop handmade in the USA, you keep money in your community, or at least in your country. You allow a parent to do what they love all while being able to stay at home with their kiddo's. By purchasing from a small, handmade shop you are receiving a product that has had every attention to detail paid to it. Something that someone has literally, made with love. With China ripping off small shop products and designs, and mass manufacturing them in their sweat shops, they are literally putting American businesses under and it must be stopped. We must be aware. We must shop conscientiously. After discovering that eBay and the Wish app have been allowing shops that rip off my designs and many other handmade shop products that we have literally poured our blood, sweat, and tears into designing, producing, and photographing, to sell on their sites, I decided to compile this guide. I have spent 4 entire days scouring the internet to produce this list to get you started on your way to shopping ethically, shopping handmade for babies & kids. Everything from clothing and shoes to soaps and toys - I've got you covered. Please, when you are shopping for products- please buy from the original maker. It is truly so important that we are not encouraging one another to illegally reproduce someone else's hard work.  Handmade Tee Shirt Shops: Sibling tees, birthday shirts, baby shower gift sets, personalized apparel, & baby coming home outfits. Whatever the occasion, these shops have you covered on all of your t-shirt needs! Liv & Co. - Tees are where it all started for Liv & Co. This small shop mama has since expanded to other various apparel & accessories and Liv & Co. is known for their baby and children's outfit sets, but also make adult tees & accessories. Follow Liv & Co. on Instagram HERE.
The Pickle Popsicle - Faith based and inspirational apparel for everyone. Follow them on Instagram HERE.  The Sweet Bee Company - Graphic tees handmade in the Midwest! Follow them on Instagram HERE.  Imagine Mint - Home of the Mom² Tee and other LGBT family friendly designs. Follow them on Instagram HERE.   Hazzard Lane Clothing - Trendy tees for kids & adults. Home of the "What is this thing called SLEEP"™ shirt. Follow them on Instagram HERE.  Handmade Headbands & Hair Accessories: Liv & Co. - Everything from obnoxiously large bows, floppy bows, personalized headbands to dainty bow headbands. Follow Liv & Co. on Instagram HERE. Ava's Flower Crowns - Seriously, these crowns are uh-mazing! What's better? They make them in newborn through adult sizes! Follow them on Instagram HERE. Modern Munro - Known for their headwraps & bibdanas! Follow Modern Munro on Instagram HERE. One Tot Mess - What stands out most to me about this shop is their fabulous, high waisted bottoms for girls, but they also carry an array of flutter sleeve girls rompers and fabulous hair accessories! Follow them on Instagram HERE.   Fitch & Stitch - Home of the original jersey flowers headwrap! Follow them on Instagram HERE. Prairie Blooms Boutique - That sparkly bow, though! Fabulous headbands and hair accessories out of Minnesota! Follow them on Instagram HERE.  Handmade Toys:  Red Barn Collective - Impressed doesn't even begin to describe what I feel about this shop. Toys for newborns to toddlers! Red Barn Collective began as an expression of love. The more they created these gifts for family and friends, the more they realized how much they enjoy handcrafting timeless, heirloom-quality pieces. What began as a husband and wife team has bloomed into a family adventure. They pride themselves on their unique talents and skills, knowing that what they create will be passed on for generations to come. Follow them on Instagram HERE.
  Handmade Dresses + Skirts + Tutus: Liv & Co. - Handmade skirts that are limited releases. Once they are sold out, they're sold out. Get them while you can! Follow them on Instagram HERE. Jazzy G Designs - possibly my favorite thing about this tutu shop is that they make up to adult sizes! Follow them on Instagram HERE.   Caroline Kate Clothing - Can we please take a moment to admire the timeless beauty that is Caroline Kate Clothing? Because seriously, if I had a little girl- I'd be broke! New releases every Friday. Follow them on Instagram HERE.  Picture Perfect Couture - Too cute tutu's! Flowermill Dresses - "Paying homage to the timeless creations of the 20s-50s. Utilizing today's modern fabrics and yesterday's classic designs, Flowermill brings you modern milled dresses you'll be passing on for generations to come. All items handmade in the USA." Follow them on Instagram HERE.  Best Dress Ever - Self explanatory, right?! How precious are these dresses?! Follow them on Instagram HERE.
 Handmade Rompers: Random Rompers - Random Rompers is a well known in the handmade community for their ultra comfy rompers! I can personally attest to this as I own a few myself! This company is unique in the fact that they only release a limited amount of rompers in certain fabrics, so once they are gone, they are gone. This handmade mama has 2-3 releases a month and when they post, they go FAST! Another great way to follow this shop is on Instagram. Rylee & Roscoe - I'm not going to lie, I love when shops have a focus and this mama certainly does! She does rompers like nobody's business! Follow them on Instagram for their latest designs and product releases HERE. One Tot Mess - What stands out most to me about this shop is their fabulous, high waisted bottoms for girls, but they also carry an array of flutter sleeve girls rompers and fabulous hair accessories! Follow them on Instagram HERE.
 Hazel & Holly - I love, love, love this shop. They have a little bit of everything! We own their "Farmers Market" romper and absolutely adore it. Follow them on Instagram HERE.  Handmade/ Distressed Jeans + Pants + Shorts: Gray Stitch - This shop has a little of everything. Harems, bummies, tunics, dresses, & bibdanas. Follow Gray Stitch on Instagram HERE. One Tot Mess - What stands out most to me about this shop is their fabulous, high waisted bottoms for girls, but they also carry an array of flutter sleeve girls rompers and fabulous hair accessories! Follow them on Instagram HERE.  Born Royal Denim - Custom hand distressed denim with fun fabrics! Follow them on Instagram HERE.  Hazel & Holly - I love, love, love this shop. They have a little bit of everything! We own their "Farmers Market" romper, but these pants are another favorite! Follow them on Instagram HERE. Boho Babes Denim - How fab are these jeans?! Size newborn up to 14 in kids custom hand-distressed denim for your rad babes. Follow them on Instagram HERE.
 Funny Baby One Pieces + Bodysuits + Layettes: Liv & Co. - Tees & baby bodysuits are where it all started for Liv & Co. This small shop mama has since expanded to other various apparel & accessories and is known for their outfit sets. Follow Liv & Co. on Instagram HERE. E & LuLu - E & LuLu is located in Belleville, IL and they also own Local Lucy's, a local shop that houses the art and products of over 90 local vendors. They are known for their hand-stitched name baby gowns, but also make burp cloths (that I personally used when my son was a baby), blankets, teething rings, and more! Follow them on Instagram HERE.   Bibs & Burp Cloths: Billy Bibs - Hands down, bibs do not get any classier than this. This company redesigned the bib to be beautiful & functional. They are like nothing you've ever seen before and I recommend one in the baby shower gift basket of every little girl! Follow Billy Bibs on Instagram HERE. E & LuLu - E & LuLu is located in Belleville, IL and they also own Local Lucy's, a local shop that houses the art and products of over 90 local vendors. They are known for their hand-stitched name baby gowns, but also make burp cloths (that I personally used when my son was a baby), blankets, teething rings, and more! Follow them on Instagram HERE Modern Munro - Known for their headwraps & bibdanas! Follow Modern Munro on Instagram HERE. Gray Stitch - This shop has a little of everything. Harems, bummies, tunics, dresses, & bibdanas. Follow Gray Stitch on Instagram HERE. NOXX - I can personally speak for the quality of this shops products! We love their beanies, but they also carry a variety of gender neutral baby blankets, bibs, & burp cloths. Keep up with their latest releases on Instagram HERE.  Shoes + Booties: SheSheMarie Boutique - This day and age it's getting harder and harder to find truly handmade moccs and baby shoe shops. Everywhere you turn you see your regular faux leather, run of the mill, made in China moccs. NOT here! I fell in love with this shop the instant I saw it! This mama picks the most awesome fabrics for her Bootie Boots! Follow SheSheMarie on Instagram HERE.  Free Range Mama - You cannot do an article on baby moccs and shoes and not include Free Range Mama! These hand painted moccs are some of the most unique baby shoes I've EVER seen! Follow Free Range Mama on Instagram HERE.
 Hats + Beanies: NOXX - I can personally speak for the quality of this shops products! We love their beanies, but they also carry a variety of gender neutral baby blankets, bibs, & burp cloths. Keep up with their latest releases on Instagram HERE. Gray Stitch - This shop has a little of everything. Harems, bummies, beanies, tunics, dresses, & bibdanas. Follow Gray Stitch on Instagram HERE. Hazel & Holly - I love, love, love this shop. They have a little bit of everything! We own their "Farmers Market" romper. This hat is to die for, though! Follow them on Instagram HERE.   Blankets, Scarves, Leg Warmers, & Misc. Baby & Kid Accessories: NOXX - I can personally speak for the quality of this shops products! We love their beanies, but they also carry a variety of gender neutral baby blankets, bibs, & burp cloths. Keep up with their latest releases on Instagram HERE. Snugars - I am in love with the leg warmers this shop makes! "Each Snugar accessory is thoughtfully designed with comfort and whimsical style, then carefully handcrafted with love in the USA!" Follow Snugars on Instagram HERE.  Handmade Soaps:  Tighty Whitey Soap Co. - Looking for a bar of soap gentle enough for a baby? Look no further than Tighty Whitey's Buttermilk Baby Bar. Crafted with only a few all-natural ingredients, this bar is ideal for giving your little one a moisturizing, gentle cleanse. This soap is made with 85% olive oil (known for its moisturizing properties) and 15% coconut oil (known for its cleansing power) to create a conditioning bar with a gentle cleanse that won't irritate even the softest of skins. In place of water, they've substituted rich buttermilk for even greater conditioning. If your baby could talk, they'd thank you for using this Buttermilk Baby Bar! Follow them on Facebook HERE.  Meadowlark Botanical - Organic + Ethical Treatments for Body + Home + Baby. Handcrafted in harmony with nature. Follow them on Instagram HERE. To find more small businesses, join our Facebook shopping groups! "I Own A Small Business" & "Made in the Midwest".
What other handmade shops do you enjoy shopping with? Tell us in the comments below! Sign up for our email list and get the newest releases and sales to your inbox! (We don't spam you!) Want to advertise your small business on the right column of the Liv & Co. blog? Click HERE. If you love reading our blog, visit our small business blog posts for tips and tricks of owning a small, handmade business HERE. Disclaimer: I was not paid by any of these shops, nor was I provided products in exchange for these reviews. These are my honest reviews.
Keywords: Etsy, Handmade, Small Businesses, Online Shopping, Baby Clothes, Kids Clothes, Baby Toys, Toddler Toys, Baby Soaps, Handmade Shops, Etsy, Ebay, Amazon What better way to lighten the oh-so-controversial (in the world of men, anyway) topic of vasectomys than some awesome pictures of babe's & pregnancy to snag your attention?! Cute, right? This was my most recent pregnancy & also my last.
It was clear neither one wanted anymore children. Don't get me wrong, neither do I. When my boyfriend popped him the, "Why haven't you gotten a vasectomy?" question, his oh-so-manly response was, "I'm scared!"
Scared? HE'S scared? Because growing a human being for 9 months, stretching & scarring your body to push something the size of a watermelon out of something the size of a grapefruit isn't scary at all <insert sarcasm>? Or going in for an emergency C-section and having your stomach sliced, with your uterus taken out of your body, while your bladder & intestines are shifted aside to get baby out isn't scary! In most cases it's terrifying, but we do it anyway. Most of us do it multiple times! We do it without hesitation. To aid in spreading your seed, if you will, among many other honorable reasons. That doesn't even begin to break into the fact that most of us are busy cramming our bodies full of hormones from the time we are in our later teenage years (realistically, for whatever reason) until we are well in our forties in order to prevent & control when and if we become pregnant again & to give our significant other a worry-free, pleasurable sexual experience. Some of us even choose to have our "tubes tied". You know, that irreversible procedure women have done, often times right after birthing her last child. All the while a man has the option to have a vasectomy. An opportunity to return the favor, so to speak. Eliminate a burden in his woman's life. A completely low risk, out patient, non-expensive (anywhere from $0-$1,000 when the cost of sterilization for women can cost up to 6x that), REVERSIBLE procedure that can eliminate a female having to take birth control and/or having her "tubes tied". All he has to do is make sure his swimmer's shoot blanks. Sound scary to you? To me it sounds quite easy in comparison with what the female body is put through. In the words of my filled-with-wisdom father (whom had a vasectomy 2 days after my little brother was born), "Don't be a wussy!", dudes. Can any ladies out there relate? Has your guy had a vasectomy? Does your guy refuse to have a vasectomy? If so, why? After how many children did you decide you weren't having anymore?   Let me start out by saying that I am not a Doctor. I am a veteran Mom of 3 children, but my youngest Son would have you thinking he was my first by how many curves he has thrown me since he's been born. From his sleeping to his skin issues, I feel like I could be a Doctor with all the research and diagnosing I've performed since he's been born. Today I am going to address his skin issue. Excema. After being told that excema starts in the gut, I went on a crusade to CURE this for my Son, not mask it. It does not necessarily have to be 'aggresively treated' with creams, ointments, sometimes steroids & chemicals, in my opinion. I thought I just had to lube my Son up all the time & that excema was just something we were going to have to deal with. That it would be impossible to determine what food(s) he could be allergic to. If it started in the gut, clearly we needed to address the foods he was eating. I never needed a Doctor to tell me that. It only seemed natural that if it started in the gut-that's where my research would start. Lets start with the itch & topical issues: My Son would itch... to the point it would wake him up at night, and when he learned to scratch, left scabs on the back of his head after scratching so much (yes, I kept his nails short). I would bathe him in a warm water, oatmeal (to relieve the itch), olive oil (for moisture), & baking soda (to balance PH) bath, pat him dry, & seal in the moisture with Vaseline (seldom washing him with soap). The only soap I would use on his skin is Honest Company or Burt's Bees. Though, you do not want to wash a baby's skin everyday with a soap. Limit soap washes to 2-3 times per week (I suggest this even for babies that do not have sensitive skin. They don't get dirty that fast! FRAGRANCE (another skin irritant): I refuse to use anything that has a fragrance in it on his skin (or mine, for that matter). I suggest this not only for anyone dealing with excema, but for everyone in general. Why put these chemicals on our skin? His skin reacted great to Coconut Oil (extra virgin), however, it has to be applied ALL THE TIME & still didn't cure it. Coconut Oil can be found at your local grocery store, normally in the health foods or organic aisle's. LAUNDRY DETERGENT: The long story short; laundry detergent leaves a residue on our garments that our skin will absorb (and can also be inhaled. Yikes!) Due to trade secrets (any confidential business information which provides an enterprise a competitive edge may be considered a trade secret) detergent manufacturer's are not required to disclose what is in their detergent brand, at times leaving the ingredient list very vague. Conventional detergents generally contain the following: -Bleach = Chlorine - A possible carcinogen & endocrine disruptor. Bleach is also a known environmental toxin. -Optical brighteners - Often made from Benzene, a definite carcinogen. They're no fun for the environment either. Optical brighteners washed down our drains frequently survive wastewater treatment and escape into our lakes, rivers, and streams. Once there, they don't completely biodegrade and instead accumulate in fish. -Toxic fragrance's - Usually containing phthalates. From the CDC: "Human health effects from exposure to low levels of phthalates are unknown. Some types of phthalates have affected the reproductive system of laboratory animals. More research is needed to assess the human health effects of exposure to phthalates." From a Breast Cancer research study: "Phthalates, pronounced THAL-ates, soften plastics and are known to disrupt the body’s hormones. A 2012 study found that women working in the automotive and food-canning industries have nearly a fivefold increase in risk for premenopausal breast cancer, likely because of their exposure to phthalates, BPA and flame-retardants. Phthalates have also been linked to birth defects, asthma, neurodevelopmental problems in newborns, fertility issues and obesity. Though phthalates are banned in children's toys, they can still be found in school supplies, cosmetics, and personal care products such as nail polish and shampoo." O.K. Maybe that was long story long (LOL), but at least you learned something new. If they are banned in children's toys- lets not put them on their skin. This is why I use Honest Company detergent for clothing & swear by it. I also wash my entire family's laundry in Honest Company because #1: It's an excellent product #2: We all hold him so he rubs against all of our clothes & #3: If I wouldn't put it on my baby's skin, why would I put it on mine or any of my other children? That's just my HONEST opinion ;) NOW LET'S TALK FOODS! I removed ALL foods from my Son's diet for 2 days (he's 7 1/2 months old) & allowed his rashes to clear up somewhat & I began my food testing. I was on a Facebook thread & had commented that I thought my Son may be allergic to Apples. We had been giving him Apple Juice since he was 2 months old to regulate his bowels (which we were advised was fine to do, being that Apple Juice cannot be digested & it would "flow right through you", so to speak & was also recommended that babies can have approximately an ounce per month old that they were). Many Mother's said that it couldn't be Apples, that majority of the time it is often dairy, glutens, or grains. I cut his Apple Juice bottle out of his daily routine immediately along with the foods. I introduced a new food every 3 days, so for lunch & dinner for 3 days we started with Green Beans every day for 3 days. After that we went with Bananas for 3 days- still no flare- ups. We started with Apples after the Bananas & sure enough, that night his skin flared up again. At first I thought maybe it is just the Apple Juice, since I'm assuming it probably isn't boiled, I assumed maybe it was the pesticides they spray the Apples with, but when you make Applesauce or baby Apples I thought the only process was to boil them to mash them. Either way, for whatever reason I can speculate- Apples are definitely the culprit. We immediately stopped the Apple Juice & Apples after flaring up after 1 meal of Apples & his skin cleared up almost entirely. We have also done this exact same research with tap water vs. PURIFIED water. Be sure to know your purified/filtered/distilled processing when it comes to purchasing bottled waters. Purified water is often confused with filtered water. Many people believe they mean the same thing, but they do not. Both types of water are subject to some sort of filtration (as is almost every spring water), BUT purified water is cleansed and purified through additional purification processes, typically reverse osmosis, distillation or deionization. The resultant product, “purified” water, is of significantly higher purity than either spring water, tap water or filtered water. Like anything else, there has been research for and against water of such purity mainly due to demineralization, however, I am a reverse osmosis gal all the way & my baby's skin loves it too! When given tap water (on the rare occasion we ran out of purified water) his skin tended to flare up as well. This is just my experience with baby excema. For whatever reason your child has excema, it is beneficial to try to cure them of this condition rather than to attempt to combat it with creams or oral medications. Chances are it is a food allergy that can be determined over time & weeded out without the use of harsh chemical's or oral medications. Did or does your baby have excema? Have you found out what yours is attributed to? What different ways are you using to keep flare- up's under control? Tell us in comments below! 
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AuthorProud Mom of 3 beautiful children. Creator, investor, designer, & owner of The Marketplace by Liv & Co., High Tidy, High Tide R & R, The Matriarchy Matters, Hitched, Liv & Co. Photography, Selfies By The Sea and the Everything Panama City Beach, FL Facebook group. 
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