Be sure to check out my latest article over at Home Made Simple for detailed instructions on how to make your own seasoned salt, chili powder, ranch seasoning, and lemon pepper, plus tips on how to store your spices! Read the full article here.

I have been drooling over all sorts of awesome repurposed pallet projects on Pinterest for a while now.  In fact, I even started my own Pinterest board dedicated solely to my love of pallets.  There is just something so appealing about rough, weathered wood that is completely FREE!

For Trouble’s beachy mermaid party I decided to take advantage of the abundance of free pallets available at a local business to create some beautiful upcycled pallet art that we would be able to enjoy long after the party was done.  This was definitely a collaborative project between Husband and I–he did all the hard labor of disassembling then re-assembling the pallets, while did all the girly work of making it look cute.

Here is what you need:

Step 1:  Carefully disassemble the pallet then re-nail the boards to one side so that there are no gaps between the wood.

Step 2: Lightly sand the pallet to remove any rough edges; vacuum or wipe clean with a dry rag.

Step 3: Dip your paintbrush into one color of paint, then blot dry with a paper towel.  Lightly brush paint over pallet boards to create a weathered look.

Step 4: Repeat with remaining paint colors until you are satisfied with the effect.  Let dry.

Step 5: Pick a font that you like, then type out your quote or saying in a word processing program (like Microsoft Word or Pages for Mac)  Make sure to make your letters very large!  Print out the words, then tape pages on table and tape a sheet of wax paper over top.  Trace words with puffy fabric paint, then let dry on wax paper for 24 hours.

Step 6:  Carefully peel letters from wax paper and glue in place on pallet using white school glue.

Step 7:  To attach starfish, place generous dollops of hot glue on each of the five points.  I use the high-heat hot glue which sticks a LOT better than the low heat kind.  (But be careful!)

Step 8:  Hold starfish in place until glue has cooled completely.

Step 9: Find a focal point to display your beautiful art piece.  Easy and (practically) free–what’s better than that?

In addition to the large pallet piece, we also made a smaller “Mermaids this way” sign using much the same process, although instead of dry-brushing on the paint, the girls helped me paint the whole thing.  I then distressed the paint with sand paper, then painted on the lettering instead of using the puffy paint method.

For the mermaid photo op stand Husband found a white board in the garage which was leftover from our kitchen remodel a few years ago.  I drew the mermaid, loosely copying the mermaid from the invitation, then husband cut out the face with a jigsaw.  Once the hole had been cut, the girls and I painted the mermaid and husband built a stand to hold the sign using more wood from a disassembled pallet.  The final touch was dry-brushing the wood with the same paint colors I used for the main art piece above.

Free pallets are cool!

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Have you ever done any projects using free pallets?

Happy Sunday and a happy, happy Father’s Day to all you awesome dads out there!  I hope you are all having a fantastic weekend!  Choosing my favorites seems to get harder every weekend, but here are a few of the posts I loved:

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First of all, I was completely captivated by this tutorial on how to preserve lemons from Essentially Eclectic.  I’ve never even heard of such a thing but now I am determined to give it a try.

And speaking of lemons (my favorite!), this Lemon Pudding Poke Cake from Life with the Crust Cut Off looked absolutely delicious.  Mmmmmmm….lemons…..

I loved this Simple Fabric Flower Tutorial from Simple Joys.

I also loved these tips for how to Organize your Bathroom with Mason Jars from I am THAT Lady.  Is there anything Mason jars can’t do?

This list of 10 Things to Keep in your Car this Summer from Peace but not Quiet was great!  There were definitely a few things that I hadn’t thought of but now plan to add!

And speaking of things to keep in the car, these tips for Frugal Road Trip Fun from Passionate Penny Pincher were great! I definitely picked up a few new ideas for our road trip this summer!

I also enjoyed reading these 10 tips for saving on your camping trip from Thrifty Jinxy.  We LOVE camping and these were some really great ideas.

Since I never met a cleaning tip I didn’t like, I really loved these 3 Methods for Cleaning your House from Mothering from Scratch.  All 3 strategies were great!

While we’re on the subject of trying to keep your house clean….if your kids love to run around barefoot all summer, this Outdoor Foot Wash from Wonderfully Made is perfect!  What a great idea!

These Chocolate Peanut Butter Croissants from My Thoughts for Thought made me want to lick my screen.  Oh. my.

And finally this Pistachio Biscotti at Craftaholics Anonymous looked absolutely divine!

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What did YOU love this week?

Few subjects can start a fight faster than talking about money. It doesn’t seem to matter how carefully the topic is raised: The second the money card is played, everyone seems to be on edge. Accusations of carelessness and being too controlling creep into the argument, and, suddenly, what started out so innocently can explode into all-out war.

At some point, couples have to talk about money if they want to stay together (and don’t want to go broke).

While every couple is different, the five simple tips for talking to your spouse about money I recently shared over at P&G Everyday might serve you as a good place to start talking (and stop fighting) about money.  After all, don’t we all want a stronger marriage?  Read the full article here.

Am I the only one who is completely awed by the miracle of this little technological wonder called the Smart Phone?  How can one little handheld device do so much?  Besides being a stylish fashion accessory, my phone is simultaneously a camera, internet browser, radio, GPS, e-reader,  and note-taker.  It even turns into a flashlight, should I ever need it.

I will readily admit that with all the amazing features of these little gizmos there is a serious temptation to spend every waking moment staring at that little screen.  That said, I still think there are too many helpful & money-saving apps available not to take advantage of at least some of them.

I wanted to be able to give you all a fairly comprehensive list of what I feel are some of the best money-saving and reward-earning apps available right now.  I have been researching & trying them out  on my iPhone for a few months, just to get a good feel for how they work, but most of them are available for Android phones as well.  New apps are developed all the time, so while it is quite possible I’ve missed something, I do feel confident that this list is a great selection.

Apps That Offer Rewards:

1. Shopkick

• Rewards you with “kicks” (reward points) for visiting participating retailers (Macy’s, Target, Crate & Barrel, Best Buy, Old Navy, etc.
• You can also earn “bonus kicks” for scanning specific items within the store.
• Redeem your reward points for retail & restaurant gift cards.
• Connect your credit or debit card to your account to earn points when you spend money at stores such as Target.  I have personally found this the best way to earn points, since I don’t do a lot of retail shopping at other stores, but I do go to Target every now and then.

2. Viggle

• Earn points for watching television shows.
• Once you download the app, you can “check in” to register whatever show you are watching.  The app will listen to your TV and you will earn 1 point per minute you are checked in.
• Earn bonus points for watching featured programs; you can also earn bonus points through promotions and games.
• Redeem points for gift cards and other prizes.
• This app was pretty pointless for me since I watch almost no television, but I have a few TV-loving friends who absolutely love it!

3. Jingit

• Jingit pays you to watch ads, then answer questions about the ads.
• You can also earn money by checking in at Walmart and other participating locations.
• To get paid, you must request a Jingit Visa Debit Card, which takes a $3 out of your account.
• There is an earning limit of $15 per week.
• This app is especially useful if you do a lot of Walmart shopping.

4. Swagbucks TV

• Earn Swagbucks for watching videos on your phone, up to 50 per day.
• Works in conjunction with your online Swagbucks account, for which you can earn Swagbucks by shopping online, using the Swagbucks site as your primary search engine, and printing coupons.
• Redeem Swagbucks for gift cards and other prizes (500 Swagbucks equals a $5 gift card)
• I have been earning Swagbucks online for years now and I love that this app can help me earn rewards faster in my downtime.

Apps that Save Money on Groceries

5. Ibotta

• Ibotta also offers cash rewards, which can be deposited directly to a PayPal account.  Right now you can get a $10 bonus just for signing up.
• Unlike Jingit, Ibotta requires you to make a participating purchase in order to get paid.  However, the payout is significantly higher than other rewards programs.
• Before heading to the grocery store, choose the offers you will participate in.  The more offers you choose, the more cash you’ll earn.  Next, go shopping & purchase your chosen products.  After you check out, take a photo of your receipt.  Ibotta will then verify your purchase and credit your account.
• Every time you redeem an offer a new one will be sent.
• This is a GREAT app to use in conjunction with coupons and store sales!

6. Endorse

• Earn a percentage back—between 10 & 100%–when you buy participating products.
• Payment is made via PayPal.
• To get credit, just upload your receipt after shopping.
• Again, this is a great app to use in conjunction with store sales and paper coupons to stretch your savings.

7. SavingStar

• Clip e-Coupons that are automatically added to your participating grocery store’s savings card.
• Savings are stored in an account; once you’ve saved $5 or more, get paid via bank transfer, PayPal, or Amazon.com gift card.
• Only works at participating stores, but it is a great app if your store participates!

8. Grocery IQ

• Add items to your grocery list via text, scan, or voice, then easily clip corresponding coupons to save.
• Can create different lists for multiple stores
• Coupons can be sent directly to your wi-fi enabled printer, or emailed to you so you can print them via your home computer.
• Can sync and share your list with multiple users
• This is a good app if you are a techie who really loves using your phone for this type of stuff!

9. Snip Snap

• Allows you to take pictures of your paper coupons, then store & organize them on your phone so that you never have to worry about leaving your coupons at home.
• Also allows you to “clip” various coupons through the app itself.

Apps that Save Money on Other Items

10. Shop Savvy

• Barcode scanner allows you to scan an item in the store to see if you can find a better price online.
• Great way to avoid impulse purchases!

11. Gas Buddy

• Uses satellite locater to find the closest gas stations with current gas prices
• Earn points every time you report a gas price

12. Retail Me Not

• Retail coupon app that quickly pulls up coupons or coupon codes for most major retailers that can be used in stores or online.
• Simple-to-use app with easy search option
• Also features daily “hot deals”

13. JoAnns Coupon App

•  Retail coupon app that pulls up exclusive coupons just for JoAnn’s stores
• Offers coupons that are not available anywhere else
• Can be “stacked” with paper coupons, competitor coupons, and other online coupons.

Apps that Help Organize & Manage Your Finances

14. Mint.com

• Free budgeting app automatically tracks all your accounts & credit cards in one place
• Allows you to see the “big picture” of where your money is and where it is going.

15. Check (formerly PageOnce)

• Similar to Mint.com in that it is a free budgeting app that automatically tracks your accounts & credit cards
• Offers a paid bill pay option upgrade for $4.99 that allows you to pay your bills each month
• Reminds you when bills are due so that you never miss a payment.

16. Easy Envelope Budget Aid

• Budgeting app that lets you create virtual “envelopes” to keep track of spending in various categories.
• Great for Dave Ramsey fans who find it cumbersome to carry actual envelopes.
• Includes a sync option so you can share with other users

17. Award Wallet

•  Helps track all your frequent flyer miles, hotel points, & credit card rewards
• Essential app if you travel a lot for business or use multiple reward programs!

I do think it is important to note that while, for the purpose of this blog post, I did install and try all these apps, I have not continued to use them all on a regular basis, nor do I think that you should!  It is important to balance the usefulness of the app with the amount of time spent on your phone.  My recommendation is that you try a few out, depending on what your desired outcome is (organizing finances, earning rewards, etc.) and see which ones work best for you.

*   *   *

Which money-saving apps do you use?  Are there any not listed here that you recommend?

Welcome back to Thrifty Thursday!  I hope you are all having an absolutely wonderful week.  I am always excited to see what great budget-friendly recipes, craft projects, money-saving tips, & other fun ideas you have to share.

Don’t forget to follow our new Thrifty Thursday @ LWSL Pinterest Board!  It is a group board so if you would like to be added, just email me at Ruth@LivingWellSpendingLess.com for an invitation (be sure to include your Pinterest user name in the email), and I will happily add you!

Here are the most clicked links from last week:

1. Mission to Save {Ways to Save at a Restaurant}
2. Penny’s Vintage Home {Refreshing the Kitchen for $35}
3. Taylor Made Ranch {Saving Money on Cable}
4. Coley’s DIY Crafting Corner {Kitchen Upgrade}
5. Simple Home Managing {Simple Meal Planning}
6. Front Forty Farm {Thrifted Treasures}
7. Moms are Frugal {Weight Watchers Cheesy Sloppy Joes}
8. Life a Little Brighter {DIY Living Room Painting}
9. My Sister’s Pantry {Don’t Say Diet}
10. Ang Says {How to Clean a Bagless Vacuum}

Never linked up to a party before? Here’s how:

1. Scroll down, find the little blue “Add your Link” Button and click on that.
2. Follow the instructions on the next page – add a great image of your project and an interesting title. Make sure you link to the direct page of your budget friendly post – not the main page of your blog!
3. Try to visit at least a few other blogs at the party. Be sure to leave a comment to let them know you stopped by!
4. Finally, please link back to this post somehow. There are badges available here; a simple text link is just fine too.

That’s it! Feel free to tweet about Thrifty Thursday so others can join the fun, and don’t forget to check back here Sunday morning to see which posts have been featured this week!

Oh, the cake!

I knew as soon as we decided on a mermaid theme for Trouble’s 4th birthday that a sand castle cake would be perfect.  I had seen a few really photos on Pinterest, I just couldn’t find any detailed instructions.  Since paying hundreds of dollars for a professionally decorated cake was out of the question, I decided to go with plan B: wing it!

I kinda prefer plan B anyways.

Let me just start by saying that I am not a professional baker, or even anything close to it, but what I lack in technical skill I make up for with sheer determination.  I’m not going to lie, this cake took forever and a day to make.  It was truly a labor of love. But, when all is said and done I was so happy I put in the time because it truly was the focal point of the entire party.  Luckily I already had most of the cake ingredients already on hand in my stockpile.

Now, a word about cakes.  I am not a professional baker, but I do love to bake.  After trying lots of from-scratch cake recipes, I decided that boxed cake mixes are much easier, the texture is often better, and they taste just as good.  However, the frosting makes HUGE difference!  I almost always make this homemade cream cheese buttercream frosting for my cakes.  It is super easy and SO much better than the store-bought stuff!

Here is what you need:

Step 1: Make the white chocolate seashells & starfish.  This is a very easy process!  Simply melt the candy melts in the microwave per the bag instructions, then place melted chocolate into a decorating bag, cut off a small hole at the tip, and pipe into the molds.  Place in refrigerator to harden for 15-20 minutes, then pop out of the mold.  I found that one bag of melts was enough to exactly fill my starfish mold and seashell mold 1 time each.

Step 2: Toast coconut for the sand mixture.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees, then lay out several cups of coconut on a baking sheet.  Toast in oven for 10-12 minutes until coconut is completely golden brown, stirring several times throughout the process to ensure it is toasted evenly.

Step 3:  Make “sand” mixture.  Place 2-3 packages graham crackers, toasted coconut, and several cups of white or brown sugar (I used white to get a lighter sand) into a 12 cup food processor and process until mixture resembles a fine sand.

Step 4:  Begin making cakes according to the box directions.  This process will take a while since you will have to re-use the same pans multiple times.  Be sure to grease and flour your pans VERY well each time, especially the cocktail shaker.

Tip: Before baking, tap each cake pan firmly on counter several times to release any air bubbles.  This will improve your cake’s texture and help it to bake flatter!

Step 5: Let all your cake layers cool completely; refrigerate if desired to make them firmer and easier to work with.

Step 6: Make your “turrets” and “battlements” out of sugar cones and marshmallows.  First, cut the tip of the cone with a sharp knife enough so that the flags will fit in the hole.  Next, smooth frosting over the cone and roll in “sand” mixture until it is completely covered.  Repeat process with marshmallows.  Set aside or refrigerate until needed.

Step 7:  It is almost time to start assembling your cake, but first you need a base!  Cut out a piece of cardboard in a rounded wavy rectangle as shown.

Step 8: Make your “towers.” Cut the bottom of your cooled and chilled cocktail shaker cakes so that the stand up straight.  Roll in sand mixture, much like you did with the sugar cones and marshmallows.  I found this was easiest to do by sticking a few skewers through the tower so I had something to hold on to.  Be sure to get the top as well!

Step 9:  It is finally assembly time!  If all went according to plan, you should have 3 square layers for your base.  Level the layers with a cake leveler if necessary, then place the first layer on your cardboard base, add a thick layer of frosting, the add the second layer, followed by more frosting and the third layer.  Frost most of the top and the sides, then carefully add “sand” so that it sticks to the frosting.  The goal is to get the whole cake covered with sand.

Step 10:  Level the two 8″ round cakes if necessary.  Lay the first cake flat side down on top of square cakes.  Spread a thick layer of frosting, then add the second 8″ cake flat side up.  Spread sides and top edges with frosting, then once again cover the frosting with sand mixture.

Step 11: Repeat this process with the three 6″ round layers.  For that section, I found it easiest to assemble the three layers on the counter, then frost and roll the sides in sand like with the tower pieces.  Once the top 6″ round layer is in place, push some skewers through the top of cake through all layers to add extra stability, then frost and sand the top of the cake.

Step 12:  Once the entire cake has been frosted and sanded it is time to add the towers to the four corners.  Use the cocktail shaker to cut out each cake corner, then spread frosting over exposed cake pieces and press tower into place.  Add a dollop of frosting to the top of the tower to secure turret in place, and push straw flag through the cone into cake so it stays in place.  Cover any cracks or exposed frosting with sand.

Step 13:  Add the battlements to the top of the cake by placing a toothpick in each one and pressing into place.

Step 14:  Add the finishing touches to your cake!  Use the seashells and starfish to embellish the top and sides, then, when the cake is in place on the table, use remaining sand to cover the cardboard and make the cake look like it is sitting in a patch of sand.  Your guests–and your guest of honor–will be blown away!

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Do you bake your own birthday cakes?  What’s the most creative cake you’ve made (or ordered)?

This is a guest post by Angela of Angela Says: Tips for a Cleaner Home

Too many times have I called a repairman out to fix something in my house and found out it was something really dumb, that I could have fixed myself causing the problem. For example, the dishwasher was leaking and not cleaning the dishes very well. The repairman looked at it for ten seconds, pointed at the top spray arm, and then said, “See this hose connected to the spray arm? It needs to be in the little holder ring.” Snapped the hose back into place then charged me $65 for fixing my dishwasher. That fix was totally worth the $65… not. I could have saved myself 65 bucks just by looking for something out of place.

I’ve wised up a little bit since then and I’ll share few home fixes you can DIY so you don’t have to replace an appliance, house, or car.

Unclog the washer drain filter

Problem: Your front loader washer won’t drain properly and it kind of smells too. You didn’t know your washer had a drain filter.

Random Fact: The washer eats the socks, not the dryer.

Fix it: Clean out the washer drain filter one to two times a year. If you have a Whirlpool Duet like me, this should fix your F21 code and help with any lingering mold smells. *Warning* If you have never ever cleaned out your filter, it may smell like something died. Now don’t say I didn’t warn you.

1. (Unplug washer) Remove screws holding front panel
2. Place towel/dish under drain
3. Unscrew drain and clean filter
4. Check drain for debris
5. Put back together

Clean out the dryer vent

Problem: Your clothes take forever to dry even though the dryer gets hot. You don’t remember the last time you cleaned out the dryer vent and the lint trap isn’t cleaned after every use.

Unfortunate Fact: Dryer lint makes great kindling.

Fix it: Vacuum out those dust bunnies from your dryer vent every year and while you’re at it, swap the plastic or foil duct to a metal semi-rigid or rigid one. The metal ducts have fewer spaces for lint to build up and are not flammable.

1. Unplug dryer/turn off gas- Remove lint screen
2. Unscrew lint cage and vacuum
3. Pull dryer out and detach hose
4. Vacuum out hose and connecting ducts
5. Reattach everything

Remove headlight haze

Problem: Your car’s age is showing in the yellowed headlights. Driving at night is not the funnest thing because haze on the headlights is pretty bad.

Lazy Fact: The fix takes less than five minutes and two ingredients.

Fix it: Don’t use those crazy expensive kits or those kits from the infomercials. Use some baking soda and water to buff away the nasty haze. Do this whenever the haze build up is bad.

1. Make a paste of water and baking soda
2. Apply to headlights
3. Buff with damp cloth
4. Rinse remaining baking soda off with water

Dust the refrigerator coils

Problem: Your milk is not as cold as it should be and the butter is melting.

Helpful Fact: The coils are on the bottom or back of the refrigerator.

Fix it: As part of your Spring Cleaning, vacuum up the dirt and dust from underneath your refrigerator.

1. Turn fridge off
2. Remove front grill
3. Brush and vacuum coils
4. Brush and repeat as necessary

Clean your bagless vacuum

Problem: Your vacuum no longer sucks, the clear canister is no longer clear, and there’s enough hair on the brush to create a small creature.

Fun Fact: There’s a fill line on the canister so you “should” know when to empty it.

Fix it: Clean out your vacuum every other month or so based off usage. You’ll be sucking dirt and pet hair in no time.

1. Remove and empty canister
2. Take canister apart and rinse
3. Remove filter and rinse as needed or dust as needed (some
   filters are washable others are not; check your manual)
4. Check hoses for blockage
5. Take a seam ripper and remove hair/string from the roller
   brush
6. Wipe vacuum clean as desired
7. Wait 24 hours for vacuum parts to thoroughly dry before putting
   it back together

On the conservative end, doing these home maintenance projects will probably save you a few hundred dollars. Plus, you’ll feel accomplished that you didn’t have to pay someone or buy a new one. Thanks to Ruth for letting me guest post, and happy cleaning!

Angela is a full-time mom, wife, and carpet cleaning business owner. She’s picked up lots of great cleaning tips over the years and loves learning new ones, all of which she shares on her cleaning blog Angela Says.   When she’s not cleaning or writing, she loves spending time with her family, attempting to sew and eating Chinese food.

Thank you Angela!  Interested in guest posting? Please contact me at Ruth@LivingWellSpendingLess.com

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Do you do your own home maintenance?  What other things do you fix yourself?  Share your tips!

I can’t wait to start sharing all my projects from Trouble’s Beachy Mermaid Party!  It was such a fun party to throw, and now that it is over I am thrilled to have some great home decor left over to give my house a casual summer beach house vibe. These burlap wreaths were ridiculously easy to make and I absolutely adore them!  The best part is that when summer is over I can swap out the starfish for something a little more fall-ish, with almost no effort at all.

The burlap garland made this project especially painless.  At first I thought about just cutting regular burlap into strips, but this stuff is lightly wired AND the edges are finished, which makes it much easier to work with.  It was about $8 for a roll at the craft store, but of course I used a coupon to get it for half off!

Here is what you need:

Step 1: Hold the wire frame in one hand, securing the end of the burlap ribbon with that same hand.  With your other hand, begin pushing loops of burlap through the back of the frame, alternating sections and pushing them together as you go.

Step 2:  Continue pushing loops through the frame all the way around.  This takes about 5-10 minutes.  Easy!

Step 3:  Once the frame is full, fluff & even out the loops.

Step 4: Use twine to secure the starfish to the wreath.

Step 5:  Hang and you’re done.  Seriously.  That’s it.  Can you believe it?  Easiest. Craft. Ever.

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Do you think you’ll try this one yourself?  How would you embellish it?

Happy Sunday!  I hope you are all having wonderful weekend! Once again I loved all your summer-themed recipes & ideas–especially all the fresh & yummy looking salads!  It is always hard to choose, but here are a few of my favorites:

*   *   *

First of all, this Simple Greek Salad dressing from Real Food Enthusiast had my mouth watering!

This fresh watermelon salad from Sara Howe also looked absolutely divine!  I think even my kids would eat this!

This Tomato, Cucumber and Mozzarella Salad from I Got This Martha looks delicious too!

Next, meal planning is always something I need to work at, so I really loved this post on Simple Meal Planning from Simple Home Managing.

Loved these great tips for drying fresh herbs from The Seasoned Homemaker!

I also loved these great ideas for how to Vacation on a Budget from Go Cheap or Go Home.

This starfish garland from A Little Claireification was so darn cute!  It would have been the perfect addition to my recent mermaid party!

And speaking of home decor, I LOVED this super cute and simple “X” coffee table from Thrifty and Chic.  I am now dying to make one–or 2–of these!

Finally, I am a sucker for anything sweet AND salty so these Pretzel and Toffee Peanut Butter Brownies from My Recipe Magic pretty much had me at hello.

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What did you love this week?

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