Our Holly Days

By Holly Sosa

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MyGo2Pen #CollectiveBias

We gotta go back! Back! Back to school agaiiiiinnnnn! Anyone else singing along with me? Anyone…? Cool.

For a stationery addict like me, back to school season is the most wonderful time of the year. Every store I wander into has some kind of stationery or art supply on sale, there are fun new products to try and my favorite classics are always on sale at Walmart. This is when I get stocked up on my beloved Pilot G2 gel pens in all the colors along with highlighters, label stickers, pretty pencils, and fresh new notebooks begging for a purpose and scribbled pages.

Without fail each year, I pick up my Pilot G2 pens and a package of dot stickers for adding school schedules to my planner. In the planner community, we practically froth at the mouth for our beloved Pilot G2 pens to go on sale. They’re one of the most popular pens because they offer a variety of point sizes (but really anything less than 1.0mm is blaspheme!) in their silky smooth ink which is available in 15 colors, a planner addicts dream! They understannnnddddd us planners and how one size doesn’t fit all. We need point options, of which they offer four; we need color options, of which they have 15 (including metallics!). And best of all, the smooth gel ink doesn’t smear or smudge when I write in my trusty sidekick planner.

Save $0.75 on any ONE 4-pack (or larger) of G2 Gel Ink pens.

The dot stickers help make for quick reference of our school schedule right in my planner when I’m scheduling mini vacations or planning out visitations within our blended family. Most planners come with a year at a glance page inside that goes ignored, but I’ve repurposed this forgotten section to work for me so that I don’t have to carry around yet another school handout.

SUPPLIES

• planner
• dot stickers
• school schedule
• Pilot G2 pen

The first thing I do is use my Holy Grail pen, a Pilot G2, to circle all of our minimum days. My kids have one every week and I have actual anxiety about forgetting to pick them up, so I circle the days when I’ll need to note to pick them up early.

The next task is to mark off the weekends with my dot stickers, because no one goes to school on Saturday or Sunday. We’re watching cartoons and eating pizza, right?

And finally, I reference the school calendar handout and place a dot over each day that my kiddos will have off. From holidays to winter and spring breaks, I dot them all. Yes, even summer break. For me, the purpose is to quickly be able to reference the days my kiddos are in school at a glance. Groups of dots make it easy for my brain to process the information.

If you’re not a planner nerd like me, this method could easily be applied to a wall calendar or family calendar that you already use. The goal is to eliminate extra paper around the house and to gather all of the family schedules into one place for easy reference. Whichever method you use to do that, supplementing with this will be a fabulous way to keep track of days off, teacher in-service days, and minimum/half days.

Be sure to visit your local Walmart for your back to school supply shopping, including these dot stickers and Pilot G2 pens in a variety of colors and points.

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By Holly Sosa

I have received information and materials from JOHNSON & JOHNSON CONSUMER, Inc., McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division, LLC. The opinions stated are my own. This is a sponsored post. #PositivelyPrepared #BacktoSchool #CollectiveBias

My little dudes go back to school this week, which means we’ve spent the first part of the week getting back on schedule, preparing for the new routines, and stocking up on school supplies. As a stationery addict, I’m never satisfied with the classic plain yellow pencils so after our trip to Target for supplies, I went to work making our fresh new pencils a little more fun.

SUPPLIES

• plain pencils
• washi tape

To start, simply stick the washi tape underneath the eraser piece of the pencil.

Wrap the washi tape around, going down the length of the pencil, until you reach the end and trim off any excess.

And it’s that easy, friends! You can sharpen like normal since washi tape is so thin, or if you prefer you can simply tear off the washi tape as you go.

In addition to all of our back to school supplies, while at Target I was also sure to grab essentials to stock up our medicine cabinet. I’m not about to let any of those pesky back to school germs throw my schedule off track, ha! We fight off those back to school aches and pains with Children’s TYLENOL®, Ultra Strength BENGAY® Cream (stress neck aches anyone?) and TYLENOL® PM to ensure we’re prepared and can keep on truckin’ through our busy schedules. Our productive day has to start off with mom getting her much coveted sleep, so I use TYLENOL® PM to relieve minor aches and pains while also helping me to fall asleep. And when my neck flares up with back to school stress, I rub Ultra Strength BENGAY® Cream into my muscles for soothing relief. The two are a combination for a restful and ache-free night’s sleep. And for that inevitable first back to school fever bug that’s going to hit, I stocked up on our trusted Children’s TYLENOL® for ages 2-11 so all three of my kiddos can get relief without an upset tummy that other medicines tend to give them.

This year, be sure to prepare your medicine cabinet while you’re out stocking up on fun school supplies to help ensure your family stays ache free this year. You can find all your essentials, including the same ones I use, at your local Target.

Get positively prepared with the right pain relief for you and your family at Target.com/jjpainrelief.

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By Holly Sosa

This post was sponsored by Boden as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. I received complimentary products to facilitate my review.

With three kiddos to shop for during back to school season, I try to get a head start on their clothes shopping. While current forecasts are all sunshine, I know that fall will be here before I can even blink and all three of my babes are going to need warmer (and stylish, of course!) clothing. Mini Boden’s Back to School line offers fun styles, unique prints, and no pesky tags, so they were my first stop. Mini Boden is one of my favorite places to shop for my kiddos; especially when it comes to back to school season. Their pieces are durable and made to last from morning recess all the way through the cafeteria and then back home. Pieces are also machine washable and made with soft, comfy fabrics. Plus with free shipping when I make a minimum purchase of $49, it’s a worry-free choice for back to school.

This Big Creature T-Shirt is one of my favorite pieces that I picked up for Collin. He loves sporting the treacherous snake on his chest and I love that it’s fun while also being durable enough to withstand the wear and tear he’ll put on it during the school year. I paired it with their Coloured Skinny Jeans in black and some velcro strap boots for a fun and boyish look that my tough guy loves.

For Evelyn, I picked up these Fun Leggings in the English China stencil pattern and paired it with the Pintuck Ruffle Dress in Pin Spot Denim, though I had a hard time deciding between the Pin Spot Denim or Honeycomb Cord. She wore some ankle boots with a sparkle fringe with the pieces and she couldn’t possibly have looked more ready to welcome hot cocoa and pumpkins!

Mini Boden’s top back to school sellers include leggings, boys and girls tees, girls dresses, and shorts. You can stock up on all of these and get 25% off your Mini Boden purchase just for being an Our Holly Days reader. Just answer a couple of fun back to school questions to get your code emailed to you and then have fun shopping!

You can also get your hands on Mini Boden and enter to win one of three $500 shopping vouchers that are valid at both Mini Boden and Boden.

The contest is open from August 1st through the 22nd, 2016. Use the tool below to enter and share with your friends. I-C will randomly select three winners from all program entries and will handle the fulfillment of the winning prizes.

#BacktoSchoolwithBoden Giveaway

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By Holly Sosa

It’s time to start preparing my home for all the insane early mornings that the new school year will bring. As a self-proclaimed organization junkie, I like to try to tackle any small projects that need to be done before the school year starts to ensure our mornings aren’t spent searching for a pen to write a note to a teacher or tape to fix a rip in homework papers. One of our most used and oddly, most neglected, places in our home is our junk drawer. Inspired by Wayfair’s campaign to Make Mornings Manageable, I decided to tackle the abyss and I’m happy to say I survived.

Here’s an idea of what I started with. Appropriately enough, a drawer filled with junk.

The best way to begin an organization project is to start from scratch, so I completely empties the drawer onto my counter.

A clean slate is so satisfying. Though it might be time for a new drawer organizer.

A little organization tip to make things feel more put together is to line your drawers with contact paper (some of my faves).

I went through the contents of the junk drawer item by item. Reassigning items like light bulbs and thumbtacks to my small tool bag and designating compartments in the organizer for things like batteries and tape.

Some ideas for junk drawer essentials to keep on hand:

• a flashlight
• matches
• scissors
• a small blade or box cutter
• tape
• pens/pencils
• a pad of paper
• batteries
• a sewing kit

The project took me less than 30 minutes and I felt accomplished. It gave me sweet satisfaction only a good purging can give. And now at least this often used drawer will be efficient, even if I can’t get the rest of the morning together, we’ll at least be able to find a pen with ease!

Check out my Junk Drawer Organization Idea Board on Wayfair for my favorite picks to help you organize your own junk drawer.

Junk Drawer Organization

Holly S.

See Idea Board on

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By Holly Sosa

My husband and I host a weekly community group in our home with our church. It’s become one of our favorite days of the week and it’s a running joke that the way I entice people to come is with my sweets. I try to whip up something new and tasty to serve our friends each week. My love language is food, which means no one leaves my house with an empty stomach.

A few weeks ago, I made this Strawberry Trifle, a recipe I got from my sister who served it to me and my family during a visit we made to her home. It was creamy strawberry perfection and I knew I was going to need the recipe as soon as that first bite hit my mouth.

To start, I diced up a full carton of strawberries and set them aside.

Then I grabbed a bowl and added a packet of vanilla pudding mix, some sweetened condensed milk, and water and mixed it all together. I covered it and stuck it in the fridge for exactly five minutes. I even set a timer because I didn’t want the pudding mix to get completely solid yet.

While the pudding mixture chilled, I cubed a store bought pound cake.

Once the pudding mixture had chilled for a perfect five minutes, I pulled it out and folded in a container of Cool Whip.

Next, I set up my strawberries, pound cake, and pudding mixture in an assembly line and layered them little by little in a clear trifle dish. First pudding, then cake, then strawberries. Repeat until you’ve used everything.

Once it was layered, I covered it and stuck it in the fridge to firm up for two hours before serving it to my community group. Everyone loved it and I think I caught a couple people going back for thirds. I sent everyone home with a small plate full to share with their family members who couldn’t make it.

This Strawberry Trifle makes a perfect potluck dish since it travels well. You won’t mess anything up with this layered treat! And it’s just so yummy! In fact, I bet this would be the most requested recipe at the potluck.

Strawberry Trifle

Print

Ingredients

• one quart strawberries
• vanilla pudding mix (large packet)
• one can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz)
• 1½ cups cold water
• one pound cake (store brand is fine)
• one tub (16 oz) Cool Whip

Instructions

1. Dice strawberries up and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, combine vanilla pudding mix, condensed milk, and water.
3. Place mixture into fridge for five minutes.
4. While mixture is setting, dice up pound cake into small squares.
5. After five minutes, pull out pudding mixture from fridge and fold in cool whip.
6. In a large trifle dish layer pudding mixture, then pound cake, then strawberries. Repeat in layers until all three ingredients are completely gone.

3.5.3208

For more recipes like this one, along with crafts, style tips, and more, be sure to follow the Our Holly Days page on Facebook.

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By Holly Sosa

Google gave me a voucher to try their Google Express services. Google Express has saved me money, sanity from standing in long lines, and most importantly, given me time with my kiddos. My Saturdays are now spent hanging out with my best friends instead of waiting in lines for our family’s home and grocery essentials. This post is sponsored by them, but reflects my own thoughts, opinions, and ideas about the Google Express service. Scroll down for a gift from Google to my readers so you can also try out this awesome new service for free. Thank you to Google for partnering withe me. And thank you readers for supporting the brands that support this blog and my family.

This summer, with five kiddos at home life’s been busy. In our blended family, we are always on the move and travel frequently so when we get to be home, I try to maximize our time together by shopping for our basics online with Google Express and with crafts or activities we can do as a family. This past Saturday, the littlest Sosas and I made our own Moon Sand at home using just two ingredients. Since I can order my Costco essentials online, I get to spend my Saturdays at home creating with my kiddos again rather than standing in the dreaded Saturday Costco line. And let’s be real here, Moon Sand is way more fun (yes, even as an adult!) than lines. If you like Moon Sand as much as I do, keep reading so you can find out how you can rescue your Saturday and try Google Express for free.

SUPPLIES

• baby oil (one part)
• flour (eight parts)

To make the Moon Sand, we simply measured out eight cups of flour.

And then added in one cup of baby oil.

We mixed and stirred and got it all combined together.

And then we had a blast with sensory play! I separated some portions out into bowls and gave the kids some kitchen tools to use and experiment with. It was kind of messy, but it was nothing a simple move outside onto the porch couldn’t solve.

While the kiddos wrapped up their Moon Sand play, I escaped to my computer for a few minutes to place a quick order through my Google Express account for our Costco essentials. We’ve been traveling so much this summer and it’s so helpful to be able to order the basics and more from our favorite stores using Google Express. Since we also live in a rural area, ordering through Google Express saves me time, gas, and money by eliminating extra and regular back and forth trips to Target, Costco, Walgreens, Kohl’s, and several more.

You have to try out Google Express yourself and I’ve got goodies so you can jump on the train with me for stress free shopping from home! Use code FREETIME to get a six month membership (which includes free shipping!) for free! Just follow this link, choose the try it free option, and enter the FREETIME code to redeem. Then click become a member and start shopping! I’ve also been given a code to get you $15 off your first purchase so when you’re done shopping, use code to redeem your $15 credit.

Try Google Express for yourself and then post on Instagram or Twitter with hashtags #MyNewSaturday and #GoogleExpress to share how using the service has refreshed your Saturdays!

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By Holly Sosa

This post may contain affiliate links.

Last summer, I was all about the romper. I wore them everywhere and while there is still a place in my heart for the romper, this summer has quickly become the year of the shirt dress. It’s practically pajamas only more socially acceptable. And as someone who always needs to be comfortable in her clothes, I’m having some serious feels for the shirt dress. At first, I have to admit, it was hard to figure out how to style it so that it doesn’t just look like a potato sack, but with some experimenting, it’s become one of my most fashion forward pieces. Today I’m sharing three ways to wear a shirt dress that are my trusty go to styles in hopes you’ll be inspired to try this comfy chic dress.

Throw it back to the 90’s

Grab a plaid top and cinch it around your waist 90’s-style. Add some sneakers for the ultimate casual look that’s also comfy for running errands. Bonus points for rocking some 90’s sunnies, like these full circle ones and a fabulous black velvet choker like this one.

Glam it up with a skirt

If you’re wanting a more pulled together look for work or school, just slip a skirt on over the top of your shirt dress. Wear a pair of heels and add some beachy waves to your hair for a gorgeous glam casual ensemble. For sunnies, there’s no better choice than a pair of cat eyes with big lenses.

Get boho chic

Grab your favorite kimono and rock some booties for a boho chic look. Accessorize with a chunky necklace and some aviators.

The shirt dress in each of these styles is by Fight Apparel. It’s roomy, comfy, and breathes well (which in the desert is important). I own several pieces from this fun faith-based shop and recommend it to everyone who compliments my outfit when I’m wearing one of their pieces. This particular piece is versatile and works with any of these looks, which is why I adore it so much!

Hopefully my little ode to the shirt dress inspires you to add one to your wardrobe this summer. But hey, if you don’t like being comfortable and looking fabulous at the same time, that’s on you (sarcasm).

Be sure to follow the Our Holly Days page on Facebook for more style tips, outfit inspiration, and more.

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By Holly Sosa

Netflix invited me to the premiere of their new original animated series, Beat Bugs. They’ve also given me a free subscription to their service to facilitate this post. All thoughts, opinions, and ideas are my own. Thank you to Netflix for partnering with me and thank you readers for supporting the brands that support my family and this blog.

Last week, the kiddos and I loaded up our Chevy and drove from our sleepy desert town towards Hollywood. We were invited to attend the Beat Bugs premiere with Netflix and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to jam to some of our favorite Beatles tunes via the new animated Netflix Original Series.

My littlest kiddos were super stoked to be invited to an event that was created around them and I was just excited because I heard there’d be booze. The event was held at the Los Angeles restaurant Au Fudge and Netflix had set up complimentary valet for the event. I felt very high class.

When we walked in we were greeted by friendly faces and a fun green carpet. And I was promptly handed a white sangria while the kids were served fruit boxes on a silver tray.

The kiddos got to choose fun hats based on the characters from the series and Netflix also had a little photo area set up for the kids to pose. I’m never one to pass up a good cheesy photo op.

The screening room was one of the spaces in the restaurant that they had cleared out and tossed a ton of bean bags into for the kids. Pretty much optimum kid watching setting. Evelyn wasted no time before jumping into the pile and dancing around.

Netflix had set up a fun coloring book station and tattoo station with temporary tattoos of the Beat Bugs characters.

We were served all kinds of goodies like flatbread pizza, sliders, and macaroni and cheese balls.

And Evelyn drank no less than twelve juice boxes.

The show was awesome and it made my heart happy to hear so many young kiddos singing Beatles songs together. Each episode is what I like to call snack sized, which just means they were 10-15 minute episodes perfect for the attention span of a snacking toddler. They played three episodes, which was a good choice because the little room ended up being packed to the gills with people. We were all sitting extra close to each other. We got personal. I got sweaty.

Once the screening was over, Evelyn informed me she took her shoes off and put them in Andie’s room. Only Andie’s room was 90 miles away at home. I then turned over every bean bag searching for the brand new moccasins that I purchased the literal week before. And it was then that I discovered my three year old is a magician because that whole restaurant couldn’t find her shoes.

I gave up because I was sweaty and hot and by myself with my four kids. Read: no backup and now that I know my three year old is magic, I need to keep close watch in case she decided to make herself disappear next. We did a few dance moves in the DJ room, shoeless and sweaty.

After we all busted a move on the dance floor, I decided it was time for us to bid farewell to Hollywood. Really though, I was sweaty and gross and worried I was starting to stink. The Netflix staff gave the kids each a box full of swag and I forced my kids to stop for this picture.

Evelyn, shoeless, on the front steps of the restaurant while I waited for valet to bring our car around. At least we got some super rad swag for each of the kids! It totally made up for the lost shoes!

While my kiddos and I did, at the end of it all, have a total blast, I couldn’t help but feel that I totally and completely failed at being a fun Hollywood mom. All of the other moms there looked effortless and fun and put together. By the end of the screening, I had stripped down to just a stained white tank top that I was previously hiding under a kimono. My daughter lost her shoes and that family we got up close and personal with? Ended up being Jackson Rathbone with his wife and two children. I can’t even Twilight right, you guys.

Whine, whine, whine. I know, wah, wah, wah you got to go to a Hollywood event and you’re complaining, Holly. Ha! I’m actually super grateful for the opportunity and I hope I’ll be invited to more events. I’ll always promise to keep it real here for you guys. Even when I fail like I did here. But I hope I at least made you laugh at my blunders.

You can catch the new animated series, Beat Bugs, now on Netflix. Be sure to come back here and tell me who your favorite character was!

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By Holly Sosa

LEGO^® Systems have been a longtime favorite in our home. I love that it helps to develop my kiddos creative sides. And imaginative building play is easy and fun with the bright, colorful, and versatile bricks. Since playing with LEGO is a favorite in our home, I thought it would make a transition to creating in the kitchen just as much fun. My kiddos and I, inspired by our LEGO bricks, decided to experiment with some molds we found at a recent visit to LEGOLAND California and made some awesome LEGO Bricks Candy using Jolly Ranchers and the imaginations we already use when we play with our LEGO bricks.

To start, we pulled out our LEGO brick molds and candy.

Next we filled them with our favorite flavors and tried some fun color combinations.

We used a hammer to break apart the candy into smaller pieces to fill the molds completely.

I placed our now full molds onto a baking sheet and then into a 375F degree oven for about 10 minutes until the candy had just melted.

And then I pulled them out and allowed them to cool for at least two hours before trying to remove them from the molds. When I did remove them, I half expected them to come out filled with holes or sticky, but they were perfect little LEGO brick shapes and the colors melted together, but not completely into one another so it created a fun almost tie dye effect. The LEFO Bricks Candy was such a success with my kiddos, they’ve already been asking when they can make more.

I grew up playing with LEGO, building houses for my people to play in, creating cities, towns, and anything I could dream up. Now my two boys play with LEGO and it’s really exciting for me to see them getting enjoyment from something I used to play with! I love that there are no rules and no instructions necessary with LEGO. Just fun, imaginative play that knows no limits. With ten sets, ranging from $15.99 to $59.99, they also make the perfect gift giving solution for any kiddo in your family so that they can add to their own collection or be inspired for the first time to try building and making with their imagination.

When we were playing recently, we checked out some pro tips from the Upright Citizen Brigade and decided to try to tell a story by building some of our favorite things. One of my favorite things is a rainbow and we had a blast just dumping our new LEGO System box right into the carpet and getting to work. Piece by piece, we created a rainbow and then discovered more fun pieces to add. In the end, we thought a winking rainbow would be very extra friendly so we added a little extra personality with the pieces with discovered along the way.

Get inspired with LEGO and check out the fun video from Upright Citizen Brigade to inspire your next family LEGO play date!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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By Holly Sosa

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #UBKForMe #CollectiveBias

Lady friends, this post is for you. Guy friends, I’m just going to give you an out right now. Unless you’re here because you’re a super sympathetic partner who is trying to aid a female currently in pain. If that’s the case, you’re kind of awesome, but be prepare because I’m going to be talking about menses. Here’s you’re out because I’m going all in in 5…4…3…2…1.

For me, shark week is the worst. Not only do I have to deal with bleeding for several days and the clean up of that, but I get severe mood swings (wait, not everyone cries during episodes of Sofia the First?), painful acne, and debilitating cramps on top of it all. Of all of my PMS symptoms, the cramps are the hardest to deal with. They quite literally knock me on my rear and I use several remedies, including my Shark Week Heating Pad, to soothe the pain. Another one of my favorite remedies is my Shark Week Cramps Oil Rub that’s made using therapeutic grade essential oils from my little collection. A few drops of this rubbed over my abdomen and lower back give me relief that sometimes even over the counter stuff hasn’t helped with.

SUPPLIES

• glass roller dispenser
• clary sage essential oil
• peppermint essential oil
• cassia essential oil
• lavender essential oil
• juniper berry essential oil
• chamomile essential oil
• carrier oil (coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil)

To make your own Shark Week Cramps Oil Rub, start with a glass roll on dispenser.

Add 20 drops of clary sage essential oil and then 15 drops of peppermint essential oil (one of my favorite oils!).

Then 10 drops of cassia essential oil and three drops of lavender essential oil.

And next add three drops of chamomile essential oil and three drops of juniper berry essential oil.

You’ll fill the rest of the bottle with a carrier oil like coconut oil, olive oil, or avocado oil. I used coconut oil.

Top it with the roller lid and screw on the cap and give it a good shake. Next you’ll label it so that in period rage you can easily find it, ha! Bonus points if you have pretty stickers you can use.

To use the oil, simply roll it over affected areas. For me it’s always the lowest part of my abdomen and lower back.

Stash this somewhere that you’ll remember for the next time you’re sharky friend shows up and delivers a crampy gift packaged in red ribbon.

Being prepared with my heating pad and Shark Week Cramps Oil Rub helps take care of the painful part of my period and I also use U by Kotex® products to take care of the other fun period stuff. And by fun I mean not fun. I really mean crappy. As a busy work from home mom, ain’t nobody got time for a period to slow me down, so I depend on products like U by Kotex® Sleek® Tampons, U by Kotex® Curves® Liners, and U by Kotex® Security® Ultra Thin Overnight Pads to make my period more manageable and stain free, ha! Available at my local CVS, U by Kotex® allows us to have a voice in what we need from our menstrual products. I love that they offer a wide variety of products to aid in every stage of shark week. From first day heavy flows to last day spotting and everything in between.

Do you also struggle with cramps or emotional episodes brought on by Sofia the First? Let’s chat period stories in the comments below. And don’t forget to visit the U by Kotex Social Hub for more period inspired DIYs like this Shark Week Cramp Oil Rub.

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