AJUMA SQUAD

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Merry Christmas, everyone! 🎄 Wishing you a happy new year, a year full of excitement and to daring new adventures. 🍾🍾🍾

“Life is short” really means “do something.” -Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Yours truly, Joan and Esther

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On today's delightful episode, we listen in as Esther describes her life as being derailed, feeling unaccomplished and her possibly being in a midlife crisis. Like a true friend, I sit (and record) the mess.

Listen in as (this train wreck unfolds) we make something out of Esthers’ 40ish birthday and don’t ask her what she wants to do on this special occasion. Like, ever. At least thats what I've learned.

Es, you can be difficult at times, but just know we adore you. Happy Birthday!

Thank you for listening in! Your Awesome!

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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8yUJv8kw-DRAUgCg0u0POg\

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James Miller is back and he shares with us how to make a Chicken Pesto sandwich on a Baguette.

Join us as we discuss the latest on Millers’ dating life. I get comforted for buying sauce in a jar & Esthers’ daughter completely ignores me.

LOVE being an auntie.

Chicken Basil Pesto on Baguette Recipe:

Ingredients:

Baguette

Chicken Breast

Sun Dried Tomatoes

Fresh Mozzarella

Balsamic Glaze

Basil Pesto:

1 clove Garlic

1/2 cup of basil leaves

1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/4 cup Fresh Parmesan Cheese

*Blend all ingredients in Blender or get fancy and use Mortar and Pestle.

Directions:

Marinate Chicken Breast with Salt, Pepper & Olive Oil

Bake Chicken Breast in oven at 450 degree for :15

(while in oven…)

Prepare Basil Pesto in either blender or Mortar and Pestle

(See Basil Pesto ingredients)

Slice Baguette, Chicken Breast, Sun Dried Tomatoes, and Fresh Mozzarella

(Optional: Melt the Mozzarella with Baguette, Chicken, and Tomatoes at 350 degrees for :5-:7)

Spread Pesto Sauce Drizzle on the Balsamic Glaze AND VOILA.

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Christmas lovers/enthusiasts/aficionados, Hallmark Christmas Themed Suites are now finally here!

Club Wyndham has announced these magical suites with "fully equipped kitchen for cooking making..gingerbread kits, hot cocoa station, and Hallmark Channel Holiday movie collection, (that are) ready to view” are available in 3 cities, Nashville, Veil, & NYC for $295/night with 2 to 3 night stays.

Hate to ruin the moment, but is snow included? Holly Robinson Peete, who is a regular in the Hallmark movies describes it as the same experience as walking on set. BRB, currently getting acclimated with the 360 tour.

See here for the marvelous details: https://www.travelandleisure.com/holiday-travel/christmas-travel/hallmark-christmas-suites-at-wyndham-hotels

Hey Grown Ups, Toys R Us returns in 2022 to 400 Macys stores.

(Same. Didn’t realize we missed them this much either.) Get ready for a taste of your childhood and grab your kids, Christmas will be even better next year. YOUR WELCOME.

https://hypebeast.com/2021/8/toys-r-us-macys-return-2022-announcement

Have you had the talk yet?...The Santa talk? Send help.

Watch us fall apart as we try to stick to these tips:

https://www.moms.com/ways-tips-tell-children-truth-about-santa-claus-christmas-holidays/

(Warning: Since we couldn’t go incognito, we bleeped the jolly ol' fella out. Your welcome. Remember to lower your volumes.)

If you know anyone that could use some Christmas spirit 🎄please SHARE ❤️Thank you so much ❤️❤️❤️ Happy Holidays!

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Here are some Halloween activites for kids at any age! We share our “Blood Juice Cocktail” recipe and discuss the Asian superhero movie, Shang Chi! Wow.

We don’t know how we mixed all these in...but we did! HA 😺

Have a SAFE & HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 🧟‍♀️👻🧙‍♀️🎃

Halloween Activities:

https://findingbalance.mom/halloween-activities-for-kids/

https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g22355935/halloween-family-activities/

"How to Draw Frankenstein Folding Suprise Puppet” Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_OAP_cbbBU

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YouTube Channel:

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THANK YOU!

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We take a quiz to see which character we’d be on Squid Game and honestly, would we survive?

We go off tangent (in true AJUMA style) & discuss 90's Korean heartthrobs and explain how excited we were to see Lee Jung-Jae again on the small screen. Enjoy!

You can also take this quiz on: https://www.buzzfeed.com/sarahaspler/squid-game-character-quiz

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WOW. Has it really been one year since we pulled the trigger? Someone pinch us. Better yet, grab a glass & celebrate with us 🥂.

Truth be told, we had moments when we saw little progress being made, AJUMA SQUAD would have been kaput. Then out of nowhere, we would see a “Like” message pop up. One of our supporters shared our post and said our video made them laugh. Another viewer would thank us for posting on a personal topic, and it gave us the courage to turn the camera back on.

Here we are, a year later, we couldn't have predicted the conversations we'd have, the guests that came on and left us speechless. We made invaluable connections with our community, some moms and non-moms (?) while we shared our lives in front of the camera.

Truth is, we love what we do. Initially, we didn’t know WTH we were doing (um, still don't), but the best part, during the process, our squad made us certain whatever we were doing, we were doing the right thing.

We know we still have a long ways to go, but hell, we are enjoying every moment. HAPPY ONE YEAR TO US.

Thank you for watching. As always, you’re Awesome.

❤️ AJUMA SQUAD

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I love to celebrate, like really celebrate, (all sequence? 90's supermodel? anyone?) on my birthday, so I thought it was fitting for my last year in my 30's to celebrate in Miami with my girlfriends.

Cheers to all, who’s celebrated with me for my 39th. Thank you so, so much.

Love, Love, & LOVE! Joan

P.S. your AWESOME.

Places to go in MIAMI:

Coyo Taco (speakeasy)

Brickell

Wynnwood

Little Havana

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There was a time when in a dimly lit room, poets stepped to the mic and temporarily whisked you away with their vibrant words. There was a time when dancers and performers took the stage, and unabashed audience members got up out of their seats to reciprocate the artists' energy. There was a time when people danced till dawn to Nas, Mobb Deep, & Lil' Kim while DJ Kuttin Kandi and the members of the 5th platoon cut it up on the turntables & brought the house down.

The time was in the late 90s & the early 2000s in NYC.

Today, we reminisce with hip hop veteran DJ Kuttin Kandi, who currently resides in CA, at the height of her career. The premise for the show was to invite a guest who broke stereotypes, specifically Asian Americans who did not take the traditional route in their careers. We wanted to get into conversation & see what it was like as they paved the way for the future.

In 1998, Kandi was the first female DJ to compete in the DMC USA Finals and held the distinguished title for 18 years. She has worked with numerous artists such as Jay-Z, LL Cool J, & The Roots, to name a few. She discusses how hip hop has politicized her and lead her to work in activism for social justice. She has co-founded many different organizations such as R.E.A.C.Hip-Hop (Representing Education, Activism & Community through Hip Hop), Asian American Collective, and DJ Coalition-Freedom Sound DJs. She has released several books on feminism and hip-hop culture and is currently working on her second anthology. DJ Kuttin Kandi added a prefix to her name and became Dr. DJ Kuttin Kandi when she received a doctorate in Pinayism.

We touch on the influence hip-hop had on the lives of Asian Americans. The late 90s and early 2000s were a significant time when Asian American artists full of musicians, poets, & dance crews broke stereotypes and pursued their dreams. They supported each other at shows and depended heavily on grassroots marketing.

When asked how she feels about Hip-Hop now, Dr. DJ Kuttin Kandi cooly responds, “Hip Hop will always, and should be, lead by the youth…We should be open to where the youth is leading us.” Let's just say, her response was "humbling".

“You can take the girl out from Queens but you can’t take Queens out of the girl."-Cindy Lauper

A big thank you to Dr. DJ Kuttin Kandi for paving the way for aspiring DJs, specifically female DJs. Thank you for sharing with us your experiences while we lived in the past, even for a moment.

Note: Chill TF down everyone, Esther had an emergency on the day we filmed. She’ll be back next week!

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We know what your thinking…

“Moobies" is an actual word and if you don’t know what it is, you’ll have to watch.

And, if anyone watching knows how to defy gravity, DM us, asking for a friend.

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While most find it challenging to discuss their children's disabilities, Faye Sha isn't afraid to tell you her son has autism. Today we learn about her experience when her son, Chase, at 2yrs, was diagnosed. Behind her tough exterior and behind her tears, I am reminded moms are unwavering warriors. Sensitive creatures we are, yes, but we are also providers, protectors, and our maternal instincts are an extraordinary gift we are equipped with to care for our children, surpassing any degree and any amount of experience.

According to Autism Speaks, the number diagnosed for autism is 1 in 54 children. "I always say, people need to open up about this (autism) more because it’s more common than you think…this is a very high number," Faye says, and that is exactly what we did today.

Source: https://www.autismspeaks.org/autism-statistics-asd

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“I wanted Innovative Mom to be what Ellie did for me, even it was just a supportive word.” says the founder of The Innovative Mom, Elena Taylor. Behind Elenas’ warm and bright smile, you’ll never guess she was once homeless, suffered a stroke, struggled as a single mom to her 5 children while battling depression. It was her limitless attitude, her phenomenal community, and her amazing children who came together to pull Elena out of her darkest moments. It was friends like Ellie, who volunteered to provide rides for her two sons on Wednesdays after school.

It was the “amazing people” that surrounded her with support at the hotels where she once lived. This inspired Elena to give back and create a community for other women through her company, The Innovative Mom. I.M. is a global network where 100% of all donations "go back to community of moms” in several countries, a place of encouragement for struggling moms and even provides self-care programs because difficult times can happen to anyone.

In an effort to change her mindset each day, Elena created t-shirts with I.M. statements to empower women and to remind them what they are capable of. Just like the bright white fonts on her shirt says, “I.M. Limitless, I.M. Motivated, I.M. Blessed, I.M. Courageous, I.M. Phenomenal, I.M. Light” she is all of that & more. And boy, are we blessed to have sat down with her.

You can follow her on insta: @theinnovativemom

The Innovative Mom’s website: www.theinnovativemom.com

Feeling empowered? Order a shirt for yourself or for someone you know:

www.theinnovativemom.com/im-shop

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Did Jake Gyllenhaal just admit bathing to be “less necessary"? YES! Is he A MOM? No! But, do we love it? YES! Couldn’t find a better time to admit to showering every 3 (sometimes 4) days…what a relief! Phew! But, we are getting WAY ahead ourselves. You need to tune in today to see -just how disgusting we are- ahem*, how we find it “less necessary” to cleanse ourselves. No judgement, right? & Esther? she'll get back to you. Fancypants is busy exfoliating (ddae miri) in epsom salt and lavender oils and reading and cooking, whatever TH she’s doing in there. Oh, moms will be moms.

Read below for JGs’ "fascinating” approach to hygiene.

Source: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/a37249902/jake-gyllenhaal-finds-bathing-to-be-less-necessary-twitter-reactions/

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As the 2021 Olympics games are taking place, we discuss the brave decisions made by Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles as they put their mental/physical health first, despite public opinion. Although there are many critics ostracizing their choices for pulling out of major games, we stand behind them for being transparent. These professional athletes are showing us they are human. They have limitations, just like us. If you need to step away, to come back at all, you should be allowed to do so.

Today, we discuss the pressures that we take on at home and in our careers, sometimes even having to compromise in one area in order take care of ourselves. We hope this video will encourage you to check in on your mental health and “its OK to not be OK.” -Naomi Osaka

*This recording was taken place before Simone Biles returned to the Olympics on 8/3/2021 to win her Bronze medal for her balancing act for Team USA. GO GIRL.

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Esther got the vaccine & still caught Covid, yes. In fact, her kids also caught COVID. She tells all on what it was like to be locked down with her 2 kids & 2 cats for 10 days. GOOD TIMES. And, btw, YOU'RE AWESOME. Thank you for Listening!!!!

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Our special guest Chrissy Jones from Twenty-Eighth Design Studio sits with us to discuss how she stays motivated as a mom, a wife, & a business woman. Chrissy provides pro tips on how to make your room “you", how to make your home comfortable and explains what clutter can do to our psyche. She says it all comes down to a science and we’re here for it. Thank you for listening!

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What brings you joy in the middle of your day?

Sometimes it's hard to even crack a smile when life happens so we came up with a list of things that brings us simple joys (also a reminder for us). So, here it is:

Soak in some Sun (except Esther)

Bake Something (suggestion: chocolate chips cookies)

Declutter (Joans 90s hiphop fashions...gots to go yo)

Visit the Library (the smell of books are good for your soul, you can quote us)

Go for a Drive AND/OR Road Trip (& never come back, don’t quote us)

Enjoy a Midday Beverage (smell of fresh brewed coffee=nirvana)

The kicker: Do nothing, nothing at all….(what?!)

Thanks for listening! you AWESOME. Yes, YOU.

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As a special episode for Father’s Day, we invite our guest James Miller, to discuss the challenges & the joys of being a father & a single dad in this modern day. The biggest take away? Whether you're a mom or dad, we are more similar in ways than not when approaching parenting.

“If you can’t find the good in something, search harder…Keep Moving Forward.” -James Miller

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In today’s topic, we discuss being mom-shamed, being vulnerable in examining if our passion project is the right thing despite external social pressures, even when it comes from opinions of "well-meaning” "friends”.

(We all know them “”)

We discuss boundaries; boundaries you must keep in order to preserve your mental health & setting boundaries in order to achieve your goals. It sometimes takes a special friend, a special friend who will cheer you on despite uncertainties.

“Sometimes life is about risking everything for a dream that no one can see but you.” -Unknown

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Summer’s Here 🏖

To kick you AND your kid out of boredom (ie. workbooks ☠️) here are some activities we thought we could share.

Highlights ✅:

Pass along traditions (grandparents are welcome 😏)

Learn/RE-learn how to…rollerblade? ride a bike? 🛼🚲

Bet your kid would love to teach (& laugh at) you!

Get out them pads/guards/full body suits/thick skin &...wear your helmets, people 🩹⛑

Summer Volunteering programs for any age, skills & interests

Epic water gun fight?!! (not included in the video, shucks!) 💦

Either way, we got you covered. Ready, Set, SUMMERS HERE ☀️

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“Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.” -Margaret Fuller

To wrap up AAPI Heritage month, we have compiled a second list of Asian American books! We believe reading will create a sense of acceptance & build self-esteem when kids read similar experiences shared from a peers perspective.

Whether it be reading on breaking stereotypes, valuing your unique physical traits or experiencing racial profiling, kids will learn their experiences are not unique to their own. Below are suggested titles we feel will not only help build their confidence during current times, but also learn of their individual culture. Here are the titles, shown in order (suggested age): “A Different Pond” by Bao Phi/Thi Bui (3-8yrs) “The Name Jar” by Yangsook Choi (5-9yrs) “Yasmin in Charge” by Saadia Faruqi/Hatem Aly(5-8yrs) “Eyes that Kiss in the Corner” by Joanna Ho/Dung Ho (2-8yrs) “Pippa Park Raises Her Game” by Erin Yun (9-12yrs) “They Called Us Enemy” by George Takei/Justin Eisinger/Steven Scott/Harmony Becker (12+yrs).

We hope to encourage kids, young and old, to be comfortable in your skin and be proud of who you are! Keep in mind, these books are not just for AAs, these books will inspire just anyone.

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Welcome to AJUMA SQUAD! Today we discuss the inevitable but MARVELOUS topic of aging!! Can I get a WOOT WOOT! HA! We hope to give you some laughs (reverses age, right? who cares!) and give you a break.

You can follow us Insta, watch more episodes on YouTube. Don't forget to hit SUBSCRIBE! Thank you in advance!

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When you lose a parent, you reflect back on all the sage advice you were given. We share our memories of our parents and we cover an article titled, "This Son Made His Mom An Instagram Account Full Of Her Advice, And The Messages Are So Important" (source: Buzzfeed). We thought we'd share some important messages provided by a mother's wisdom.

"There's a different type of happiness, that comes from helping others."-Poonam Sapra

You can follow us Insta, watch more episodes on YouTube. Don't forget to hit SUBSCRIBE! Thank you in advance!

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Want to get some chuckles in while you get to know us a little better? Your at the right place! As we begin our 3rd season, we answer few questions as we play, "Who's Most Likely to..." Get your coffee or margarita, & enjoy your little break ;) Your welcome.

"Those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music." Friedrich Nielzsche

You can follow us Instagram and watch more episodes on YouTube. Don't forget to hit subscribe! Thanks in advance!

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Pants don’t fit like it used to? Losing hair, boobs, and some bum? WELCOME! You have reached the "cruise zone" aka middle age- where you age and don’t care. On today’s episode we bring the fun back (after some heavy real time topics) and share our experiences on learning to let go and accepting our inevitably changing bodies. But you know what? YOU 👏 ARE 👏STILL 👏 FAB- YOU- LOUS!!!!! Love them curves, love them stretch marks. Love it all! If you love this episode, hit that THUMBS UP button. You can SHARE w/ other middle aged cry babies, you have our permission!

You can follow us Insta, watch more episodes on YouTube. Don't forget to hit SUBSCRIBE! Thank you in advance!

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In lieu of Valentine’s Day (previously recorded), we’re throwing out an episode for the single people out, of a certain age.

Middle age dating is different, it’s challenging, a little scary, and now looking back, pretty funny. Join us as we discuss (drumroll please...) Middle Age Dating! Esther describes how she's been navigating this HELLish of an experience as a divorcee and explains how dating has changed, DRASTICALLY! Grab a drink, a mimosa OR coffee & we'll give you the low down.

Sidenote: You (YES, YOU!) are a whole person. You don't need to find another person to complete you. You are enough, and THAT'S ENOUGH; but you can still enjoy the ride ;) As always, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! XO AJUMA SQUAD

You can follow us Insta, watch more episodes on YouTube. Don't forget to hit SUBSCRIBE! Thank you in advance!

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& WE’RE BACK...w/ our cats! Meow. As this month marks the 1yr anniversary since the pandemic began, we discuss what we’ve observed and learned about ourselves. It was a difficult year but a meaningful one. We hope to brighten your day as we still struggle to get back some normalcy in our lives. We thank you, as always, for watching. We WILL get through this!

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook & watch on Youtube! Don't forget to Subscribe! Thanks in advance!

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On today’s episode, we sit down with You Yung Cho, from Cornerstone Thai Boxing, to discuss his company's mission and the lack of representation of Asian American men. We hope to provide an awareness through our discussion and provide insight from an AA man, himself. We would like to thank You Yung @youyung_ctb for his commitment to his mission and being a role model to young boys and girls. We thank you for stepping up and sharing your personal experience.

For more info. on their classes, please visit www.cornerstonethaiboxing.com, @cornerstonethaiboxing. Shoutout to AA men, if there are topics you would like for us to discuss and/or would like to be featured, please send us an email at ajumasquad01@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you. We would also like to thank the people that are outside of the Asian race, for trying to educate yourself and hearing us. Thank you.

With the recent surge on the attacks on Asians, @GoldHouseCo and @CAPEUSA have formed a GoFundMe account for #STOPASIANHATE. Please donate big or small, lives can be saved.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook & watch on Youtube! Don't forget to Subscribe! Thanks in advance!

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Let’s celebrate Galentine’s Day- February 13th, self love, community, your village, mommy hood, sisterhood, the value of friendships and girlfriends, losing some and finding new one along the way. Being a mom is hard. The first year of motherhood is a hard road. We’ve been there, but we promise it gets better! There’s a beauty in finding yourself along that journey. Join us as we discuss all these and more! Grab some coffee or tea and come, sit with us! Follow us on Instagram or head on over to YouTube to watch & subscribe! Easy & DONE!

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“Just get off your phone & Do it.” -14yo Chloe Kim from Jems by Chloe

To celebrate Asian-American Pacific Islander (AAPI) talents, we bring you our Young Entrepreneur, Chloe Kim from Jems by Chloe. Chloe sits down with us to share how a fun hobby of creating gifts for her friends turned into a full blown jewelry business- all while just in high school.

As a 14yr old, she provides unique insight, encouragement for future entrepreneurs and shares the special people that have mentored her along the way.

Jems by Chloe is a customizable handmade jewelery company that offers a fun selection of colorful stones, crystals, & beads.

Did we mention boba earrings? Yes! & you need those. Pronto.

You can check out her awesome jewelry on: https://www.instagram.com/jemsbychloe/ https://www.etsy.com/shop/jemsbychloe

Trust us, you won’t be disappointed. Because... you will receive a 10% discount with code AJUMASQUAD10 valid until 6/1/2021.

HAPPY SHOPPING 🛍 💎🛍 As always, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING! XO AJUMA SQUAD ❤️

To our awesome viewers, we will be starting a new series titled “Young Entrepreneurs”.

If you would like to recommend any new bright, young talents, please email us at ajumasquad01@gmail.com or DM us at https://www.instagram.com/ajuma_squad/

Criteria: Any race, age 0-17, self-made entrepreneurs that can inspire our community!

We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you!

Check us out on our AJUMA SQUAD YouTube channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8yUJv8kw-DRAUgCg0u0POg

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE for new episodes weekly Thursday/Fridays!! Thank you!

AJUMA SQUAD: Recent Episodes