Posts Tagged ‘boxes’

Escape Monthly September: Greece Box review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Yay for Greece! I love the wide variety of products, many of which feature olive oil, of course. Nothing looks familiar but it’s cool to see some Greek on the packaging.

Escape Monthly is just under $40 per box (with code for 20% off your subscription – see end of post) and comes with a variety of food, home, skincare items themed around a city/region. Each box comes with a guide for that area. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral commission program.

escape monthly september greece box products showing escape monthly september greece box info card escape monthly september greece box info card opened with fact sheet showing escape monthly september greece box info card opened with details of products included(click to enlarge and read full messaging)

It shouldn’t be a surprise that there were plenty of awesome food items and I love that I’ll be able to make a dish or two to really get that sense of Greece.

Here’s what came in the box:

Mastic care body lotion – I can smell the plants in this as I rub it in. It is very smooth and instantly softens my hands. Feels great and I think I’ll use it for lotioning up after showers to lock in that moisture.

Iliada extra virgin olive oil in vanilla – Whoa, I had no idea olive oil comes in flavors! Love it. I like the vanilla one I got, which should offer a nice fragrance and a hint of sweetness to my food. I’ll try cooking with it as well as making a dressing to try.

Misko orzo – I’ve never cooked orzo and I’m excited to not only try the salad recipe (with some modifications for my taste), but also make some lemon orzo soup. I’m a fan of that soup at restaurants and I’d love to make my own version.

glass evil eye – Not much evil to ward off here, but I like trinkets like this so I’ll find a place to hang it for good luck. It reminds me of a bar in York called Evil Eye, which was a really fun quirky place.

Rick Steves’ Pocket Athens – I’m going on a Europe trip this year, but won’t be making it to Greece this time. I look forward to returning to Athens though, and perhaps being very well-prepped if I read this guide!

Elma gum in classic – Cool, gum inspired by ancient times in Greece. This is another product making use of mastic trees. I’ve never heard of them before!

Olivia olive oil soap – Olive oil should be good for the skin and hair, so I might just rub this on my head too. I’m not a huge fan of the scent, but it’s not too strong so that’s not a big deal.

Bingo Serenata milk chocolate wafers – What fun! These remind of Kit Kats and I’m glad we got two. I enjoy chocolate wafers for the combination of taste and crunch.

Ivi peach juice – No wonder this box was so heavy! This giant bottle of juice is nice and the packaging makes me think of Ribena and other squashes (which you’ll easily find in the UK). I love peach products and I’ve put this in the fridge to chill.

Greece was a great choice and I’m happy with the products. I look forward to where the next box will take us! What items from this Greece Escape Monthly box do you like most? If you want to sign up, be sure to sign up for their newsletter to get a code for 20% off the lifetime of your subscription.

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Petit Vour September 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Alright! I’m loving the wooden packaging of some of these brands. It just feels more luxurious that way, much like glass bottles do.

Petit Vour is $15 per box (or as much as $30 for international subscribers) and comes with vegan beauty, skincare, and other personal care products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards free boxes (email contact@petitvour.com to say I referred you if you sign up!).

contents of petit vour september 2015 box with blissoma facial cleanser, mahalo mask, msc sugar scrub, elate lipstick, and info card with be bold be kind theme petit vour september 2015 box info card with item details

Blissoma Mild Rice Facial Cleanser – Good timing with this, since I just got a bout of breakouts and my skin needs some soothing cleansing. This has a very healing scent and I really feel like it calms skin down. At the least it is calming my mind!

Mahalo Pele Mask – Another great and timely product. The inside looks like it could be spirulina it has a strange earthy smell. I look forward to trying this out as my next mask.

Metropolis Soap Co. (msc) grapefruit & spearmint sugar scrub – What a unique combination of scents. I really like it and this scrub melts with your body heat to because a super nourishing product. It’s fun to exfoliate until the grains melt away and you’re left with soft skin.

Elate Clean Cosmetics creme lipstick in lively – What awesome packaging! I think it’s fabulous and the shade is a nice sort of deep rose that matches my lip color well. I feel conditioned with it on and it gives nice little sparkles without being too bold so it’s perfect for a more natural look.

I will absolutely use all the products in this box and I love them all! What do you think of these items?

[This post mentions a referral program. Signing up and emailing contact@petitvour.com to say I referred you helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Treatsie September 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
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Wow, what a delivery day – I got three boxes at once today!

Treatsie is $15 per box + $4.95 shipping and comes with artisan candy from 3-4 brands. That means about 6 or 7 different flavors of treats. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral link program to earn store credit. Use my referral link to get your first box FREE!

treatsie september 2015 box contents with mighty brittle, salty road taffy, and marlo's bake shop biscotti treatsie september 2015 info card

Mighty Brittle in Maple: Mmm, the maple flavor makes this taste sort of like it was made with brown sugar. It’s a deeper sweet that really grabs you. I’m a fan and like that the nut pieces are nice and small.

Salty Road Salty Caramel Apple salt water taffy: I like the hint of salty with a nice burst of apple flavor. I wouldn’t choose this flavor on my own, but it’s just right for the fall. Wonderfully chewy and sweet for a little morsel of the season.

Marlo’s Bake Shop Original, Midnight & Banana Bread biscotti: I like that these are soft and not the super hard, super crunchy kind. They are a little dry on their own, so it’s the perfect complement to a nice hot drink. Next time I have hot chocolate, you bet I’ll be dipping these!

It’s a pity there wasn’t another recipe this time, perhaps for an apple cider! I hope that they try that again on their cards. Their treat selection was on the money with the transitioning season. Which treats do you want to try? To get Treatsie, sign up with my link and get your first box free!

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Yogi Surprise September 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
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Alright, first subscription box of the month. I’ve whittled it down to just four now, so I appreciate each one all the more.

Yogi Surprise is just under $36 per box (with code for 20% off your subscription – use my referral links from this post) and comes with yoga gear, skincare, food, and other lifestyle products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program that earns you free boxes.

contents of yogi surprise september 2015 box with info card yogi surprise september 2015 info card with product details yogi surprise september 2015 promo card and yoga sequence card yogi surprise september 2015 back of promo card and yoga sequence card

Gaiam yoga mat sling – What a nice, simple tool to easily transport a yoga mat to and from class. I currently have a yoga bag that is quite well-ventilated and does the job, but this will be handy to have when I need to save on space.

Molly Muriel Butter Up soap – I feel pretty familiar with this brand now that I’ve received multiple samples and full size soaps of theirs. The other Butter Up bar I got was from Escape Monthly box this January. I like how gentle and foamy it is with just a mild scent. I wouldn’t have minded receiving one of their other soaps, but I’m happy with this.

All Good Coconut Sunstick – I find rubbing solid formulas like this a lot of fun. A little goes a long way and I end up smelling like a delicious snack! This will be perfect to bring along on travel without worrying about airline liquid limitations.

philosophie Berry Bliss vegan protein & superfood powder – Erm, I’m not really sure how to consume this. Can I just mix with water or would that taste awful? They have a smoothie recipe on the back, but I don’t really make those so perhaps I will try mixing this in with my morning yogurt.

Yogi Surprise Rooting Down yoga sequence series card – Here’s the second card of the series, with a focus on grounding and having a strong foundation. The instruction page has been updated for this month’s sequence so you can download the PDF and view the poses, but no video this time.

Urban Moonshine Joy Tonic – I first came across this brand in another Yogi Surprise box and this is one of their other products. This is supposed to help with anxiety and bring a sense of calm and peace.

Big Dipper Wax Works Citronella tea light candles – What timing! The Homegrown box just came with ingredients to make my very own citronella candle so these are perfect to have as well. I like to keep the porch door open for the cats, so I will try keeping a candle burning near that area to see if it prevents mosquitoes from making their way inside.

Caveman Cookies in Original – Wow, I tried just tasting one but it was surprisingly addictive and I ate the entire cookie. I like how it’s sort of like an oatmeal cookie combined with a soft energy bar in its texture. It’s very chewy and moist. Great little snack to pop in your bag for whenever you need extra energy or to stave off hunger.

I’ll get around to trying each of these and expand my horizons a bit. I like the mix of product types! What products do you want to try from this box?

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Homegrown Collective August 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , ,
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Hah! How perfect that this came when I’ve been having some skin flare-ups. I wonder if they’ll be good for that in addition to actual bug bites? I don’t know what is causing my redness and bumps but it might just be worth a try.

The Homegrown Collective GREENBOX is $39 per box + $9 shipping (or as discounted as $429 for an entire year, with options in between) and comes with fun and easy projects to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program you can apply to join.

inside of bugs, be gone! homegrown collective 2015 box with the info sheets on the inner lid contents of the homegrown collective august 2015 box with bugs, be gone! theme

Project #1, DIY anti-itch salve: This looks really promising for soothing itching skin of all sorts. I love how simple it is, so it can be quickly put together and slathered on. I’ve rubbed it on my swollen fingers and so far so good with the soothing effect. I may smell like I’m trying to ward off vampires, but if it helps with the itching then I’m all in.

the homegrown collective august 2015 project diy anti-itch salve info card the homegrown collective august 2015 products for diy anti-itch salve

Project #2, DIY plant-based bug spray: Whoa, there’s a lot going on here! All sorts of scents to keep those bugs at bay and create a barrier between us and anything that might want to to irritate our skin. Mosquitoes, beware! This should definitely pack a punch.

the homegrown collective august 2015 project diy plant-based bug spray info card the homegrown collective august 2015 products for diy plant-based bug spray

Project #3, DIY mint citronella candle: I know that citronella is great for keeping bugs away, so this is a great candle to have for burning outdoors. Luckily, it smells good to us humans and can provide a nice freshness to the air. I like to keep the door open in the evening so the cats can play on the porch, so I might try having this candle by the door to hopefully keep the insects from flying in.

the homegrown collective august 2015 project diy mint citronella candle info card the homegrown collective august 2015 products for diy mint citronella candle

It’s great to have these natural ways of repelling insects so we don’t have to worry about what we’re putting on our skin or what we’re breathing in. This box offers three great ways to keep the bugs away and/or soothe any bites that you might have gotten.

the homegrown collective august 2015 diy insect repellants & salve info card

Want your own? Subscribe to the Homegrown Collective to start getting projects too!

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Escape Monthly August: Hawaii Box review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Wow, Hawaii again? I hadn’t paid attention to when they announced the next month’s theme or I might have thought about the wisdom of a third Hawaii-themed box. Still, it turned out ok and there isn’t much overlap in products, which is great.

Escape Monthly is just under $40 per box (with code for 20% off your subscription – see end of post) and comes with a variety of food, home, skincare items themed around a city/region. Each box comes with a guide for that area. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral commission program.

escape monthly august hawaii box products showing escape monthly august hawaii box info sheet escape monthly august hawaii box info sheet opened with details of products included(click to enlarge and read full messaging)

I must say, I’m pleased with the selection here and really found some new favorites!

Here’s what came in the box:

Moon Handbooks guide to Maui – Darn, this is the same one I got in the second Hawaii box. I wish it was a third kind so I could keep amassing my collection! Now I don’t know what to do with this. Maybe donate it to a library?

Island Art Store map of old Hawaii vintage-style postcard – Adorable postcard that I’m going to keep as art! I love the look and feel and it’s a great little map of Hawaii. It’s just too nice to actually use!

Pure-Aid sport sunscreen – While sunscreen is important, I wish they’d included either a local brand or a tropical scented one at least. The sport version just seems generic, though it will be useful for the outdoor activities you’d want to do in Hawaii.

Kahala Pineapple slices – These are amazing snacks that I already want more of. I love how the pineapple is soft and slightly chewy. Most dried pineapple gets too hard and chewy for my liking. The sweetness was just right to offer a snack that’s also a treat. I see they’re in Whole Foods all around Hawaii, but what about elsewhere?! I’ll keep searching every Whole Foods I go to.

glass coasters – Totally random items that weren’t even listed but this pair of coasters is one of my favorite items. Ever since being a homeowner, I’ve enjoyed mundane household things. Like cute glass coasters. The design of seashells fits the Hawaiian theme nicely and these coasters add an elegant look to our coffee table.

surfboard keychain – This surfboard is nice and smooth with a glossy finish. I love the look of it but I wish I’d gotten any color other than pink! Oh well, it still looks good and I might swap out the Australian surfboard keychain on my keys for this one now.

Island Soap Candle Works plumeria blossom body wash – The body wash smells great, with a nice light flowery scent. I’ve never had anything plumeria scented before! I’m surprised this is the bonus item and would have expected the surfboard or coasters, but hey we seem to always get the bonus item anyway so that’s great.

Ola coconut body lotion – I’ve got this same scent from this brand in the body butter, which is of course thicker than this lotion. The coconut scent is quite subtle once you rub it on and the consistency is somewhat runny.

Ola passion fruit body mist – Whoa, what an immensely fruity smell! Great in the spring to liven things up, or to remind you of blossoming flowers. I like that this spray can be used around the room, on linens, or of course, on the body. It’s sure to add a little boost to the experience.

MacaMania Anahola tropical granola  – I’ll never love granola bars, but this one looks pretty good. I’m saving it for a trip when we do something like hiking or a long drive. It’s great to have a burst of energy for those types of things.

I’m happy with the different products being showcased this time around, but I do wish they wouldn’t rely on Hawaii so much. The third year in a row isn’t necessary when there are so many places in the world yet to explore. Which products from this Hawaii Escape Monthly box would you want too? If you want to sign up, be sure to sign up for their newsletter to get a code for 20% off the lifetime of your subscription.

Next up is Greece! Now that’s a great place we haven’t escaped to yet and I can’t wait to see what comes. I’ve been there before and really enjoyed it, so I hope some things remind me of my trip.

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Treatsie August 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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I’ve had these treats for awhile but didn’t get to try them all yet. Still, here’s a look for you on what came this month!

Treatsie is $15 per box + $4.95 shipping and comes with artisan candy from 3-4 brands. That means about 6 or 7 different flavors of treats. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral link program to earn store credit. Use my referral link to get your first box FREE!

treatsie august 2015 box contents with walker creek caramels, butterfields candy buds, and grey ghost bakery cookies treatsie august 2015 info card treatsie brown sugar grilled peaches recipe card

Walker Creek Sea Salt Caramel: I can always have more caramel! This is a really soft kind that is a nice morsel to pop in your mouth. I do tend to prefer mine a little more firm, but the taste is great and I will eat them all.

Butterfields Peach, Lemon & Honeybell buds: These are the ones I haven’t tried yet, but I don’t know why. They were the most intriguing for me and I sort of want to keep them around longer. I have no idea what honeybell is, but it sounds good. These are great snacks to have in the heat, since they won’t melt on you.

Grey Ghost Bakery Chocolate Chip & Peanut Butter cookies: I’ve had this brand from previous boxes and I like their cookies. My all-time favorite are the lemon ones. These are nice and I enjoyed them, but they don’t quite top the lemon ones!

I liked and will eat every single thing here. I think they’ve finally figured out a great way to use the other side of their cards, with another awesome recipe! I like this new approach. Which items do you like from this box? To get Treatsie, sign up with my link and get your first box free!

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Yogi Surprise August 2015 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
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This box was waiting for me when I got home from my trip! It’s eclectic and offers some cool stuff.

Yogi Surprise is just under $36 per box (with code for 20% off your subscription – use my referral links from this post) and comes with yoga gear, skincare, food, and other lifestyle products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program that earns you free boxes.

contents of yogi surprise august 2015 box with info card yogi surprise august 2015 info card with product details

SunBiotics chocolate almonds – These are very crunchy, with a mild cocoa flavor. They’re coated in powder, so it wasn’t quite the type of chocolate almonds I thought. They’re pretty tasty and make for a great healthy snack. Since they’re raw and have added probiotics, it should help with digestion as well.

Aura Cacia Revive body cloths – Ooo, what nice wipes for the body! These are perfect for a quick refreshing cleaning on a hot day or after a workout. I don’t want to open them just yet so they don’t dry out, but I can’t wait to try them.

My Tat inspiring temporary tattoos – If I ever want to show off my yoga lifestyle, I can put one of these one. There’s a nice collection of yoga symbols to decorate your body with.

African turquoise bracelet – They seem to really like including bracelets now – this is my fourth from them! Each one is made with something different, but they are similar in that they’re composed of beads. I might keep some for myself and I might give others away.

Yogi Surprise Fire to the Core yoga sequence series card – This is a new initiative that they’re doing and I think it’s a great way to tie in yoga to the box more. This cute little card reminds you of the sequence they put together and you can also check out the special page highlighting the full sequence complete with video.

Jem raw & organic Cinnamon Red Maca almond spread – Next time we have bagels in the office, I will give this a try. I might not like the almond taste as a spread, but the cinnamon could mask that. If that doesn’t work, I’m sure my coworkers can help me eat this.

Neelu Kaur Yogini Bliss – I can’t pick out the scents comprising this, but it’s a nice blend of essential oils and smells sweet and slightly minty. It’s great for breathing in to relax and clear your mind.

There were some great new items in this box that I look forward to using. I’m glad to see the item count back up again, which gives me a chance to try more products. Which of these items do you like most?

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Yuzen Autumn 2015 edition review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
1

I can’t believe I’ve been sitting on this box for a good month now. I’ve recorded the unboxing for the Yuzen site and Yuzen’s YouTube channel and even gave one away to a friend! Finally, here’s a look at what comes in the box.

Yuzen is $33 per quarter (with boxes sent Feb, May, Aug, and Nov) and comes with around 7 or 8 eco-friendly beauty, skincare, food/snacks, and home products. Boxes are sent quarterly with no option to skip, but you can get one-time gift boxes too. Sometimes there’s a waitlist to get the subscription. They do not offer a referral program.

yuzen august-october 2015 autumn box open with fuchsia tissue paper and piece of yuzen paper yuzen august-october 2015 autumn box info card front side with welcome message yuzen august-october 2015 autumn box info card inside listing brands in box yuzen august-october 2015 autumn box info card back side listing brands in box yuzen august-october 2015 autumn box contents laid out

Africa OrganicsMarula Shampoo or Marula Conditioner: These are giant bottles and you would get either the shampoo or conditioner. The timing is perfect because I’m running low on hair products so I’ll use these next. Marula comes from a cool African tree and the oil is supposed to be good for protecting skin and hair. I found the formulas to be more runny than I’m used to so I definitely used more.

Glee GumRefresh-Mint gum: In another stroke of luck, I needed gum and got it! These are hard pieces with a nice crunchy shell. The ones we got are sugar free and a refreshing mint. They are good for a quick breath of freshness. The flavor doesn’t last long though, so don’t think of it as chewing gum. Use code YU15GG by 10/31/15 for 10% off at Glee Gum.

Nubian HeritageIndian Hemp & Haitian Vetiver body wash: Ooo, this feels luxurious and so silky. I love how it foams and my skin feels super soft afterwards. Neem oil is another one of those exotic African things that seems to be good for skin. The hemp and vetiver are pretty cool too. This wash smells nice, which might be due to this mysterious vetiver. Use code NHYUZEN for 15% off at Nubian Heritage.

red flower lymphatic phytopower sea cleanser and masque: The soothing smoothness of this makes me think of a lotion, so it feels strange to wash with it. There’s a hint of sweetness that makes this pleasant to use. I haven’t tried it as a mask yet, but I can feel how healing it would be. Use code YUZEN20 by 10/31/15 for 20% off at red flower.

red flower – arctic berry cloud milk cream: While I don’t really like the scent of this one, it looks awesome and is great as a body lotion. It feels a little watery when applying, but then absorbs leaving a little bit of stickiness. It’s not sticky, but I can feel it on my hands for a bit. I like it on my legs, which need extra hydration. Use code YUZEN20 by 10/31/15 for 20% off at red flower.

Cowgirl Skincareextreme antioxidant serum: I thought this looked familiar and no wonder – I got the extreme c serum last year! They are basically in the same packaging, but are totally different. This serum has a more milky look compared to the oily one of the extreme c serum. It has a really nice lemony scent and absorbs well into the skin, leaving it soft and hydrated. Use code YUZEN15 by 10/31/15 for 15% off at TheSkinFactor.

EcoLips – organic lip scrub in brown sugar, vanilla bean, or mint: What an adorable product. Absolutely love it and I was lucky enough to get all three to try, but I shared two with coworkers and kept the vanilla one for myself. You need just a little to exfoliate and moisturize lips. It’s a lot of fun, smells great, and you get to lick off the rest for a sweet treat! We are all big fans of this and really enjoy using it not just because it’s cool, but because our lips feel so soft afterwards. Use code YUZEN by 9/30/15 for 20% off at EcoLips.

I’ve got a full skincare regimen in this box! I enjoyed trying them out and found a few new favorites. What do you think of these items?

*Disclosure: As a super fan, I was invited to be the Yuzen Ambassador to help them spread the word about their brand. I now receive the boxes for free. I was not compensated otherwise and all opinions are my own, irregardless of my relation to Yuzen. I just happen to think they’re awesome (as does everyone else I’ve heard from). 🙂

Cat vs pizza box

laelene Posted in video blog,Tags: , , , , ,
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We don’t get pizza much, but when we do it’s almost guaranteed that our food will be crushed by the cat. She also happens to enjoy destroying the box… #lifewithcats

cat crushing pizza box from Mary Qin on Vimeo.

cat ripping cardboard with teeth from Mary Qin on Vimeo.

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