Serve Up Smiles with healthy Protein Puffs

in , , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Thursday, December 31, 2020

We did it. We made it to the end of this year and that my friends, is something to celebrate! I took a needed break from work the last few weeks and stepping back really helped me gain clarity, focus and optimism for the new year. I’m a natural optimist and tend to look for the good in situations, so I’m ending this year on a high note by sharing a new way to snack that I think you’re going to like. I’ve been serving up smiles with healthy protein puffs snacks from Happy Little Plants. Want to serve up smiles with plant-based protein puffs too? Here’s how.


Protein Puffs!

Serve up Smiles Healthy Protein Puffs

 It’s the most wonderful time of the year my friends. The holidays are finally here, and for some of us, that means gift crunch time! I’ll admit to being one of those people that actually enjoys being out in the crowd, bustling from store to store, gift list in hand. There is one store that I must shop at year after year - Macy’s! And the time to shop Macy’s for all your gifting needs is upon us. Folks, this Friday, December 11, is the Macy’s One Day sale where you can save up to 60 percent on gifts galore! Read on for some of my giftable ideas on my shopping list this year.


Ready, Set, Shop!


Macy's One Day Sale Friday 12/11


 Can you feel the magic of the holidays yet? Even though most of my decorations are still in boxes awaiting this weekend, I’ve been playing Christmas music since mid- November, so when Lev3L Digital asked their bloggers if we’d like to watch a new Christmas special and host a giveaway, a Lauren  I happily said yes. Today’s is about the giveaway for a holiday CD (more on that in a minute, but mostly it’s about Christmas Under the Stars A New Christmas special from Lauren Daigle premiering Sunday 12/6 on BYUtv app.



Christmas under the Stars with Lauren Daigle

Happy first day of December! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  While our gatherings may have been smaller this year, I sincerely hope you found ways to celebrate the day and make it memorable. Here it was just the four of us and we had a splendid day. There is something to be said for not having to be the hostess to a big family gathering. There was zero stress, which is always a blessing. Here’s another blessing hostesses will love whether the gathering is large or small, the NewAir 40 countertop clear icemaker. Read all the product details and my thoughts below.


Clear Ice at Home!


NewAir countertop clear ice maker

All My Favorite Things Fall Edition

in , , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Saturday, November 07, 2020

Happy November! As I sit here typing up this post, the weather outside is anything but frightful. In fact, it’s going to be 75 and sunny all weekend long! It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is coming up quickly when all I want to do is go outside and soak up the sun. All that to say, I’m not fully in the holiday spirit yet, so this post should be called part one of my favorite things fall edition since it doesn't showcase any Thanksgiving goodies. I many need to do a special holiday edition of my favorite things! Read on to see what I’m loving right now and hopefully; you see a product or two you’ll love as well.


Fall Favorites!



All My Favorite Things Fall Edition

English gardens have long held my fascination and admiration. From the quant cottage gardens in small villages, to the grander gardens that employ a bevy of gardeners, I’m a fan! So, imagine my delight when Quarto Group asked if I’d like to review, not one but two new books about famous English Gardens. Be still my heart! Read on to explore Sissinghurst: The Dream Garden and Somerset: The private tour.



Explore famous English Gardens: Sissinghurst and Somerset Book Reviews

We are gearing up to have a fun family style Halloween at home this year, so we’ve been planning dinner, snacks, and drink options. In our house, we all like to cook, so no matter the season, refrigerator space is always in short supply. I cleaned out all the condiments and leftovers I could, but that didn’t free up much space for drinks. I recently received an invitation from Newair to try a  to try out a new appliance from them that solved this problem. They sent me a complimentary 16 bottle free-standing wine cooler fridge which will save valuable refrigerator space now and throughout the busy holiday season coming up. If you’ve every thought you couldn’t possibly squeeze one more thing into your fridge, read on for details.



Space Saving Wine Fridge:


Save valuable fridge space with a free standing wine fridge

Five Expert Tips on Fall Closet Organization

in , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Thursday, October 22, 2020
 Even though every season has a full list of chores to do, most people tend to tackle closets in the spring. I did manage to re-organize one of our smaller closets this spring, but then I became overwhelmed with our overrun bedrooms closets and stopped. Now that it’s time to pack away warm season clothes, I knew I had to tackle fall closet organization this fall and now, thanks to Christina Giaquinto, home organization expert with Modular Closets.  I’ve got expert help in the form of her five tips she’s sharing here today. Let’s tackle this task once and for all with Christina’s help.

Five Expert Tips on Fall Closet Organization



Take me to an office supply store or let me shop online for organization tools and I am in my happy place. There is no way I can do my work as a blogger without at least one planner. Most years I have two, along with pads of paper, notebooks to write ideas down, file folders to organize my home office and good pens.  Imagine my absolute delight when I got word that I was going to receive a box full of goodies from the new Erin Condren Focused Collection! The word FOCUS spoke to me, because I had just been talking about taking something off my plate starting now, in the fourth quarter of 2020, so I could focus on organization, blog work and more with the new streamlined planners and tools by Erin Condren.

Erin Condren Focused Collection 2020-2021

As much as I’ve wished away some parts of this year, I’m happy to see fall arrive. I love this time of year! October finds me winding things down outside in the garden and soon enough, I’ll be turning my attention to indoor evening activities. I can remember my Mom used to do needlepoint and embroidery almost exclusively in the fall and winter months. While she did her best to teach me to embroidery pieces as well as she did, my stiches were always rudimentary, beginner level.  I regretted not learning this craft so I could teach my daughters, so when Fox Chapel Publishing invited me to review this book, I happily agreed, so I can better my skills and help my daughters learn how to embroidery animals too!


Cute Critters!



Learn how to embroidery with Animal Embroidery Workbook & giveaway


When I saw an email regarding Thomas the Tank Engine in my inbox, I opened it immediately. My family have been Thomas fans for almost 20 years now! My oldest daughter fell in love with Thomas before she was two, and we’ve all watched Thomas, Percy, Gordon, James, and the whole gang on Sodor Island ever since. It used to be a weekend tradition for us to watch the TV show, so I happily agreed to share the magic of Thomas and the Magic Railroad 20th Anniversary Edition Blu-Ray/DVD Giveaway with you today.



Ride The Rails with Thomas and Friends!



Thomas and the Magic Railroad 20th Anniversary Edition Blu-Ray/DVD Giveaway

Even though I’m not a Mom to littles anymore, I adore children’s books, so when I was asked if I would like to provide coverage of a new preschooler book,  I happily agreed because I know lots of Moms in my audience do have littles and any time I can support childhood literacy, I will. I loved reading to my girls from birth on and strongly feel that by doing so, I gave them the gift of reading as well, that's why I'm part of the Lola Koala's Travel Adventures Book tour! 


 September is Children’s Book month!


I’d love to introduce you to Dr. Tinita Kearney. (Dr. T),  a speech pathologist who wants to empower kids and their parents by teaching foundational language skills in a way that is fun and interactive. Read on to meet Lola Koala and learn four creative ways to help your toddler’s language skills.


Lola Koala’s Travel Adventures Book

Hello,  my movie loving friends, have I got exciting news for you!  If you are fans of the Dogs & Cats 1 and 2, then today is the day we have been all waiting for! Grab your paw-pcorn and delicious treats – and get ready for the highly anticipated release of Cats & Dogs 3: Paws Unite! – the all-new original movie from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment - available on Digital  today, September 15, and on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD on October 13! Read on to get the lowdown on the antics found in this movie.


Movie Release!




Cats & Dogs 3: Paws Unite Movie

I still remember exactly what I was doing and who I was with on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. It was just a little before nine am and my then 2- year old daughter and I were preparing to watch Sesame Street when I got the call from my husband who was on his way to work. That call changed our day and world forever. Do you remember where you were on that tragic day in American history? This year, I’ve been invited to join Wreaths Across America for a special remembrance to honor the Freeport Flag Ladies and those affected by 9/11 and wanted to share their story and extend the invitation to you.


Raise your Flag on 9/11

Can you believe we are in the middle of August already? I took last week off from writing so I could focus on getting my daughter all set for her senior year of high school and to work on my other business, Avon. I’ve been a work at home Mom for many, many years, but I know many of you are working from home for the first time during back to school season. A position many never thought would happen. It can be a tricky transition from office to home office.  First of all, you are no longer surrounded by coworkers, instead you’ve got family and pets, who can grab your attention quickly. Your mindset might be completely different at home than at work, so have grace with yourself during the transition!  Despite its challenges, working from home can be a great opportunity to be productive and possibly even take your quality of work up a notch, with these eight simple productivity tips while working from home.


Eight Simple Productivity Tips while working at home

Happy Friday dear readers. If you’ve followed this blog for long, you know I adore gardening and share lots of nature photos here and on social media.  However,  for today’s review and giveaway, lets go inside out of the sweltering August heat and have a house party! A Houseplant party by Lisa Steinkopf is a perfect book for houseplant lovers and those that want to be. Plus, there’s easy to make DIY projects to help you display your houseplants.


It’s time to Party!

Houseplant Party Book Review and Giveaway

Welcome to August and the dog days of summer, where the fruit gets sweeter and juicer by the day. I love having fresh fruit available for my family and friends, but I over the years, I’ve noticed that kids won’t think twice about eating fruit that may or may not be washed. Recently, Arm and Hammer sent me a fabulous solution; their Fruit & Vegetable Wash along with two other helpful cleaning essentials I think you are going to love as much as I do.

Summer Fruit Bowl!




Three Helpful Cleaning Essentials I love this summer Fruit Bowl

All My Favorite Things Summer Edition

in , , , , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Way back in February, before Nashville was hit with a devastating tornado and before the ongoing pandemic flared up, my daughter and I optimistically started a new monthly blog series called All My Favorite Things. You can see the original post here.  We thought this would be a fun way for us to share a few products, mainly beauty and accessories, that we were enjoying that month. Then life happened and our normal routines were upended. Since doing a monthly series seems out of reach right now, we decided instead to do a seasonal post, so here is our All My Favorite Things Summer Edition.



Summer Favorites!




All my Favorite Things Summer Edition

Happy July friends! I hope you all had a wonderful 4th! I took some much-needed time off and must say, the stay-cation was just what I needed! I’m all set to jump back into blogging and think it’s pure serendipity that my first post back is a book review called The Vacation. If you like psychological thrillers, then the latest book by T.M. Logan, The Vacation is for you.


The Vacation by T.M. Logan Book Review #BookedUpAllNightReads


Did you know that last month was National Vision Month? It seems like there is a national month or day for pretty much everything these days, and while I take most of them in stride with a smile, I try to make my families eye health a priority, so I was happy to receive an email from Viteyes®, a leading eye supplement company who invited me to try their supplements and share some helpful information with you today. Their supplements were made to help ease tired eyes due to screen time and blue light.


Help For Tired Eyes:



Blue Light Defender Supplements to help ease tired eyes #ad


Have you ever started singing a song simply from hearing a word or phrase? I know I do! In fact, music plays a big part of my life with my husband as well. From going to concerts together, to sharing a new cool tune we’ve discovered, music has been a staple in our relationship for almost 30 years. When I was asked if I’d like to receive a complimentary board game called Spontuneous The Song Game to share with you, I happily agreed because I thought it would be a perfect gift for my husband and I thought you might be looking for a last minute gift idea for Father’s Day. Come check out this game for cool music loving Dads with me.


Great Father's Day Gift Idea!


Spontuneous: The Song Game for Cool Music Loving Dads


I first learned about today’s book author, Nicole Johnsey Burke on my Instagram feed. Her account, GardenaryCo. is a lush, colorful garden paradise! If you love to garden, or want to start, you’ll want to follow that Instagram account for sure. Today’s post is about her newest book-  Kitchen Garden Revival- A modern guide to creating a stylish, small scale, low maintenance edible garden. I am thrilled to hold this book in my hands! I have talked myself out of having another garden for one too many seasons, but not this summer. It’s not too late for me or you to have a small kitchen garden this year, so let’s get started.


Fresh from the Garden!



Kitchen Garden Revival Book shares garden crop
Hello June and hello to summer with all it’s fun activities! One of my families favorite summer activities is having cookouts or bonfires where we serve S’mores for dessert. There’s just something so wholesome and fun about serving this dessert and now, thanks to Stuffed Puffs latest creation, we can have yummy double chocolate S'mores dessert to welcome summer!


Stuffed Puffs for the Summer Dessert Win- S’mores!


Yummy Double Chocolate S’mores dessert to welcome summer



On Memorial Day, I celebrated another trip around the sun by spending time with my family who showered me with love and lots of goodies to plant and tend to in my garden. They know that being in nature, surrounded by flowers, herbs and lush greenery is my Zen. One of the pluses of being in my fifties is I know myself really well and I’ve come to accept that my body, while still very capable, will respond to a day in the garden with aches and pains, especially in my back and knees by nightfall. Thankfully, I’ve discovered some simple steps to relieve my sore muscles that I think will help you this summer too.




Three Simple steps to help relieve sore muscles this summer


It’s beginning to look a lot like, Memorial Day weekend and the kickoff to summer fun, so why am I posting about Christmas in May? Apparently, this lover of all things Christmas didn’t get the memo that some Americans start putting up their Christmas lights now to help spread cheer throughout the year. Are you among them?  Now that I know this tidbit of information, I’ll be looking for Christmas decorations everywhere. 

Don’t feel like putting up the full display just yet? Well, have no fear, as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is dedicating this week’s Top 10 Binge Watching Guide to the most wonderful time of the year to lift your spirits and make you feel jolly!


Christmas in May: Warner Bros. Top 10 Binge Watching Guide#BingeWatchWednesdays



One of the ways I invite each new season into my home is by changing up my tablescapes. I do this by adding seasonal touches like flowers in pretty vases and containers, textural items like raffia and ribbons and of course lots of color found in nature during the current season. When I received an invitation to work with Hy-Lite acrylic craft blocks, I immediately started thinking of festive, seasonal vases. I received three complimentary Hy-Lite acrylic craft blocks that I used to make a spring, summer, and fall vase that I hope will inspire you to try this fun DIY.



 Easy DIY Seasonal Vases with Hy-Lite Acrylic Craft Blocks

It's May first and Friday, which makes today extra special in my book. I love May for so many reasons! The main one being the weather. May welcomes outside and reintroduces us to our yards that need cutting, our flowerbeds that need tending and our porches, decks and patios that need a deep cleaning. With all that outdoor time, we are prone to coming in contact with lots of dust and pollen, that's why I was happy to team up with a great group of bloggers to bring you today's giveaway. Read on to discover how we are saying Hello May! with a fab Breathe Freely Wellness Bundle and meet some new bloggers along the way.



Breathe Freely Wellness Bundle Giveaway

Tomorrow, April 22, 2020 marks 50 years of Earth day. Every year, my family and I celebrate this special day by planting trees, visiting Centennial Park to celebrate Earth Day with other Nashville area Earth Lovers, picking up trash from roadsides, supporting local nurseries and more. However, as with so many other events normally held this time of year, things will be different this year thanks to our need to stay home. That doesn't mean we can't all come together digitally to celebrate 50 years!



#EarthDay2020 Digtial Celebration



Happy Friday! It’s hard for me to believe we’ve already reached the middle of April! It feels like this month is simply zooming when compared to last month. March may have had thirty-one days, but I’m fairly sure we all lived those days twice or something, because March really took a toll on our nation and the world. I’m doing my best to remain hopeful during these trying times and I’ve found that spending time reading and studying the bible for a few minutes in the morning is helping. I received a complimentary Life Essentials Interactive Study Bible from Lev3l Digital to review and host a giveaway. Read on to learn more about this new bible.


Read. Watch. Apply. 


Life Essentials Interactive Study Bible Giveaway #ad


Last month, I received a beautifully wrapped spa collection set of Roux newest hair care line, Precious Oils Collection to review. I could tell by the attention to detail of the packaging (complete with tied bow!) that I was in for a treat. Roux didn’t disappoint! They sent me a thick terry robe with matching slippers and three full sized products in a lovely shade of yellow that made me immediately think of lemons, which I love. Imagine my delight when I  opened the products for their sniff test, and they smell delightfully lemony! Read on to for my full review of the complete weightless precious hair care collection.



#ad Review: Roux® Weightless Precious Oils Hair Care Collection


Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Greg Landry's Homeschool Labs.


Happy Saturday friends. The term homeschool has taken on a whole new meaning for so many over the last few weeks hasn't it? In our home, we have Juniors. One in college and one in high school. Fortunately, they are self- starters who do all their assignments independently and have continued to do all assignments provided by their respective schools. When I was asked if I'd like to collaborate with Greg Landry (a homeschool STEM pioneer) to share his free Homeschool Labs Student COVID-19 Printable Lesson & Worksheet I said yes, because I feel science is an important subject and this is a timely topic that can help our middle and high school students better understand the COVID-19 virus.


Daughter doing homework

Happy Saturday friends! I usually start my giveaway’s on Friday’s, but decided why not start this one early for a little Saturday fun? Have you been getting outside more these past few weeks? We sure have!  We’ve been planting flowers and herbs, picking up limbs and other yard debris and taking lots of walks. All this leads to the need for portable hydration and I have the perfect solution! I can now hydrate easily with the Zoku 18 ounce insulated stainless steel water bottle. It keeps water cool and refreshing for hours. They were kind enough to send me a complimentary one for today’s post and giveaway, so you can try one too!

A Beautiful Spring Day!



A spring day at the park

Hello friends! We’ve made it to the last Friday of the month and boy, what a month it’s been. Our collective world’s have been turned upside down for what feels like months, so today, I want to control what I can in my little corner of the web by hosting a giveaway for you, just like I’ve done on countless other Friday’s. Today’s giveaway is one I think you’ll really like because I know how much you love eating healthy snacks and learning about good for you food and supplements, which aligns with today’s sponsor, CocoaVia™  mission perfectly.  Their products can help your body perform at it’s best. Read on to learn more about them and enter our giveaway.




CocoaVia™ helps your body perform at its best + Giveawa


For most families, spring break has come and gone in a blink. This March looks vastly different than last year where spring break vacations and camps were the norm. Today, I’m welcoming a guest post from the American Camp Association on their virtual camps starting this week. I hope you'll find this list of ten free ACA virtual camps helpful. All camps listed below are available to join and enjoy immediately.




Ten Free ACA Virtual Camps for Kids:


Boys smiling at camp





With the official start of spring just one week away, I wanted to continue sharing helpful gardening resources with you so you can be armed with lots of information and tips to start the gardening season off strong. Today, I’m reviewing and hosting a giveaway for a fantastic resource on shrubs and hedges. This is a newly published book written by Eva Monheim. It’s a practical, ordinary person’s guide to choosing, planting, and caring for the world’s most popular plants, shrubs and hedges. Personally, I love having them in my yard and garden. They add so much beauty and color and are a bee’s paradise. Read on to learn about my favorites and how you to can add shrubs & hedges to your garden plan this year and enter the giveaway!


My All Time Favorite Shrub- Lilac!


Lilacs in bloom


It all started innocently enough on Friday evening. I entered a cool giveaway on Instagram for a wonderful craft prize bundle to celebrate March National Crafting Month. I entered and naturally shared the love with a couple of my crafty friends. One of these friends direct messaged me to ask what I’m going to create this month. Great question I said! Because, it seriously is a great question. I may make a new spring wreath, or new garden stakes and plant markers, or I could finally allow myself to set aside the time to learn a new craft like crewel embroidery like my Mom used to do. Or maybe I’ll make a simple pastel flower garland to brighten our hearth and welcome spring. The possibilities are truly endless thanks to all the fun classes available with Bluprint!


What will you create in National Crafting Month? #Bluprintaffiliate


I was sharing with my daughter Melissa that I wanted to learn how to take better flat lay photos like hers recently, when she said she would be happy to teach me by showing me how. I’m so stoked to be working with her because she slays flat lay photography and is on top of all things beauty and fashion. We’ve decided to do a new blog series together called All My Favorite Things. Welcome to the February Edition, we hope you like it.



My Favorite Things in February:




All My Favorite Things February Edition


Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope today has been filled with all the people and things that make you feel loved. One way I show love here is to host giveaways.  I’m especially happy to share that today’s giveaway is a favorite- candles! Not just any candles, these are beautiful hand poured candles with wooden wicks, made locally in Franklin TN. You may remember my holiday candle set giveaway from November, where I introduced you to Amber Vale Home. That giveaway had over 1500 entries in just a week, so I know you will love this giveaway and I hope you’ll join me in celebrating my partnership with them as their ambassador! I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to share this small business with amazing candles with you.



Amber Vale Home Candles #ad #giveaway

Even though it’s been a few years since I was a room Mom setting up a classroom party in middle and elementary school, I remember always putting allergy reminders on the classroom sign up invitations. Even though I’d ask for individually wrapped treats with no peanuts or eggs, there would still be a well-meaning parent that would send in treats that weren’t clearly labeled. Finding just the right classroom approved treats can be stressful!  I’m happy to share a solution for this problem just in time for Valentine’s day parties and gift exchanges- Made Good Chocolate Chip Mini Granola Bars in a just for Valentine’s Day size box!


Yummy Treats!



Made Good mini granola bars for Valentine's Day

Maybe it’s the dreary weather, but February finds me wanting to clean and organize my home. I look around and see hot spots here and there, but I’m giving myself grace and reminding myself that this is a home full of people making these hot spots and it will take time to get to each area.  I’ve decided to start small with the most obvious hot spot- my kitchen cabinets and the plethora of plastic containers. I’ve tried getting rid of them completely, but that only lasts so long, because we are a family that cooks, so having handy storage containers is a must. Thankfully, a solution arrived when I was asked if I’d like to review Zoku products, including their Neat Stack Nesting Container Set, which will make organizing kitchen cabinets a snap!


Organized Plastic Containers:



Zoku Nesting Containers for kitchen cabinet organization #ad

The Complete Book of Ferns Giveaway

in , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Friday, January 31, 2020

It’s the last Friday of the first month of the year, so let’s celebrate with a giveaway!  I’m ready for whimsical February to arrive and bring along some warmer temperatures. While we wait for garden season, I’ve been reading gardening books and sharing them here with you. Recently, I’ve been learning about Ferns from The Complete Book of Ferns by Mobee Weinstein. I’ve been wanting to add ferns to my outdoor gardens, so being asked if I’d like to review it and host a giveaway was a happy bit of luck.



Outdoor ferns stretch up to the sunlight
from The Complete Book of Ferns 

One of the best gifts I received over the holiday’s was a box of Sitka Wild Alaskan Coho Salmon and  Wild Alaskan Pacific Cod straight from the fishermen in Sitka Alaska. To my delight, I opened the special cold delivery box to find beautiful pieces of flash frozen Salmon and Cod. My mouth watered, just thinking of all the ways I might cook these beauties. Since we’re back to busy work and school schedule’s I wanted to share a super simple Salmon recipe that will have you out of the kitchen fast. It is such a crowd pleaser here at my house, and I’m betting your family is going to love my Pan Seared Lemon Pepper Salmon too.



Winner, Winner, Salmon Dinner!




 Pan Seared Lemon Pepper Salmon #recipe


This post is sponsored by General Mills. All thoughts and opinions are my own.



Okay busy ladies everywhere, I see you. The holidays are behind us, the kids are back at school and your back to work game is strong, so strong that it doesn’t even feel like you stepped away at all in the last weeks of 2019. Is that you? Because, that has been me. Year after busy year going by with me steadfast in the knowledge that as long as I planned my days, all would be well. I planned my days, so well in fact that I stopped allocating time for a proper breakfast. Countless mornings found me grabbing a quick bowl of cereal that I mindlessly ate at the kitchen sink. Sound familiar? Why don’t we all make time to sit and savor breakfast more often this year?




#ad Cheerios™ Oat Crunch Oats ‘N Honey for breakfast




Happy New Year and happy Friday dear blog readers! I’m pretty stoked to be starting my tenth year of blogging this year! My blogoversary isn’t until September, but I’m counting this whole year as a victory! Which leads me to today’s post about a really cool book I received last month to share with you called The Pollinator Victory Garden Book by Kin Eierman. In the Pollinator Victory Garden Book, Kim will teach us how to win the war on pollinator decline with ecological gardening. Don’t worry if you have never gardened before, this book will take you by the hand walk you through the process and winter is the perfect time to plan for this year’s garden!



The Pollinator Victory Garden Book Review and Giveaway #ad

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