Stila lip glaze makes my lips sparkle

Its no secret that I am obsessed with lip gloss.

When I try to think back to when it all started, I know I was a kid.  It started with a chap stick obsession.  I had to collect as many flavors as I could.  It was hysterical to realize my cousin was doing the same thing.  You would never want for chap stick with the two of us in the room.  As I got older I expanded my chap stick collection to include lip gloss.

Sure I tried lipstick here and there.  I mean I still have some fantastic purple metallic colored ones from the late 90′s somewhere in an old makeup case… but I never really liked lipstick.  The colors never looked right on me and I didn’t like the way it felt heavy on my lips.  My wedding day may be the last time I actually put on lipstick of any kind, as I had purchased it after getting a consultation on what would look just right for the big day.  Since then, I have been all lip gloss all the time.

Recently I have become a big fan of Stila lip glaze.  I got my first one in a swag bag from the Mingling Moms event I went to in March… and already the Stila lip glaze collection has grown to three.  They come in 5oz. tubes.  While it doesn’t sound like much, I have yet to run out of one yet.  The tubes are clear so you can see the color through them.  When you twist the bottom the color comes up to the brush.  A bit of a warning, give it a moment after you twist it a few times so you don’t end up with too much gloss.  Stila recommends twisting 10 to 15 times to first activate the lip glaze … but only 1 to 3 times for each individual use after that.

The lip glaze is sticky, which I would say is the only drawback.  I really don’t like that sticky feeling… BUT I am so in love with the colors that I just try to use it sparingly.  It can be worn alone or over the top of a favorite lip color.  I sometimes add it over something lighter to give me a different color.  The shine in the lip glazes visually enhances the size and texture of your lips.

I have the lip glazes in grape-fruit, majesty, and merry merry.  They all smell great (reminding my kids of candy apparently) and I love how it gives my lips just a touch of color and sparkle.

• Each lip glaze retails for about $22, while some on the Stila site are listed as low as $10.  I even found one priced as low as $7.99 on Amazon, so shop around ladies!

Fit Flops: The Mini Workout You Won’t Mind Doing

I work out regularly, but because I spend most of my working hours on a computer, I worry that I still don’t get as much of a workout as I should. And that is why I love my FitFlops so. I’ve had my Walkstars for years and absolutely adore them.

FitFlops are flip flops that give your legs a bit of a workout as you walk around doing your thing. They have a patented wobbleboard inside that forces your legs to work to maintain your balance. What’s amazing about it is that all you feel is a really comfortable shoe. Really comfortable. As in, I’d actually wear these for a day walking around a theme park. That comfortable. You can tone your legs as you go about your daily routine and never even know it.

I have flat feet and generally need to add arch support to my cute little thong sandals. I need to add nothing to the FitFlops. They are supportive, cushiony and comfortable. And they are durable. As I said, I’ve had the same pair of original FitFlops for years and they look as good as the day I bought them. A very good thing considering they are a lot more expensive than your average flip flop. They run $40-50 a pair on average, but I promise they are more than worth it. And now they come in a bunch of colors and styles so you can wear them with almost any outfit.

Also available are sneakers, clogs and boots with the same technology. I have my eye on a pair of sneakers. You can find the whole range on FitFlop’s website, but you’ll have to find somewhere else to buy unless you are in the UK. They offer a list of retailers, which include Amazon and Zappos, so you should be able to find a pair for you. They come in whole sizes; size up if you wear a half size normally.

Invest in these. You will not be sorry. And if you are you can send yours to me.

About The Author: Megan is a professional writer, amateur photographer and an accomplished beauty product crash test dummy. She'll try anything once, especially if it's a free sample. She's still trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up, but it will probably involve travel and Colin Farrell. And maybe some writing and photography. You can visit her at onethousandwordsormore.com or follow her on Twitter: msmegan.

Shed no tears with Sally Hansen Salon Effects

I have a confession to make. I am incapable of painting my own nails.  No matter how hard I try, no matter how hard I focus, they come out looking like I painted them while going through serious caffeine withdrawal. The polish never seems to dry in a timely manner and I always smudge it within minutes. 90% of the time, I end up taking the polish off just moments after application.  The times that I find the application good enough to make a public appearance, it chips, peels and generally looks awful within a day. The heart breaker is, I LOVE when my nails are painted, especially in wild, funky colors. I know what you’re thinking “Just go get a manicure like every other red blooded American woman!” And to that I say “I’m cheap!” and I honestly do not enjoy manicures (or pedicures) at all.

Well, Sally Hansen must have gotten wind of my predicament. OK, maybe they didn’t only have me in mind, perhaps there are other women like me.  Those who love crazy nails, but can’t seem to handle the simple task of painting them themselves and refuse to pay for someone else to do it.  Either way, Sally Hansen has created Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips.

Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips come in a wide variety of colors and patterns.  From “Aflorable” (floral pattern) to “Wild Child” (zebra print) there are colors and patters (including glitter) to suit every style. I went with “Mad For Plaid”  a simple plaid in cute, springy colors.

The “kit” includes two packs of strips (16 strips in total) with all different sizes, to fit every nail, a nail file/buffer and a wooden cuticle stick.  The directions are pretty simple.

You start by prepping your nails. Make sure your nails are clean and dry, the push back your cuticles with the cuticle stick. Shape nails with file and use the white end of the file to buff the nail surface. Finally, wipe nails with polish remover. (I actually skipped this step for two reasons. 1-I didn’t have any remover and 2-being pregnant, I avoid stuff with strong odors.)

The strips themselves look like stickers, but are actually more like rub on decals, made of nail polish. They definitely have the standard nail polish scent, however it isn’t as strong as the “real” stuff.

You find the correct size to fit the nail, then you peel off the clear cover, and peel the strip of the backing. If you’re not careful, the strip could fold onto itself, which would ruin the strip. Press the strip onto your nail, smoothing it out as you go. Then take the flat end of the cuticle stick and run it along the edges to make sure there is a good seal. Finally fold the excess strip over the edge of the nail and file it down, gently.

I was quite satisfied with the result.  In the end I had cute, evenly colored nails.  I didn’t shed any tears, I didn’t huff with frustration, my husband didn’t complain about me getting nail polish on the table, it was a win-win situation.  And all for the very fair price of $8.00.

I really liked how easy these strips were to apply, and the number of color and pattern options that are available.   So far they have held up a bit better than standard nail polish does for me (Like I mentioned, polish usually chips or peels off my nails by the next day) And, I think $8.00 is a pretty reasonable price considering the amount I’d pay to go to a nail spa to have them painted (and they’d chip by the time I got to the car anyway).  Also?  Check out Amazon… I found some Salon Effects as cheap as $3.07!!!

I’ve had my Salonn Effects on for about a week now and there is only minimal “chipping” at the edges of my nails. I will definitely use Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips again!

Fifty Shades of Grey

Fifty Shades of Grey.

You know you’ve heard about it.  Moms are whispering about it everywhere… from book clubs to coffee dates… to kid’s birthday parties.  True story.  The book by E.L. James that had (and still has) housewives running out to buy their husband a silver gray tie.  I didn’t pay much attention when I first started hearing the rumblings.  Then there was the clip on the Today show and I had to find out what it was all about for myself.

I downloaded the first last Friday to my tablet – the Kindle app.  Honestly I had planned to go to the bookstore last week and pick it up, then one of the boys got sick so I never made it.  Friday night I went to order them on Amazon but my husband showed me how to get them on the tablet.  As much as I love actual books, I have to admit I kind of liked the instant gratification of having it right.away.

HOT.BOOK.

I was done with it in less than 24 hours.  Not going to lie, some of the writing is a bit painful to get through.  If I had to hear any more about the main character Anastasia’s inner goddess or how her belly felt … well lets just say I give all that a big eye roll.  Yeah, I said it.

Fifty Shades of Grey follows Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey.  Anastasia is graduating from college, sweet and inexperienced.  She goes in place of her roommate to interview Christian, a young handsome wealthy businessman.  And there is an instant connection.  He tries to push her away, while pursuing her at the same time.  The relationship she finds with him is complicated to say the least, and introduces her to the world of BDSM.  But can she handle it when she wants so much more from Christian?

Fifty Shades of Grey is quite graphic.  Not since I was 12 and my best friend and I were reading Jean M Auel’s Clan of the Cavebear (from the Earth’s Children series) has my jaw dropped reading a book.  And I should tell you my mom was strict.  Had she realized what I was reading there would have been none of that.  I mean there was even a time where she banned me from Blossom!  Joey would definitely give this a ‘Whoa!’  That being said, this is not a book you would want your teenage daughter (or son – I have 3 boys) reading.

But… after finishing that book, I had to start on the next one right.away.  Fifty Shades Darker.  Fifty Shades of Grey had a bit of a cliffhanger ending and I had to see what would happen.  Why was Christian the way he was, what happened in his past.  Would Anastasia stay, or run again.

In Fifty Shades Darker we uncover a bit more about Christian’s past, and Anastasia has to decide whether she can handle the women from Christian’s life who came before her.  Angry, envious… he had never fallen for a single one of them the way he has for Anastasia.  The end of Fifty Shades Darker sets up the next book.  Just who caused Christian’s plane to go down, who is after him?

The third and final book of the trilogy, Fifty Shades Freed was by far my favorite.  Fast paced, so much happening its hard to remember how little time is actually going by.  Anastasia finally learns everything there is to know about Christian and the truth is heartbreaking.  There were times I wanted to cry as the secrets about Christian’s life as a child spilled out.  In between the drama of Anastasia and Christian’s ever changing relationship, there is still someone out to get not only Christian, but his entire family.

While I have read some women started skimming just for the more erotic scenes, I found myself skipping through them a little in the last book because I really wanted to find out what was going on with the rest of the story.  And when its over?  E.L. James does something I found pretty cool.  She adds in some back story for you, after the last chapter.  Christian as a child, the story briefly told through his eyes upon meeting Anastasia.  And a hint as possibly more to come.

I loved every minute of these books.  I finished the entire trilogy in just 6 days, which is saying something with everything else going on.  I couldn’t put the books down.  While I am not loving them being deemed ‘mommy porn’, I definitely am recommending these books to everyone I know.  Trust me when I say you will not want to put them down.

You can get the entire trilogy on Amazon for the Kindle.  Right now Fifty Shades Darker is available for Pre-Order (and will not be released until April 17, 2012).

Friday Flop: How To Not Highlight Your Hair

Last week I happened to be at CVS browsing through the hair color when noticed certain colors of the L’Oreal Paris Couleur Experte Express were on sale half off their regular $14.99 price! (You can also find it regularly as low as $11.99 on Amazon.com.)

Not being one to pass up a good deal I took a look at the colors and was thrilled to find Chocolate Macaroon (medium golden brown) included in the sale.  Purchased it and took it right home.   Normally I just do a straight all over color, but I was feeling adventurous.  Highlights?  Why the hell not.

I was not prepared for what I would find inside the box… or just how freaking long the process would take.

See that?  That would be two sets of hair color.  While what laid ahead was not a complete Precision Foam Colour disaster, it was still pretty terrible.  First you had to open the larger box on the right of the above photo, mix, apply and leave on for 25-35 minutes.  I always do the max, just for good measure.  It all went on OK and 35 minutes later I was washing it out of my hair and conditioning (not included in the package).  Then it was time to blow dry.

So far I was liking the color and the results.  It was going to be more time consuming then I bargained for, but after drying and styling my hair (without product) I was ready to move to the next step.  I opened up the remaining box for the ‘harmonizing highlight’.  What a pain in the ass.  Mix a creme with a packet full of fine powder with a tiny spatula for 2 minutes till smooth.   Then you apply the mixture with the included wand (think the same kind you use for mascara, just a bit larger) or the Easy Glide Highlighter tool (looks like a tiny flat iron with sponges on the inside that you don’t plug in).

I actually used both.  The Easy Glide for larger chunks of highlights and the wand for some smaller ones.  The instructions said 10-15 minutes for subtle highlights and 15-25 for more visible.  I have to say I went about 20 minutes before I washed it out.

So yeah.   There I was washing my hair for a second time.  Followed by a 2 minute conditioner they included this time.  Rinse again, blow dry again… and voila.

Nothing.

Well, not nothing.  But let me tell you girls, you can barely see anything at all.  There is one faint off color streak that I can actually hide under the rest of my hair… and nothing else came out at all.  It is all one color.  No highlights.  All that work…and it didn’t work.  My husband actually joked that I spent all night coloring my hair.  But it was sort of true.

Not a fan.  Not a fan at all.  Too much work and the results…just are not worth it.  From now on I will stick to the all over color by itself.  Don’t waste your time with this ladies.

About The Author:  Liza lives in New England with her 4 favorite boys; her husband and 3 children. She started blogging in 2007, finally getting serious about her passion for writing in 2010. Always the athlete when she was younger, she did not find her inner girlie girl until college. After having 3 boys in under 2 years, she is trying to reconnect with her inner girlie girl (in a house where the toliet seat is always up), while staying on a budget.

Featured Photo Credit

5 Gift Ideas For Co-Workers

Maybe you have a Secret Santa thing going on. Maybe you have a small office (like I do) and everyone is like family so people routinely buy each other holiday gifts. Either way, you’ve got to get something for someone you’re not particularly close with, but that you still have to see everyday (read: It can’t be cheesy). I’ve come to your rescue. Please don’t be afraid to send money. PayPal is fine.

5 Gift Ideas For Co-Workers

1. Soap. Who doesn’t use soap? The best part is that there are all kinds of soap out there. How about some guest soaps from a Etsy shop like HaldeCraft? (disclosure: My friend Lorena owns HaldeCraft, but the soap is awesome). They’re less expensive and probably better quality and you can even make a custom order if you’d like. Nothing’s better than a personal touch.

2. Stationery Items. Pretty stationery or magnets from a Zazzle shop like mine (shameless plug!) or an Etsy shop like Uncommon are a great idea, especially for your old-school co-workers who still write things like thank you cards. Magnets are great for both home and office. Simple gifts, but useful and thoughtful. Like you.

3. A Calendar. Another practical but always well-received gift is a wall or desk calendar like the Cute Overload calendars. Who can resist all that cute? If cute won’t do, there are always great photography calendars or calendars for just about anything else you can think of. Just remember to keep it clean, OK? This is work, not the fraternity house.

4. Fragrance Gifts. Just about every woman likes a nice scent. A fragrance gift like Bath and Body Works’ Wallflowers can be used both at home and in the office. Pick out a nice, universal scent like lavender (calming) or citrus (energizing). If they don’t like the scent you choose they can always exchange it for another.

5. Gift Cards. If you’re stumped, there’s always a gift card for their favorite retailer or Amazon. The only drawback is they will know how much you spent. But at least they can get exactly what they want. No one can argue with that. Not even the office Scrooge.

 

Featured photo by Creative Tools

Grunt Style: This We’ll Defend

Today I want to tell you about Grunt Style, a line of clothing made right here in the USA, started by Army Drill Sergeant Daniel Alarik.

He founded Grunt Style after realizing in 2009 that there just wasn’t anything fashionable out there for people to wear to express their love for their country and the military.  Drill Sergeant Alarik contacted me to ask if he could send me a shirt from his line at my choosing for a review.

I have to tell you I was pretty excited.  I like to think of myself as patriotic and aside from the flag Old Navy tees and my old Army PT gear from college (that doesn’t so much fit me anymore), I never felt I had anything patriotic to wear either.  I chose the Daughter of the Republic shirt, which I fell in love with right away.  The shirts are soft and comfortable, made of 60% cotton/40% polyester.  It’s also form fitted to show off your curves ladies!  This particular style comes in v-neck.  So comfortable to wear, I love it!

The one thing I want to caution you on is make sure you get your proper size (there is a sizing chart on the website you will want to follow).  How should I put this.  While the shirt fits me great up top… being not as … in shape as I used to be, it doesn’t look that wonderful in the stomach area.  There is some stretch to the shirt but it does appear a little ‘fitted’ there too.  For someone who is looking to still try and hide that area I would suggest the next size up.

However, now that my boys will all be starting morning school in a few days and I will soon be living at the gym, I really do look forward to being able to confidently put this shirt on in another month or so when I have lost a bit of that added post baby weight.  Maybe at that time I’ll even do a follow up with some photos of me in it.

Grunt Style has a men’s line as well as a women’s line and has recently expanded to include wristlets – which I am loving the look of!  Have something you would like to see on a shirt but they don’t make it?  Grunt Style will custom make you a shirt!  Another plus?  Drill Sergeant Alarik has a beer guarantee – exchange any product at any time for any reason!  How can you go wrong with that?  Grunt style retails from $9.95 to $29.95 and can be purchased directly from the website.  Some styles even available on Amazon.

Disclaimer: I was not paid for this review, I was however given one free shirt to wear and write about.

The Digital Mom Handbook

I have to tell you about a book I waited four months for.  The Digital Mom Handbook: How to Blog, Vlog, Tweet, and Facebook Your Way to a Dream Career at Home.

Never have I ever thought to pre-order a book.  My birthday was in March and The Digital Mom Handbook went right on my list when I heard about the pre-order.  My sister was cool enough to get it for me.  Tuesday night when the boys and I got home I was beyond excited to find it waiting in my door.  I perused the pages a bit before bed with every intent to start reading it in the morning.

Can I just say, not since the Twilight series have I been so excited to crack open a book?  (That should tell you something right there.)  It tends to take me weeks to get through a book with all the chaos at home.  Only the Twilight books did I read in a few hours over a few days.  Could not put it down.  Though totally different subject matter, The Digital Mom Handbook was the same way for me.  It took me the whole entire morning but I did not put it down once, and I dog eared several pages along the way so I could go back over them later.

This book more than spoke to me, it inspired me.  It discusses finding your passion, how to begin and what to do along the way.  It was written by Audrey McClelland of Momgenerations and Colleen Padilla of Classymommy.  They broke down everything into 7 basic steps… even including smaller things along the way, such as how to set up a Twitter or You Tube account in case you are new to that aspect of social media.  While I had already done several of the things they suggested, there were some I had overlooked.

What I loved most was reading Colleen and Audrey’s stories about how they got where they are, along with excerpts from many other bloggers.  The further in I read, the more excited I felt myself becoming.  For so many years I did not know what I wanted career wise.  It was only a little more than a year ago that I really realized this was it… but part of me wondered if I was too late to the game.  The Digital Mom Handbook made me feel like it’s not too late, that there is really room for all of us.

I should also tell you that I happen to know Audrey McClelland personally.  I nervously introduced myself to her at Style Week Providence last January.  She was incredibly nice.  The Digital Mom Handbook talks about finding a mentor.  I can say that for me, Audrey is that person.  When she barely knew me she emailed me the answers to my blogging questions when I didn’t know who else to ask.  She is beyond wonderful and I hope to have a career like her at some point.

If trying to get a career from blogging is something you are thinking about, this book is definitely for you.  Even if you just want a small crash course in all things social media, this is for you too.  The Digital Mom Handbook retails for $15.99 and can even be found for as low as $10.10 on Amazon.

Friday Flop: My Precision Foam Colour Disaster

Show of hands.  Who dyes their hair?

My hand is raised high.

I started going a super slow gray at nineteen years old.  Nineteen.  Which means I have spent many years since bouncing between trips to the salon for a color and dyeing it myself.  Currently I am back on the kick where I dye it myself.

I have dark brown hair and like to switch up the color from time to time, anything in the range of lighter browns to the deeper reds.  (Side note, I have always wanted to go blonde but have never been able to muster up the guts to do so… pink too, but I’m afraid I long passed the age where I could pull that one off.)

When it comes to dyeing my hair though?  I am a pro.  Seriously!  Have never had a single problem, and I like to switch up the brands too.  OK, well there was that time with the Sun In.  That was a near disaster, but that’s another story for another time.

A few weeks ago I opened my mailbox and was excited to find a voucher for a free box of John Frieda’s new Precision Foam Colour.  Because you know, John and I?  Are like *that*.  (Or maybe I just signed up for a coupon…who can remember.)  At the store I chose 4R Radiant Red (for dark red brown hair – my current kick).   At Target it retails for $11.99 – pretty pricey for the cost of do it yourself hair dye these days but I told myself it could just be worth it (if I was paying and all).  The application is supposed to be as easy as shampooing your hair.  Mix the color, tilt the bottle, squeeze – out comes the foam… which you apply at the roots and then all over.  The website itself says: Simply massage the foam into your hair to achieve flawless coverage you thought you could only get at a salon. No drips, no stains – just gorgeous-looking hair from every angle.

Huh.

No drips, no stains.

Hmm.

Picture me in a tube top in my bathroom being dripped on everywhere faster than I could get it massaged into my hair – and my ears, arm and shoulder getting stained.  I was actually standing there in the mirror laughing at myself (because it was that or cry) … even my sink got stained.  Seriously, no idea what the heck happened.  And the smell.  I am fully used to the smell of hair dye but this one made my eyes burn.

After waiting the allotted time and washing it out, I did actually like the color and thought I might give it one more try next time.  Cut to two weeks later as the color starts fading from my hair in streaky pieces.  Full disclosure, yes I have been out at the beach and in the sun but it has never happened so fast with any other dye I have used.  I am maybe only a month out from dyeing my hair right now and not only has it really faded but I have grays popping up everywhere.  Really quite shocked.  Worst hair dye I have ever used.  Especially disappointing after seeing how much more they charge than other brands you can buy yourself (that work so much better).

If you want to give it a go yourself, certain colors on Amazon are selling for as low as $9.85 right now… but I don’t think I’d spend my money on this brand.

Professing My Love For The Hanes Bandini

OK ladies, come on in a little closer.

Who here has gone from store to store trying to find just the right bra for that new shirt or dress that happens to be strapless… or has just one sleeve… or there is something else going on with the cut that you just can not put on any old bra you have because the straps showing would look atrocious.

I am raising my hand high.

I can not tell you how many strapless bras (for mucho money) I have purchased over the years that fit when I am trying it on, but once the tags are off and I’m on my way out the door it starts to… you know… migrate on down a bit?  Who wants to spend their whole night pulling up their bra?  I’m also not that girl who can just take it off either.  Most recently I tried purchasing yet another bra with straps that could be unhooked if needed and tucked somewhere else.  Perfect for a shirt I adore that happens to have just one sleeve.

Or so I thought.  After watching it fall down at home in the trail run, I figured out how to strategically place 3 pieces of fashion tape (3 pieces!) over the bra to hold up the spot I needed (while also attaching it to my shirt).  Sure it may be stuck then, but oh my gosh it doesn’t come off that easy later.  And have you ever washed a shirt – and dried it – after forgetting to remove an errant piece of fashion tape?  Not really the same after that.

I have been a fan of Hanes for years.  At Getting Gorgeous (yes I am still talking about that, it was so fun!) I spotted a brand new bra you were not able to get in the store yet.  It was called the comfort flex fit Bandini.  FINALLY!  A comfortable cute bra with several colors available that can be adjusted eight ways.  EIGHT WAYS!  No fashion tape needed!  It can be worn with one or two straps, strapless, or racer back style by adjusting the straps with a simple twist or tuck to convert it. So easy.  And you can even layer two for yet another adorable look.

I had to try these.  I don’t know why, but I just knew this would be different.  And affordable!  I signed up to be a Hanes Comfort tester and specifically asked for the Bandini.  Just over a week ago I was on one of my weekly quests to where else but Target and for the first time I noticed them on the racks.  I grabbed a set of 2 in white and nude.

The only thing I was not sure about was the size.  Because I?  Fall in that spot just between the medium and large.  Grabbed the large to be on the safe side, got them home and I was in love!  Two days later I got a package from Hanes with 2 more Bandini’s (strawberry pink and surf blue for colors) – sized in medium.  (I had given them my exact measurements previously.)

Love love love.  They all fit actually, though I like that the medium is just a bit more snug.  The only drawback I would say is due to the thin stretchy material…um… lets just say if you are cold and wearing a thin shirt?  Yeah, someone is going to notice.  Although, if you layer two of them you might be able to avoid that.  So comfortable and stretchy I have lived in these 4 bras ever since.  Don’t even care about my others.  I want to get like 10 more of these.

The Hanes comfort flex Bandini retails at $14 for a package of two at stores where Hanes are sold, as well as online.  I did find some on Amazon as cheap as $9.40.  Still a great deal in the stores at $14 for two versatile bras.  (Shhh, I would pay even more than that!)  I have tried it all girls.  Strapless shirts, one sleeve shirts, shirts with the different cuts… it always works!  Always!  And even on those shirts that are just a little low cut?  The fun colors make it look like you are wearing a different color tank underneath – not like your bra is showing.

This is definitely my new favorite thing.

*Disclaimer: Though Hanes was kind enough to send me two Bandini bras to review, I was not compensated for this post and the opinions are all my own.

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