Blurb Print Books 30% off

Blurb has a great offer for unique Christmas Presents this year.  

 Save 30% on Blurb's Print Books with code: SAVE30

The people in your life will fell so special with a personalized gift from you.   There are just a few ideas below that are other people's  ideas for  great Christmas Gifts.  The sky is the limit.  Books about your trips with kids for grandparents, or memory books for both kids and grandparents of time spent together.  Maybe a book for a new mom and dad about their baby, or even a cookbook for the family with all of your recipes and pictures for that holidays that they love.  

Create Something One Of A Kind with Blurb

People love getting really creative, one-of-a-kind books for Christmas. Books that elicit a “where did you find this?” response. As the leading indie- and self-publishing platform, Blurb has an entire online bookstore full of unique books by an incredible array of undiscovered, self-published authors, artists, and photographers. And while these books probably aren’t in your recipient’s bookshelf, many of them should be. So, if you’re thinking of giving unique gifts this year, consider these titles. Each costs around $40 USD or less:

Cookie Cravings by Maria Lichty and Heidi LarsenWe all have cookie cravings. Popular food blogger Maria Lichter decided to put them into something deliciously original: A baking book featuring 30 recipes you won’t find anywhere else.


Dog by My Side by Adam SchnitzerThis charming collection of original, vintage photos shows us that as long as there have been cameras, we’ve wanted to photograph our canine best friends. As a special bonus, there’s a glossary of the early photographic methods used in the original images. 

Around the World with a Toy Camera by Giorgio GiussaniPerfect for the photography or graffiti-art fan on your list. This book is an explosion of gritty color that explores the wonders of street art and analog photography. 


Food Stories by Elena ScottA short, wonderfully illustrated collection of recipes (and food stories) that will inspire you to pick up the knife and spatula—or just pen and paper. 

Things I Love by Carol Nehls and Jessica RoseIllustrated and written many years apart by a mother and daughter, this sweet rhyming story told by a fox is pure joy for all ages.


Patent Pending by Jordan NatyshenChicken goggles, air-conditioned rocking chairs, monkey jockeys for greyhounds… humankind has invented and sought to patent some amazing and crazy things. Illustrator Jordan Natyshen illustrates some of the strangest in this history of odd inventions. 

Tiny Horses are Everywhere by Thea LuxThe perfect stocking-stuffer for fans of off-beat humor, this undeniably nutty book is based on a Tumblr blog and combines simple photo collages of small horses in human environments with incredibly funny captions.

Rouleaux by Anastassia EliasWhat can you do with an empty roll of toilet paper? If you’re French artist Anastassia Elias, you create tiny dioramas inside of the discarded tubes. Inspired by art and movies, these pieces are beautifully crafted, fun, and unbelievably detailed. 


Low Fidelity by Bobby GrossmanIf you, or someone you love, listened to New York punk and new wave in the 70s, chances are your favorite artist can be found in this book. Bobby Grossman photographed Iggy Pop, David Byrne, The Ramones, Debbie Harry, Andy Warhol and many more. This book is a time capsule of—and a love letter to—a legendary time, place, and sound.

Take a second and head over to Blurb to see if you can end your search for that perfect gift this season! 

Have a Happy Holiday Season!!!

Debi

This is a sponsored ad.

Sammy Dress Sale

Sammy Dress has amazing sales going on right now.  They have great prices on everything from wraps to sequin dresses for the holidays.

Hop over and take a look to see the great styles they are offering this holiday season.  They have a couple of coats that I have been looking at for this winter, and you can't beat their prices.  Some are even under $30.00.

The code for the sequin Holiday Dress is SEQUIN and that can be used from 11/25/13 through 12/5/13.

Take advantage of these great prices while you can.
Have a great week.
Debi

This is a sponsored ad

WholePort 80% off Christmas Sale

WholePort's Christmas Sale has specials for up to 80% off

I love love Wholeport, and I can wholeheartedly recommend them.  I have bought their baking and party supplies, and they are great quality, and so cute.  I am getting ready to go over and check out some of their lace also.  They have a little bit of everything, which makes it a great one stop shopping place for your party and crafting supplies.

Click on the links above to take get to Wholeport's great deals.

Have fun shopping!

Debi

Tiny Prints Holiday Cards and Trim Sale plus Free Shipping

Tiny Prints is having great sale this this weekend.  You will receive 30% off of Holiday Cards and 50% all trim off of all trim options and to top it all FREE SHIPPING.

Head over and order your Holiday Cards now.

Here are the details for THE HOLIDAY CARDS  30% off Sale.

The sale runs is for these dates and times

November 29 at 12:01am PT through 1:59pm PT December 1, 2013

Offer expires 12/1/13 at 11:59 pm (PT). Save 30% off all orders using the code BLACKFRI13 at checkout. There is no minimum purchase required for this promotion. This offer is not applicable to previously placed orders or toward the purchase of greeting cards, Erin Condren weekly planners, Platinum Design Service, gift cards, gift certificates, calendars or photo books. Offer is only valid on Tiny Prints and is not applicable on treat.com, third party or partner websites. To prevent abuse, we reserve the right to discontinue or modify this offer at any time without notice. We reserve the right to cancel any order at any time.

The code for FREE SHIPPING is FS13

Here are the detail for the HOLIDAY TRIMS 50% off Sale

Offer expires 12/1/13 at 11:59 pm (PT). Save 50% off all trim options. There is no code required and no minimum purchase required for this promotion. This offer is not applicable to previously placed orders or toward the purchase of greeting cards, Erin Condren weekly planners, Platinum Design Service, gift cards, gift certificates, calendars or photo books. Offer is only valid on Tiny Prints and is not applicable on treat.com, third party or partner websites. To prevent abuse, we reserve the right to discontinue or modify this offer at any time without notice. We reserve the right to cancel any order at any time.

There is not a code for the Trim Sale, so no worries about that.

Have a great time picking out your Holiday Cards, and stay tuned for their Cyber Monday Sitewide Sale.

Debi

This is a sponsored ad.

Boot Sock Sale at Cents of Style

Cents of Style is offering a great Boot Sock Sale for Black Friday.  This sale is just for today only.  I love all of their clothes and accessories.  They are so cute with the greatest prices, but today they have a special Boot Sock Sale.

Boot socks retail regularly for $24.95 on our site and many others. At almost 70% off, this is a true Black Friday deal. Since book socks are a relatively new trend, here are some styling tips: 

-They are essentially a leg warmer, they do not have the foot of the "sock."
-They are meant to be worn underneath your boots and have a portion stick up above the boot for styling and interest.
-Some also wear them over heals to give a different look.
-Cents of Style is offering one style, 6 different colors, for $7.95 & FREE SHIPPING

Enter the code BLACKFRIDAY to receive this price.

These are really a great deal, and the free shipping is great.

Head over to take advantage of this sale, it is only for today.

Have a great weekend.
Debi

This is a sponsored ad.

Craftsy Class Sale

Craftsy is having a huge sale on their classes.  This is totally amazing.  I can't wait to go through and take a look at classes that I think my family will be interested int taking.  All classes are $19.99 or less through December 2nd, 2014.

I hope you take a look.  I love all of their classes.  I have been making jewelry like crazy for gifts this year.  I'll post a bracelet and ring that I just made this week for gifts.  So far the torch class is my favorite.  I am asking for a microtorch for Christmas.

Happy Shopping.
Debi

This is a sponsored ad.

Craftsy Black Friday Sale

I am so excited, Craftsy is having a huge Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sale.  I hope that you take a look at craftsy.com today.  They are offering up to 80% off of their yarn and up to 65% off of their fabric.  This is a great way to start getting your knitting and sewing gift supplies at great prices.  The sale goes until December 2nd, 2014.

I am looking at more yarn from them.  I am working on a baby bunting for Charly's baby, and it is such a cute and easy pattern, I am going to get more yarn to make more baby item.  The sale on the fabric is amazing also.  Take a look at what they are offering.

Head over their now to do your shopping now. 

Have a great weekend.
Debi

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Thanksgiving and The History of a Roy Rogers and Shirley Temple Drink

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

Charly and I wish you and your families a wonderful day, with lots of blessings.

Someone sent me a comment the yesterday, and it sparked this post.  She had never heard of a Roy Rogers, so I decided checked the history of a how both the Roy Rogers and Shirley Temples got their names.

The Shirley Temple came first, there are different versions of how it came about.  One is that the bartender at Chasen's in Beverly Hills decided to make a special drink for Shirley Temple who was eating there with her parents.  Another version is that the Brown Derby in Hollywood made the non alcoholic drink and named it after her, since they named a lot of their drinks after various actors and actresses back then.  It is also said that the Royal Hawaiian came up with the drink since she and her family vacationed at their hotel a lot back then.  Whatever the history is it seems that the Shirley Temple came to be a drink sometime in the late 1930's or early 1940's.

The history of the Roy Rogers is a little murkier.  Apparently, Roy Rogers did not drink alcohol.  So this may be one reason that a non alcoholic drink was named after him.  They say maybe this is just the boy version of a Shirley Temple.  It sounds a little more masculine for a boy to ask for a Roy Rogers then a Shirley Temple.

I hope this answers any questions about these two drinks.  Just some fun little tidbit of trivia to stuff in the back of your brain.  They were very common for kids to order in the 60's, at least in Los Angeles.

Have a great Thanksgiving!!!

Debi and Charly
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Wednesday's Adorned From Above Link Party 68

We want to thank everyone who shared with Wednesday's Adorned From Above Link Party 67.  We love seeing all of your posts.  We know that it had been a while since the last party, and we really appreciate the huge turnout.

Welcome to Wednesday's Adorned From Above Blog Hop 68.

Now for this weeks featured bloggers.

Featured Bloggers from Blog Hop 67

1.  Miscarriage, Stillbirth. Please, Don't Shy Away from Oh! Mrs. Tucker

2.  The Zest is Yet to Come from Jazzy Gourmet Studio

3.  Unfilled Dreams? from The Blish

4.  Goodbye to Ugly Old Knobs from Kayboo Creations

5.  Candy Stripe Meringues from Twigg Studios

6.  Blogging 101 - Building Relationships from TitiCrafty

7.  Biscoff No Bake Cookies from Making Memories With Your Kids

8.  Red Shutter Christmas Door Decoration from Crafts A La Mode

So on to this weeks party.

We hope you have fun at this week's party.  We always love hearing from you, so leave your comments.

Now let's party

Have a great week.

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Mia Grace Baby Blanket - Free Pattern

THIS IS THE UPDATED CORRECT PATTERN

Today I am finally sharing my pattern for the Mia Grace Baby Blanket.  It came out so cute.  I can't wait for her arrival to see her all wrapped up in this sweet blanket for the holidays.  The pattern is pretty simple.  Just make sure that you use a row counter and count.  

Mia Grace Baby Blanket

Supplies:

5 skeins Baby Bee Hushabye Solid Boo Pink 3.5 oz/ 208 yards cotton yarn
4 skeins Baby Bee Hushabye Solid black 3.5 oz/ 208 yards cotton yarn
4 skeins Baby Bee Hushabye Solid White 3.5 oz/ 208 yards cotton yarn
size 9 26 inch circular needles
row counter
10 Stitch Markers

Pattern:

Row 1  Knit all stitches

Row 2  Knit 5, Purl across to last 5 stitches, Knit 5

Row 3  K5, K4, YO, SSK, K6, YO, SSK, K1, * K3, YO, SSK, K6, YO, SSK, K1* REPEAT * TO * 10 TIMES , K3, YO, SSK, K6, YO, SSK, K3, K5

ROW 4 AND ALL EVEN ROWS REPEAT ROW 2

ROW 5  K5, K2, K2TOG, YO, K1, YO, SSK, K3, K2TOG,YO, K1, YO, SSK, * K1, K2TOG, YO, K1, YO, SSK, K3, K2TOG, YO, K1, YO, SSK* REPEAT * TO * 11 TIMES, K2, K5

ROW 7  REPEAT ROW 3

ROW 8  REPEAT ROW 2

ROW 9  REPEAT ROW 1

ROW 10  REPEAT ROW 2

ROW 11  K5, K8, YO, SSK, K5, * K7, YO, SSK, K5, * REPEAT * TO * REPEAT 10 TIMES, K7, YO, SSK, K7, K5

ROW 12  REPEAT ROW 2

ROW 13  K5, K6, K2TOG, YO, K1, YO, SSK, K4, * K5, K2TOG, YO, K1,YO, SSK, K4 * REPEAT * TO * 10 TIMES, K5, K2TOG, YO, K1, YO, SSK, K6, K5

ROW 14 REPEAT ROW 2

ROW 15  REPEAT ROW 11

ROW 16 REPEAT ROW 2

Blanket Pattern

Using Pink to start

1.  Cast on 181 stitches

2.  Knit first 5 rows.

  
3.  Knit pattern in pink twice (32 rows)

4.  Next change yarn to black and knit pattern once, starting with row 1. (16 rows)

5.  Change yarn to white and knit pattern starting row 1, 1 1/2 times. (24 rows)

6.  Change to pink and continue from row 9 of pattern. (16 rows)

7.  Change yarn to black continue in pattern with row 9, 1 1/2 times. (24 rows)

8.  Change yarn to white and continue from row 1 of pattern 1 time.  (16 rows)

9.  Change yarn to black and continue in pattern starting with row 1, 1 1/2 times. (24 rows)

10.  Change to pink and continue in pattern starting with row 9, 1 time. (16 rows)

11.  Change to white an continue in pattern starting with row 9, 1 1/2 times. (24 rows)

12.  Change to black and continue in pattern starting with row 1, 1 time. (16 rows)

13.  Change to pink and continue in pattern starting with row 1, 2 times. (32 rows)

14.  Continue in pink and knit next 5 rows.

15.  Cast off

Print Mia Grace Baby Blanket Directions

Like I said, the pattern is not that hard, you just have to keep track of your rows and colors.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Have a great week.

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Giving Thanks 2 -

Today I am sharing another Bible verse on Giving Thanks.  This one is from the Book of Ezra, verse 3:11.  I love that the people of Israel sang and shouted their thanks.  I think we forget to do that sometimes.  This may be the week to start.

 Ezr 3:11  And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. 

Ezra 3:11  

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration with your families and friends.

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Shirley Temples and Roy Rogers for Friday's Happy Hour

Thanksgiving is for families, so today I wanted to share two old standby drinks for kids,  Shirley Temples and Roy Rogers.  We always felt so special as kids when we got to order these drinks when we were out with our parents.  I ordered a Shirley Temples and my brother would have a Roy Rogers.  I decided that in honor of kids this Thanksgiving, we will have Shirley Temples and Roy Rogers.  It's always good to feel like a kid again.

Shirley Temples

Ingredients:

6 oz sprite

1 oz grenadine

Directions:

Put Ice in a glass, pour the sprite in a glass, and then add the grenadine.

Serve

Roy Rogers

Ingredients:

6 oz coke

1 oz grenadine

Directions:

Put ice in a glass, pour the coke in the glass, and then add the grenadine.

Serve

Have a great weekend, and enjoy Friday's Happy Hour like a child.  

Debi

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Crafsty Recipe Contest and Tuna Melt Pockets

There is a great Craftsy Recipe Contest going on and I am also sharing my new recipe for Tuna Melt Pockets.  My Tuna Melt Pockets came out delicous, and they are really easy to make.  I got one of the new pocket pans that you see in infomercials, and have been going crazy making all kinds of new things with it.

Also, along with this Craftsy Recipe Contest, they are offering 25% off of all food classes in November.  This is a great deal.  Click the link below to receive your discount on classes.

Craftsy 25% Off Food Classes during November 

The Craftsy Recipe Contest is a really fun way to have your recipes seen.  The best recipes will be selected by Craftsy to be featured on Craftsy.com, and the recipe-winners will win a free Craftsy food class.  To submit your recipes, click the link below and follow the directions.  

 Craftsy Recipe Sharing Submission Page

They are also offering  a new 

Free Pizza Making Class

which covers Regular and Gluten Free recipes.  I'm signing up for that one and a few others.  Take a look at their classes and see what you are interested in.

I am submitting my new recipe for Tuna Melt Pockets.  I hope they like it.

Tuna Melt Pockets

Ingredients:

2 Pillsbury Thin Pizza Crusts

1 12 oz. can Albacore Solid White tuna Packed in water (drained)

1/3 cup mayonnaise

1/4 medium onion chopped

1/4 cup celery chopped

1 TB lemon juice

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 cup butter, melted

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Lay 1 layer of pizza dough over your EZ Pocket Pan. Press dough down into each of the pockets.

Mix drained tuna, mayonaise, onion, celery, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a bowl.

Put approximately 2 TB tuna mixture into each pocket of 12 pockets.  There should be enough tuna salad for each pocket.

Next lay your next layer of pizza dough over the tuna salad and 1st pizza dough.  

Press down on each of the edges for the sections.  It makes it easier to know where to use your dough cutter.  Then cut the dough.  The EZ pocket pan comes with a cutter that also seals all of the pockets.  It is really easy to use.

Get rid of extra dough and use a pastry brush to brush the butter over each of the Tuna Melt Pockets.

Bake in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

Serve.

This makes 12 Tuna Melt Pockets.

I hope that you enjoy these for lunch.  They were so good.  We really enjoy them also.

Have a great day, and good luck in the Craftsy Recipe Contest.

Debi

All About Craftsy

Today's post is All About Craftsy.  I love Craftsy, it is one of the most amazing online education programs on the internet.  They offer so many different classes, products, and a lot of it is free.  I hope that you read this post, and head over and sign up for today.  You will not be sorry.

What is Craftsy? Craftsy is a worldwide craft community offering online classes. It also has a patterns marketplace where independent designers can sell their patterns; a supplies shop with great deals on yarn, fabric, and class kits; and a projects section where members share pictures of their latest craft successes. With over two million members and counting, Craftsy has something for just about everyone, in categories ranging from quilting, sewing, knitting, painting, photography, cooking, and more.  Behind the Scenes: The Making of a CraftsyClass Before filming even begins, hours and hours are spent determining what content will be covered in each class, and how to best teach specific techniques to the camera. Instructors work with an instructional designer to create an in-depth outline of each lesson, and decide how to best prepare props or “step-outs” that show what your project should like at different steps. Instead of a scripted class, instructors follow their outlines on camera to create an authentic and engaging teaching experience. Most Craftsy classes are filmed in one of five Craftsy studios in Denver, CO, assuring that every part of the production process goes off without a hitch. They fly in instructors from all over the world to spend several days filming, then spend several weeks turning hours of footage into a two to three hour class experience that has been watched, rewatched, and reviewed by industry experts. The final result is an HD-quality video that takes you in-depth into specific topics in any given craft category- from cooking and fine art to sewing and knitting.  What IS the Craftsy experience? Craftsy classes are designed to have all the benefits of an in-person class, with none of the drawbacks. Available online and on-demand, you always have world-class instructors at the tip of your fingers. You can retake the class as many times as you want, and the 30-second repeat feature allows you to watch the same section over and over again until you get every technique just right. Watching a Craftsy class is like having a first-row seat with some of the best instructors in the world. Even better, classes have a 100% money-back guarantee. Try online learning today with a free mini-class from Craftsy! Choose from 23 Free Craftsy Classes ranging from drawing and painting to sewing and quilting, from knitting to cake decorating and more. I hope that you take the time to check out Craftsy today.  I love all of their classes, and I know you will too.  I even asked my husband for mini torches from the Jewelry Making class for a Christmas present. Have a great day. Debi This is a sponsored post, but all of the opinions are mine.

Fried Chicken Thighs and Biscuits

This Fried Chicken Thighs and Biscuits was so amazing, it immediately became one of our favorites.  It isn't a hard recipe, but it is a little time consuming.  It came from a Southern Living Our Best Chicken Recipes magazine.  I must say the entire magazine has amazing recipes.  I had never made homemade biscuits before, so that was a little bit of a learning process.  I would definitely recommend getting a pastry blender if you don't have one before making the biscuits.  Otherwise, you should be in good shape.

Fried Chicken Thighs and Biscuits

Ingredients:

Fried Chicken Thighs

8 boned, skinned chicken thighs
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp onion powder
1 cup buttermilk
1 large egg
Vegetable oil
2 cups flour

Biscuits:

2 cups bread flour
2 cups all purpose flour
2 TB baking powder
2 TB sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup butter sliced very thinly at room temperture
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 large egg
Parchment paper or wax paper

Topping:

Honey

Directions:

Chicken:

Lay chicken on a cookie sheet and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and onion powder.

Whisk egg and buttermilk together and add chicken tossing to coat.

Pour oil into a cast iron skillet to a depth of 1 inch, and heat until 325 degrees.

Put flour in a shallow dish, and dredge chicken in flour, shake off excess flour.

Then put in pan to fry.  Fry in two batches, 4 pieces at a time.  Cook until golden brown over medium heat.

Drain on wire racks over paper towels, and keep warm.

Biscuits:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Combine bread flour, all purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a large bowl.

In a separate bowl whisk egg and buttermilk together and set aside.

With a pastry blender mix butter into flour mixture, until it is crumbly.  It is much easier if the butter is soft.

Add buttermilk mixture stirring until dry ingredients are moistened.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead 3 to 4 times.  I made a square and folded it over onto itself several times.

I then rolled the dough into a rectangle on parchment paper.  I rolled it big enough to make 8 rectangular biscuits.

I then moved the parchment paper to a cookie sheet and used a pizza cutter to cut my dough into rectangles.  Large enough to hold a chicken thigh.

Bake the biscuits for 15 to 16 minutes,

Pull out of the oven and split the biscuits and top with a chicken thigh and honey.

These were so good, that I'm getting hungry just thinking about them.  I hope you enjoy them as much as we did.

Enjoy!!!

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7 Thanksgiving Recipes and Butternut Squash Casserole

Today we have Great Thanksgiving Recipes from the past and a new one for a Butternut Squash Casserole, which was amazingly good.  Two of my kids said I don't like squash, but I'll try it, they loved it.  This new recipe was a big hit, so you can safely add it to your Thanksgiving menu.

Thanksgiving Menu for 2013

Appetizers

Homemade Chex Mix

Roasted Peppers and Anchovies

Dinner

Garlic Monkey Bread

Green Bean Casserole

Butternut Squash Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole

Stuffing (I get the recipe on soon)

Loaded Mashed Potatoes (I get the recipe on soon)

Turkey (no recipe, we are looking for a new brine)

Maple Pecan Glazed Turkey (new recipe from Charly)

Deserts

Pecan Tartlets

Apple Pie

Pumpkin Pie

Whipped Cream

And now our newest recipe for Butternut Squash Casserole.

Butternut Squash Casserole

Ingredients:

2 lbs butternut squash, peeled and cubed

4 to 5 TB butter, sliced

1/4 cup cream

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish with non stick cooking spray.

Put cubed butternut squash in a pan of water and put on stove and bring to a boil

Boil 15 to 20 minutes, or until squash is soft and can be cut in half with a spoon.

Drain squash and put in a bowl to mix.  Add butter and start mixing, then add cream, brown sugar, salt, and pepper.  Mix well.

Next add egg and mix until egg is thouroughly incorporated.

Pour into casserole dish and bake for 40 to 45 minutes.

Serves 6 to 8

I hope that you like our Thanksgiving menu.  It is an amazing dinner.

Enjoy!!!

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