Memory Scroll Ornament

Happy December everyone! On Friday, I was lucky enpugh to take part in Jenn's Trim the Tree party {as mentioned on Fridays post!}  I wanted to share with you what I did incase you missed it! So without further ado...

In January I became a first time parent to a pretty amazingly adorable little man and I am just starting to do all things crafty, DIY and home decor related again. LONG overdue! I am a self proclaimed Christmas nut, however I am sure my family and friends would not bat an eye to nominate me as such.  Confession:  I listen to Christmas tunes BEFORE Halloween. Yes, that is a fact.


I am so excited to take part in Jenn's Trim the Tree Party!  I have known Jenn for a very long time and have been a huge fan of her blog since day one.  I love her crafty ways and her fearless outlook on all things DIY. This is actually my very first guest post ever and I just love that it is a Christmas themed feature.  
                                                    
I had been wracking my brain, trying to think of a way to capture some of the sweetest little details about my little man Alexander and make them into a special keepsake for our Christmas tree.  I wanted to do a message in a bottle type ornament-something he could he could one day open and read.  I wanted a way my hubby and I could express the joy he brings us and document a few milestones in a meaningful way.  I had a flash of genius! (ok, maybe a stretch?) I thought about using clear ornament balls (instead of a bottle for our message) and it took off from there.  I wanted it to be very simple, sweet and somewhat traditional looking. Here is what I came up with!
  
Materials 

• clear glass ornament ball
• glitter paint
• paint brush
• number stencil
• painters tape
• exacto knife
• bakers twine
• vellum paper
• kraft paper
• letter stamp set
• stamp ink in black
• jute string (for hanging)

 

How To 

• type a list of things you wish to document on the computer-I put the year at the top and then listed the sentiments in point form, the print it on vellum paper.  

 

• cut the list it to resemble a long scroll, roll it up and secure it with a piece of bakers twine.

• Next cut a small piece of kraft paper and fold it width wise {to give it more weight} and glue it together with adhesive dots to secure the fold.  I used tiny letter stamps to spell out my little mans name on both sides.  I also burnished the edges with black ink to give it some visual interest.

 

• Using a cardboard stencil, trace the number 1 on to painters tape and carefully cut it out with a exacto blade. Then place the painters tape stencil on the glass ball as a custom adhesive stencil. Be sure to press the edges of the painters tape stencil down firmly with your nails to avoid any bleeding of the paint.  I did three coats of paint to build up the glitter paint power ;) Let dry and carefully remove stencil. I VERY carefully scored the edges with the exacto knife first. 

 

• Carefully place the tied scroll and name card into the ball.
• Lastly, add some jute string to hang from your tree! 

 
This little ornament is the first of a tradition I plan to keep up each Christmas, recognizing the number of Christmases we celebrate with our Alexander. This year he is actually going to be 11 months old on Christmas day.  The number on this ornament is to signify his 1st Christmas :)

I hope you and your loved ones have a very happy Holiday Season and make many cherished memories with your loved ones.

Warm Wishes!

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Trimming our Tree

Hi everyone! I am so very excited to be guest posting over at one of my favorite blogs today!  Jenn of Clean and Scentsible has hosted a Trim the Tree party this past week and today I'm up!  I was so excited when she asked me and was up for the crafting! It was long overdue don't you agree?

So come on over to Clean and Scentsible to see my special ornament tutorial as well as all the other lovely handmade ornaments made by Jenn's favorite bloggers.

I also thought I would share Alexander's first Santa picture...poor lil guy did not think Santa was all he is cracked up to be! Disclaimer: no children were harmed in the taking of this photo ;) Baby MumMums fix everything!

Do you have any kiddo pictures that went a little like this?  

Happy Holidays!!

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Keys to finding your keys

"A place for everything and everything in it's place" right?  Right!  I had been looking for a key rack to hang at the back door off the laundry room for a while.  I came across a gently used frame/key holder for $4 and thought well, so what if it is bright orange and doesn't go with the space?  I have my trusty spray paint to combat that!  So I bought it and the mini project was on!

This is a picture from the girl I bought it from.  Orange.  Nice, but not my cup of tea.  So I took off the little hooks, gave it a light sanding and sprayed three light coats of Rustoleums Blossom White.

After some drying time I re-attached the little hooks and washed the glass for the picture spots.  Of course Baby AJ picture are what needed to go in there.  I used three 3M Commandstrips to hang it as the keys will add to the weight.

The boxes to the right are alarm system and thermostat controls.  Why in the 80's did they place these items in THE worst spots basically rendering certain walls useless! Oh well, I hung it there anyway. 
Hope you have a lovely day all!  Please don't be shy to tell me what you think!  Do you have a spot for keys on the wall, a dish or another specific place?  I would love to hear about it and see pics :)

Linking to:  The Ironstone Nest, Not Just a House Wife, Clean and Scentsible

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Best Banana Bread Ever!

I have been making the most delish Banana Bread for years now and think it is high time I share my recipe.  I think this recipe is from a family member actually, but I adapted it to my taste slightly...

I found using frozen bananas thawed and one counter ripe (read: VERY RIPE) banana is the secret to my success!   Hope you give it a try and love it as much and my family, friends and collagues do!

Becky's Best Banana Bread

3-4 ripe bananas, mashed

1/3 cup melted butter

1 cup white sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg, beaten

1 tsp baking soda

pinch of salt

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

Mix mashed bananas and melted butter together in large bowl

Add in the sugar, vanilla and egg and give a stir til mixed

Add in baking soda and salt

Lastly add in flour and mix it all up!

If you love chocolate chips or walnuts add this too!  I do all variations :)

Grease loaf pans and pour in mixture

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour

Cool and enjoy!

Let me know if you try it or have any questions!  It makes a yummy hostess or thank you gift!

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Oh. My. Word! Ramsign lucky!

I am so excited!!  Last night I was notified that I WON a Ramsign house number!  OH YEAH!  Sweet and talented blogger Anne over at Design Dreams held a Ramsign giveaway and I WON!  I have been coveting one of these beautiful enameled signs for over a year (at least!)  I still feel like I am the lukiest girl in the world for winning.  Seriously. 

Source: acasarella.blogspot.com via Elena on Pinterest

If you have not had the pleasure of seeing what Ramsign offers (aside from worldwide FREE shipping) you must take a boo.  I totally adore them.  I think I have finally picked my design and cannot wait to recieve this fantastic addition to enhance our curb appeal! 

Please visit Ramsign and check out all the charm and cuteness.  Thank you again Anne, I am ver the moon with joy!  I will definately post pictures of my new house number sign when it arrives :)

Hope you all have a 'winning' weekend.  Not like Charlie Sheen, but like me! LUCKY ME!

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25 Things (inspired post)

I was totally inspired by Sarah at Cozy Cottage Cute to do this post.  25 random things...why not?  Here goes...

1.  I love peanut butter...a lot.  I eat 2 slices of toast with natural pb every morning without fail. Well, unless there is no bread. Oh always with coffee, straight up. Every morning.

2.  When I was in the hospital having contractions with Alexander (for eleven hours) I was a bit of a sound Nazi. Especially once my contractions were on top of one another. No one could laugh. At all. And no one was really allowed to talk in the room.  And most critical, DO NOT rustle that chip bag or Starbucks treat bag AT ALL. I may have almost jumped out of bed and strangled someone dear to me. Or not. Biggest pet peeve ever: noisy rustling chip bags ect.  Why dont they make silent treat bags?

3.  I still have my blankie. I was wrapped in it when I was brought home from the hospital a couple of decades ago. OK, so maybe more than a couple. No, AJ did not inherit it. It is mine. Will remain mine. That thing has travelled the world.

4.  I have to rinse dishes clean before I actually wash them if I am hand washing in the sink.  It is really gross to put my hands in dirty foody water to clean dishes.  So just let me do it my way on Holidays ok?  It's just better that way.  Totally within reason and normal.

5.  Gelato is superior to ice cream.

6.  I cannot imagine having a little girl now that we have AJ.  What a sweet little bundle. I know now why Mommies seem protective of there little men.  After all, I am the first love of his life right???

7.  Watermelon has been frequenting our fridge this Summer.  Always have it within reach. 

8.  I have made a few really great Blog friends over the past few years.  I truly love that we share some of the same likes, experiences, and ideas.  And that I learn something new almost everyday from them.  I dream of blogger meetups and meeting them in person.

9.  I accidently pressed italics and well, I can't remember how to switch it off.  I was generously given this laptop and well, I don't know it well as of yet. I may figure it out before I post.  We will see...

10.  I could really use a stack of pancakes right now.  With lots of butter and syrop.

11.  Josh and I bought our house in a city 30-40 mins away from both our families so I cold be closer to the hospital I work at.  Not crazy far, but not close enough either.  I miss my Mom a lot and wish I could just see her every day.  Why not? 

12.  Zumba is so crazy fun. I wish I could go more than twice a week.

13.  I have been friends with Jenn over at Clean and Scentsible since Kindergarten. That is a lot of years to stay friends with someone and I feel blessed that we have.  Especially when life is so busy and nutters.  If you havent been to her blog make sure you check her out!  It's one of my faves :)

14.  My lil man's baby bath works AWESOME as a baby pool!  Who knew!  UPCYCLE!

15.  I am going back to school in September at my University Alumn for something I have wanted to ake for three years. Mat leave is affording me this opportunity (and my encouraging hubby) to finally just do it.  So, in Septemeber I am attending the Interior Design classes offered at my Uni!  So very excited.  No way am I quitting Nursing if you are wondering!

16.  I sing all the time. I thnk AJ may just be a pro singer as he mimics my operatic style with ease.

17.  I make a MEAN banana bread.  I have frozen nanas in my freezer but it is to hot to bake!  Should I share my recipe???

18.  My walls are pretty much bare.  Fear of hanging things on walls.  Is there a phobia for that? I really need to get on this.  I know how much lovlier my home will be for it.  Guess I should hop on ETSY.

19.  Lived here 2.5 years and just discovered a beautiful walking trail literally a block from my home.  It has a huge marsh with birds and beavers.  Who knew?  It is just beautiful-paved and wood walkways.

20.  It is really difficult for me not to do more mom related posts.  Is this ok?  Would my readers mind? I mean, this is a lifestyle blog more than a specific interest.  I want to rave about certain baby products and rant a bit too.  Would you all mind???

21.  I never tire of music.  I dont turn on the TV in the day...only occasionally.  We listen to music.  I love Coldplay. I love Blue Rodeo.  Fave song of all time and never tire of listening to is Fix You by Coldplay.  If you havent seen them in concert, you havent been to a concert.  AJ and I listen to satellite Jukebox Classics everyday-that and Classic Country. Oh yeah.

22.  This post has taken three days to write.  Hope it is not dead boring for you. 

23.  I wonder, is 3 photo boxes full of nail polish excessive?

24.  I love blogging.

25.  I am on number 25!  That IS something! :)


Have a great day!  Blog is still in the redesign process...hopefully soon I will have a reveal!  Now, please tell me who you love to listen to or dance to or clean to-would love to know.  I am aware that is not proper grammar Kathy! ;)

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"How I Make That Money Honey"

As I await my blog redesign, I thought I would have trouble thinking of something to write about.  That is until I came across Lindsey's link up party: How I Make That Money Honey!

Visit Lindsey at The Bargain Blonde!  Her Link Party is here:

What a great idea!  I always wonder what the lovely bloggers do that I read about daily!  So, I guess I will tell you the story of what I 'do' for a living.  Besides my  super awesome new role as a MOMMY!

Once I graduated High School way back in the stone ages, I dabbled in college.  I mean dabbled.  Nothing I took (because of how you were able to pick in first year General Studies) was even interestng to me.  Computer Science?  Heck to the No.  Math, SORRY!  Any how, I worked full time at a large retail store for 12 years.  When I was in my 8th year, I decided it was time for me to go back to school.  "No thank you, I am not interested in your management team" They were so good to me as I took pre-requisites for my chosen profession.  I loved loved LOVED (still do) Biology and most Sciences.  I love people.  I love helping people.  It was pretty clear...I wanted to be a Regisitered Nurse.

Once I was in my Bachelors of Science in Nursing program my love for Nursing really blossomed. Four years of quite possibly the most difficult, time consuming, lovely, frustrating, awesome learning experiences later...I have my Degree. And I have been working as a RN in our beautiful new regional hospital since it opened and for two years prior to that in our very decrepid now demoloished hospital.  Totalling six years of doing what I love.

This lovely picture was taken on a hilarious night of hijinx in 2009...ha!  Mesh Undies are so sassy!
As for where in the hospital I work...well, I work in the ICU for patients with mostly terminal illness.  They are most likely have a pain crisis, intractable nausea and vomiting, gastro blockages, bleeds, care giver burnout or complicated family dynamics.  Or a host of other awful things that we pride ourselves on being able to help, comfort, love, care, support, treat, palliate, and just have so much compassion for. 

I love my job, moreover, I love my calling.  I miss it as I am on Materity Leave with my adorable lil man.  OK, cos I love you all, I am gonna share a TERRIBLE picture of me from Halloween of 2011.  I was MASSIVELY preggers with AJ and had polyhydramnios and edema like you wouldnt believe!  SO DONT JUDGE! HA!  My costume was a baker...I had a "Bun in the Oven"...my patients and families loved it! 

Side note here, Just remembering how much my patients "took care of me" while working being pregnant.  So sweet.  It may be taboo to say I can't wait to go back from Mat Leave, but I am so excited for February 2013. Tertiary Hospice Palliative Care Team! Yessssssssssss. 

Hug a Nurse...they spend thier days away from thier families caring for yours.  With Love.

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A Whale of a tale...

Ok so maybe no big tale, but I had the best trip to Homesense (HomeGoods in the US) ever! I took a quick trip to HomeSense yesterday with my Mom and AJ to pick up a microfiber drying mat for all AJ's bottles and dishes and came out with a whale size prize.  I LOVED him immediately and had to have him...



Baby Beluga?  Moby Dick? Willy?  Well not Willy...He is wood, painted white and distressed. Perfect!  I don\t know where I will hang him yet, but I will hang him.  Even if it isn't until I do AJ's big boy (?nautical) room design.  Maybe he is main bath bound?  Will he go in my plan? At any rate, I adore him.  What do you think?  Cute? Tacky? Nautical goodness?  Tell me what you think, I would love to hear from you!
On the Blog redesign front, waiting to hear from my designer.  I will share with you who I am working with once we start! Should be any day now! SO excited as it has been a long time coming :)

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Blog Under Construction Soon!

I have finally decided to take the plunge and get a total blog design overhaul.  My own personal customized look.  I have wanted to do this for a few years but just always had a reason not to.  I have contacted a designer and will start the process soon!  So excited!  Will share details soon! Taking suggestios for a TAG LINE!!!  Cannot think of one AT ALL!
Hugs,

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More than I can chew? Bathroom Plans

My hubbs claims I start too many projects at once.  I think that there is some validity in that statement.  OK, maybe a lot of it.  While I was cleaning our main bathroom, I decided I was going to pull off the old hardware from the cabinets. Aterall, I AM giving the bathroom a facelift.  A super friendly Budget Facelift thanks to my super maternity leave benefits (read: basically no money entering my bank account). 

Anyhow, I thought I would share what I am thinking I will do in there.  Pinterest has provided heaps of inspiration-

Source: favoritepaintcolors.blogspot.com via Becky on Pinterest

t

The wall color (already purchased) will be Sherwin Williams Sea Salt.  So excited about this color.  Looks close to this picture above in my bathroom.  I am also toying with the idea of board and batten...again...chewing way to fast? 

We are so lucky to have family that have a tile bussiness and they are more than generous. They are going to give us tile for the bathroom floor...as soon as something comes available (leftover from jobs usually!)...waiting on that.... 

As for what to do over the toilet...I am stuck.  shelves?  art?  a train rack? I am soooo up for suggestions!  Speaking of art, I did purchase a print I had been loving for a year! I heart Etsy!

Source: etsy.com via Becky on Pinterest

A simple clean waffle weave shower curtain like this:

Source: westelm.com via Becky on Pinterest

Another lovely deatail I am going to include is bath hooks instead of a towl bar.  I can just see AJ swinging on the bar in a few years...my lil monkey!  I like the numbers as well...we will see if I end up including those as well!

Source: adustbunnylife.com via Becky on Pinterest

Source: bystephanielynn.com via Becky on Pinterest

I think this DIY vintage window is adorable...hmmmmmmm.....

The old vanity will stay but get a fresh coat of white paint and new hardware. Does anyone have cabinet drawers that are SLANTED?  I will include a picture in my next bathroom post.  UGH! One last detail I think I will attempt to spruce up the old vanity will be to add some little 'feet' like this:

Source: theidearoom.net via Becky on Pinterest

cabinet before shot (you might wanna turn away!)

There you have it.  A plan...I have started.  Hardware is removed, paint swatches on walls to test color, and spackle filling holes as I type.  Gimme some time, I'm gonna need it.  AJ just can't pick up a paint brush and help yet!  NAPTIMES it is! 

Hope you stick wih me, I know I am a slow blogger.  I am trying to get a new look happening here so stay tuned for that as well.  Hope you have a fantastic day!

Becky :)

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Baby AJ pics and I promise...

Hello and welcome to a LONG over due post.  I made the dicision to not blog for the last few months as I found most of my tme was spent with my little angel boy AJ. Now that things are really settled and other than the daily changes AJ delights us with, I am actually finding it easier to have some "mommy" time.  I choose to spend some of it blogging again. And DIYing again. Excited. Yes.

As I have been away, I have still been following my ave bloggers and have been meaning to post a few things for some of them too.  I promised to post some pics for Liz to see that her little Charlie 2 weeks younger than AJ) is the same adorable size as AJ.  "Moose" as she calls him...so cute.  I lve chubbo healthy babes!

These were all taken with my iPhone so I am sorry if the quality is not as beautiful as they could be.  We even bought a lovely Nikon D3100 but I am scared of it. Lierally. I need to take some lessons from Sarah at Cozy. Cottage. Cute.  She takes beauty pics!

On the home from and jobs around the cottage here, well we are still plugging along.  Trying to finish up what we already started and have the supplied to finish up...but just hadnt.  In 2.5 years of being in this lovely little home.  So fun things happeneing...Hope you stick around to see!  Miss all your comments and interatcion.  Hope to be back consistently!  That is the plan after all!

much joy to you all!

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Baby What?! {catching up}

Hello? Is there anyone still out there? Who knew Mommyhood was so all consuming? It has taken me 6 weeks to get comfortable with trying to do anything other than 'all things Alexander'. What a blessing he is...growing so fast! He is already 7 weeks tomorrow! He is so expressive and his little smile melts our hearts...

My dear blog has really taken a back seat-can you blame me? {gratuitous Alexander pictures ahead}





Finally Josh has continued working on the mudroom...did you know it was started OVER 1 year ago? ugh...well I have been working on tie up shade for the screen door while baby A cat naps each day...long process ;) Josh has finished painting the trim and has to hang the hooks. Then I can decorate...I have a vintage window I plan to hang in there. Eventually I wish to have a shelf above the hooks but I am going easy on Daddio as this parenthood role has been just as challenging and new to him too.

And now for some more mudroom inspiration:

Source: Uploaded by user via Becky on Pinterest

Source: honeyandfitz.blogspot.com via Becky on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Becky on Pinterest

Source: inspirationfordecoration.blogspot.com via Becky on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Becky on Pinterest

My plan on how to do little projects around the house ect with sweetie-pie newborn as given to me by Katie Bower: 10 minute projects! I will do my best!

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Baby is Here! At last!

Finally , after waiting oh so patiently, our little man arrived ON HIS DUE DATE (Jan 24) at 2251! It was a very long day, starting with our regular OBGYN appt for a weekly check up. Well, things went quickly as my water broke in her office! Straight to the hospital I went with regular contractions starting almost immediately! We couldn't believe it!

Arriving at the hospital we were brought in to maternity triage to get our initial assessment and await our room. LOVE that you labor, deliver and recover in the same private room...so so nice. Long story short, I ended up having contractions for 9 hours without dilating past 7cm and the pain was getting INTENSE. I opted for an epidural around 1700, however, I did not get it until 2100 as there was only 1 anesthetist in the hospital and 2 emergence surgeries needed between being told it was coming tol I actually recieved it. The analgesics they gave me really didn't work, they allowed me to rest a bit in between contractions (1-3 min apart) ut the pain was still pretty intense.

Epidural insitu, they hug a bag of oxytocin to assist with dilation and withing a short period of time and watching over 1/2 hour, baby was stressed. So we ended up having an emergency c-section. I was so excited to meet my lil man, I wasn't the least but concerned...Daddy however was pretty nervous and did an great job sort of hiding that fact. He arrived safely, needed some intervention but is doing FANTASTIC! What a lil trooper!!

It took quite a few days to finalize his name but I am pretty sure we have agreed on Alexander James :) First doctor appt was today and all is well :)

I will leave you with a picture of my little man...baby Alexander. I think he is just perfect.





Feeling over joyed and VERY blessed,

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Cloffice Update

Hi everyone! Still no baby news...We are officially due on Tuesday, January 24th so I guess there is 'time'. I am however, very anxious to meet our little bundle soon! total sporadic contractions here and there is about it...and here I thought he would be 2 weeks early due to my polyhydramnios and BIG baby! HA!

Daddy has been nesting, putzing around on what he can. A few weekends ago we started the Cloffice project in the Dolly Room (Guest/Craft room). We worked pretty feverishly to get it all organized as it was a disaster catch-all after emptying baby's room. The design we came up with is VERY simple. We still need to figure out how to fill the back wall to maximize space and storage/function. But we wanted to get the desk in and the shelves as well. Here is what we have so far, then I will explain the plan for the decor ect.



We used a pine board from Home Depot to make the desk top surface. Josh made some brackets and secured the desk well, then prime and painted it with some super durable white paint. JOsh had the idea to 'fill' the deep spaces on each side of the closet with 2 narrow BILLY bookcases from IKEA. I was worried about weight, but he assured me it would work so we made a dash to IKEA, in and out from our house in 1hr 45 mins! Trust me SUPER fast if you know where we are in proximity to the Coquitlam Ikea! Sadly, I did not have time to do a lovely wall treatment with paint, stencils or wall paper...so it is the same wall color through out our home. Other than the nursery which is a lovely BM blue seafoam :)



The white storage boxes hail from both Ikea and Michaels. They are storing everything from craft paint to some of my important Nursing documents. Much organization to be done still...but it is already so much better. I haven't shown you Josh's side, as well...he has yet to put much there and put them in 'pretty' storage boxes. I am working on that ladies ;)

So, there is a tonne to do yet, but I am 'stuck'. We have had to use the old drawers (which you see under the desk top) from Ikea and a Rubbermaid drawer system for now to store papers and my Stamping/scrapbooking stuff. Eventually we have to bring the computer in there, but there is no hook-up at this time. See the 2 holes in the wall? Those need to be filled and painted and then we must come up with some neat storage or functional wall decor to maximize the space. I think I will be using the cork board on the wall-since I have it and like it. The lamp is from Ikea-Josh had to have that lamp, he really loved it! I have a stool to be refinished and we will utilize that as a chair...but I won't get to that until the warmer weather I am sure!

So, my questions for you all are as follows:
Do you have any awesome ideas for the back wall? Further organization ideas? Your feedback is MUCH appreciated as well, this soon to be Mommas brain is sorta on hiatus! Baby Brain is a real thing thank you very much! ;)

Hope you all have had a wonderful weekend and stayed warm n toasty! Our weather was nuts this past week! Much joy to you!

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