October 2021 - The Pink Chickadee

Pineapple Halloween Costume

The Pineapple of my eye! You heard me right – this year’s Halloween costume is the crown of all fruits – the pineapple. Details of my costume (and sweet Rosie’s) are listed below.

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

Dress: Prabal Gurung for Target (purchased off of ThredUp for $7!)
Sunglasses: Amazon
Tumbler: Home Goods (similar linked here)
Flats: Kate Spade (gifted from my Step-Mother)
Balloons: Target
Rosie’s Costume: Target

Above all else, remember to stand tall, be confident, and wear your crown proudly! Happy Halloween!!

XOXO – Katie <3

October 31, 2021December 29, 2025

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Two Weekends in Raleigh

Throughout the month of October, I have been very lucky to be able to travel twice to my college town of Raleigh, North Carolina. I have loved my time in Raleigh, despite my desires not to move back there any time soon, and am oh so grateful that I have been able to visit my friends that have become my Raleigh family yet again! Today, I plan to recap my time in Raleigh during both weekends!

Weekend 1 – Reunion Weekend!

Brunch at Cracker Barrel with my Meredith sisters, including Chandler!

For my first weekend to Raleigh, I traveled down to Raleigh for an Alumnae Reunion at my college – Meredith College. My friends and I who are all 2021 alumnae along with a good friend of ours who is a 2020 alumnae and I all planned to attend a reunion brunch with Meredith College alumnae of all ages and class years. We were really looking forward to going to this super fun and exciting reunion, but Mother Nature had other plans for us. Unfortunately, there were flash flood warnings all morning when the brunch was to happen, and since we were supposed to be outside in covered tents, the brunch was sadly cancelled. Each of us was super disappointed, especially since I traveled all of this way by plane for the weekend and not being able to attend what I came to Raleigh for. However, I do not like to be a pessimist so I made the best of it. Fortunately, my friends and I decided to go to Cracker Barrel for brunch, instead and were able to get a full refund in lieu of attending the brunch. Our Cracker Barrel outing, while not ideal, was still super fun. In the end, it’s all about being there with your friends and classmates and simply enjoying the time together. Essentially, I came to make memories with friends and I for sure conquered that objective!

Since I could not go to campus the day prior for the Meredith College Reunion Brunch, I knew that I could not leave Raleigh without stepping foot on my sweet sweet campus (read more about that experience here). My hostess with the mostess and best friend Alanna and I decided to go to campus ourselves. Meredith College had instilled a brand-new lake on campus just a few days before our visit. We most definitely *had* to check out the lake, which we were both in heaven over, too! After visiting Meredith’s campus, we decided to take a visit to our favorite nearby shopping district Village District. Village District is home to several local boutiques and chain favorites in the most intimate and customized shopping and dining experience possible. Personally, Village District has always been a favorite place to hang of mine, whether it be for shopping, eating out, or taking photos in front of its many recently instilled murals around the grounds. Both strolling along the grounds of Meredith College and Village District was indeed a sweet walk down memory lane.

Brunch at Cracker Barrel with my Meredith sisters Alanna, Kaylee, Julia, and Chandler

Visiting the brand-new Meredith lake on campus

Weekend 2 – Wedding and State Fair Weekend!

The North Carolina State Fair with my best friend Hannah

The first weekend that I came to Raleigh was the weekend of many North Carolina college’s Fall breaks. I have friends either still at Meredith College and or graduate school at the nearby North Carolina State University or both. So, my second October weekend in Raleigh gave me the chance to be able to see some of my friends that I didn’t see the first weekend. So, to kick off my second weekend in Raleigh, I got to see my good friends Hannah and Chandler for dinner at an Italian favorite spot of our’s – Amedeo’s. Later that night, I saw my good friends Julia, Bryn, and Hannah – yes, I have many friends named Hannah – hah! Then, the next day, I got to see my Lil Sis Lelia and my adorable Grand Lil (her Lil) Madelyne who I got to meet for the very first time as well as my friends Julia and Gabby for some much-needed manicures. Lastly, I saw my best friend Claire at our favorite coffee joint – Lucky Tree – and enjoyed some much needed time in-person. It was most definitely great to get to see so many folks that I hadn’t have seen since graduating!

One of the major reasons for me coming back to Raleigh was to make a visit to the North Carolina State Fair. If you follow me on Instagram, then you know that I am always sharing that “there’s nothing finer” whenever I refer to the North Carolina State Fair. I surely agree with that statement which remains this state fair’s tagline! Personally, my best friends Alanna, Bryn, and Hannah and I who all went to the North Carolina State Fair together and I were extremely overwhelmed with the extremely heavy crowds when we went. Despite the crowds, we still had a great time and enjoyed some lemonade, popcorn, and deep fried cookie dough. We, in fact, ended up going to the lake at the State Fairgrounds where it is held each year and hung out there and admired the sunset, since NO ONE was there. Though the North Carolina State Fair wasn’t what we had anticipated, we each still had an amazing time.

Lastly, my final leg of my Raleigh adventures was my time celebrating my good friend Laura Kate’s wedding. Laura Kate was one of my first friends at Meredith College and she stuck around over the years. She had such a beautiful, intimate wedding and I was honored to be able to be there with some of my good friends, such as Kaylee, Julia, and Lexie. At the same time, I also got to see some of my Meredith classmates that I haven’t seen in a few years, since we all graduated and moved onto bigger and better things. If you know me, then you know I am a MAJOR sucker for a beautiful wedding and just attending someone’s big day and Laura Kate’s wedding was NO exception!

The North Carolina State Fair with my best friends Alanna, Bryn, and Hannah

Dinner with my good friends Hannah and Chandler

Lunch with my Lil Sis Lelia and my Grand Lil Madelyne

Celebrating Laura Kate’s wedding with my good friend Julia

Through it all, my two October weekends in Raleigh were nothing short of a blessing. It was so great to be able to attend some great events, whether it be a reunion, state fair, or a wedding, even though things may have not gone according to plan at times. At the same time, I LOVED being able to see friends both near and far again and pick up right where we left off. Blessings all around!

XOXO – Katie <3

October 30, 2021December 29, 2025

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How I Budget for Christmas

Whether we like it or not, Christmas time is upon us! That being said, many of us are placing an emphasis on budgeting for Christmas. Personally, I have always spent a little extra if not more than a little at the holiday’s. What can I say?! Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year!

Make a list – whether it be activities, dinners, hostess gifts, putting together a gathering, cards, apparel, decorations, gifts, or all of the above. Anything and everything that you could even think about spending money on during the holiday’s is worth while to put on that list.
Check that list twice – Like I always say, you have to check ALL the details! 9 times out of 10, we always miss something when we look over things yet again. I know I do! The same idea goes for making a list as to what you may purchase during the holiday’s.
Set a budget overall – Overall, it’s important to set a limit for how much you can both afford and are willing to spend on Christmas. Setting that budget overall will then help you to categorize everything else from there, too. At the end of the day, having a budget overall will give you peace of mind as to how much you are planning to spend this holiday season and allow you to budget for other things whatever they may be accordingly.
Set a budget for each person and prioritize – When it comes to gifts and activities and everything else in between, it’s important to prioritize who and where your Christmas money will go. That way, you can set limits and budget accordingly. While it is hard to sometimes set limits as to who gets allotted how much and what they may get, it’s important to remember that those closest to you are most likely the priority and the one’s you will probably be spending the holidays with. Though gifts are a part of the Christmas holiday, they are not everything and friends and family value quality time (and probably food – say a home cooked meal that they don’t have to cook) over anything else.

Christmas is an amazing time of the year. It is a time of giving to others and ourselves and celebration. Most importantly, Christmas is a time of love and quality time to celebrate the birth of Christ. While not all of my readers are Christians, it is key to mention that Christmas is a true testament to love and giving all around – no MATTER what you believe. Whether you have a lot to spend at Christmas or not, simply spending time with those you love is what’s most important.

XOXO – Katie <3

October 28, 2021December 29, 2025

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Ways to Use Your College Extracurricular Activities Professionally

Whether it be a club officer position, being a member of a club on campus, or in a leadership position within another capacity, college extracurricular activities are an excellent way to show yourself off. In college, I was personally victimized by overcommitment. I served in SO many leadership roles within my college years – read them all here – that it definitely has helped me in the workforce, too. Today, I will be sharing ways to use your college extracurricular activities within the professional world.

Ways to Use Your College Extracurricular Activities Professionally

You know how to work with people of all kinds – when serving in a leadership position, you learn how to collaborate and work with people of all kinds. Not everyone has the same way of working, personality type, and so much more than ourselves. Needless to say, everyone is unique and working in a leadership role provides you the lens to work with people who are different from ourselves – something that is seen everyday within the work world.
You can work better under pressure – A lot of the times, when working, others are relying on you to get the job done. The same goes for serving in a leadership capacity in college. When others are relying on you, that can bring about a whole extra level of pressure on your end. But, you learn to work under that pressure and that will help you to succeed at your finest professionally.
You Gain Fundamental Communication Skills – When working, communication is vital to success on everyone’s part. College leadership and extracurriculars teach you how to communicate with others in a way similar to that of the work world and further connects the bridge into the work world. As basic as this skill is, it is one that is acquired over time and one that will serve you so well in the long run.
You Learned Something New – Extracurriculars teach us A LOT about not only ourselves but as a leader too. We learn so much from serving others in a leadership position. What you learn from those extracurriculars can ALWAYS be used in future experiences too, especially in the workforce. The skills that we acquire will help us in SO many ways, even in roles that are very different than our previous one’s.
You are Innovative – Have an idea?! Share it if and when you can! Extracurriculars allow us to be innovative on a regular basis – something that can set you apart within the workforce. Some of the best ideas can help get the job done professionally in the best way possible. Your voice can help so many others, simply from developing an innovative spirit back in your undergraduate days.
You Get Plugged in within Your Company – For the most part, companies offer times for you to get together and know some of your coworkers beyond the working day to day life. My company has Affinity Groups such as the Women’s Forum and LGBTQ+ Alliance and Communities of Practice such as Women in Data and Accessibility Matters that allow for employees to be a leader in an extracurricular front. Not to mention, my company also offers several professional development opportunities and events that allow for me to have extracurriculars within the working world, too. Many other companies have similar extracurriculars, too!

Through it all, every single experience teaches us something whether we realize it or not. The ways that we channel our experiences into our future successes is what matters. Most importantly, none of us are perfect. Personally, I struggle with this concept within the professional world constantly, especially as a newer employee at my company. BUT, that is OKAY – none of us are alone either! How we take our experiences and run like the wind with them is what matters.

XOXO – Katie <3

October 23, 2021December 29, 2025

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How I Stay Sane During the Holiday’s

Holiday party apparel on – check. Curling up in a blanket on the couch thanks to exhaustion – check. Drinking wine out of an old coffee mug – check. Christmas happens to be everywhere around me – check. The holiday’s can be INSANE y’all. With 2020 bringing about a lot less holiday parties and in-person gatherings of all sorts, this upcoming 2021 holiday season will be bringing about a much much much crazier holiday season than ever before. Not only will we be adjusting to in-person festivities yet again, but we will also be dealing with the holiday craze like never before. Nevertheless, the holiday’s make staying sane anything but possible. Well, until today’s blog post, which I hope will help you a bit!

How I Stay Sane During the Holiday’s

Start early – There’s nothing worse than it being one week until Christmas time and you have yet to decorate the tree, wrap the gifts, decide what casserole to make, and to bake that batch of cookies. Yes, we all know that it can be a lot at times, but it always helps to start early. You know what they say, the early bird gets the worm!
Make a list of EVERYTHING I aspire to accomplish this holiday season – Decorating the house, buying the presents, baking the casseroles and cookies, hosting that holiday party, and wrapping all those presents. There’s A LOT that we have to do for the holiday’s in general. The holiday’s are a crazy time of year, and it is oh so easy for everything that we aspire to and need to do this season to get all jumbled in our minds. That being said, it most definitely helps to see in writing what you aspire to accomplish this holiday season. When you see it all out in the open, then you can conquer it in increments, especially when starting early!
Check that list twice – Before we find out whose naughty or nice, we gotta check our holiday to do’s list again and again and again. Usually, there are so many things that we need to do that we do not even realize that we need to do until later. That being said, checking our list twice helps us accomplish what we need to do and aspire to do and even more.
Make a budget – Let’s get this straight: the holiday’s are expensive! That being said, making a budget is key to success when it comes to the holidays. There are so many expenses that come with it all and to be able to set your limits early and not via a hefty credit card bill come January is the key to financial success during this crazy exciting season.
Stick to that said budget – Now, the hardest part of it all is actually having the discipline to stick to that budget. To be honest, I struggle with this one the most out of them all, but despite the struggles, sticking to a budget is oh so rewarding and worth it in the long run.
Do tasks on your list in increments – When accomplishing and tackling the holidays, do it all in increments. As previously mentioned, the holidays is indeed a crazy *overwhelming* time of year. So, doing what you can to get what you need to get done little by little will help keep you sane and be successful, too.
Take time to soak up some holiday cheer! – Most importantly, through it all, take some time to sit back, relax, and enjoy some holiday cheer. Enjoy that glass of Egg nog, that Peppermint Mocha, and that Shot of Bailey’s and everything in between! Take the time to admire the Christmas decorations all around, time with friends and family, and give back to those around you. But, take the time for YOU too.

The holiday’s are a crazy time of year, but they can also be a super exciting time of year. Through it all, be sure to soak in ALL of the holiday cheer. Get a dose of Christmas spirit and take it everywhere you go, too!

XOXO – Katie <3

October 21, 2021December 29, 2025

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6 Hours in Charlottesville, Virginia

They say Virginia is for Lovers and it truly is! Indeed, Virginia is also a great place for single’s too. Over the past few weeks, I have explored some of the extraordinary state that I have recently called home, living right outside of Washington, DC. Some of those places include Charlottesville, Virginia to visit Thomas Jefferson’s homestead of Monticello and Shenandoah National Park’s Skyline Drive. Since visiting some of beautiful Virginia, I have now wanted to explore more of it too!

Last week, my Papa and I took a tour of Thomas Jefferson’s home base of Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia. The whole way there, Charlottesville and its surrounding areas are filled with breathtaking sceneries of the Virginia Wine Country and mountaintops. Charlottesville is located in the heart of Virginia’s Wine Country. It is also home to the University of Virginia, founded by Thomas Jefferson, himself, and seen from the Monticello estate at its mountaintop. While at Monticello, we could see the Blue Ridge mountains and the Virginia Wine Country from up above – breathtaking views were seen all around, though, from the homestead and its grounds to the scenic views all around. The best and most inspiring part of visiting Monticello was our tour. Papa and I chose to do the $40/person 45 minute guided tour, and it was the way to go. Our tour guide taught us a lot about Jefferson’s home, which took 40 years to construct, and emphasized on the former President’s beliefs of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” and how it pertains to everyone regardless of their race, gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, sexuality, religion, ethnicity, ability, and much more. All in all, visiting Monticello was a great and empowering experience.

As for the rest of Charlottesville, we pretty much just visited the local Cookout before getting lost driving downtown and then deciding to just head back home – HAH! While it was great to get Cookout again, I hope to tour a bit of the downtown Charlottesville again real soon, too. Besides Charlottesville, when it comes to other Virginia-based trips, Richmond, Norfolk, Blacksburg, Virginia Beach (although already visited), Sperryville, Staunton, James Madison’s Montpelier, Natural Bridge, the Northern Neck, and re-visiting Shenandoah National Park reign at the top of my bucket list. Virginia is such a vastly gorgeous state with SO much to see, and I am excited to explore it more!

XOXO – Katie <3

October 19, 2021December 29, 2025

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Weekly Menu Round-Up: October 18-22

Another week, another weekly menu! My week’s have gotten pretty busy since the most recent holiday weekend – Columbus Day weekend. However, I am still brewing some things in the kitchen to enjoy some home-cooked specialties. This week, I am not making as much in the kitchen, but I am still enjoying a few recipes here and there. Let’s get cooking!

Meal 1:

In recent times, Progresso has whipped up a new dry formula for Crockpot soups and I have been eager to try! So, I am going to be whipping up that soup recipe, myself. I am trying their chicken noodle soup formula, but not adding any chicken to it. To enjoy this soup, I will be baking some biscuits Pillsbury style and sautéing some kale.

Meal 2:

About a month ago, I stocked up on Fall products at Trader Joe’s. Now, I am oh so excited to whip up some wheat spaghetti with Trader Joe’s Autumn Harvest Pasta Sauce and add in some white wine and mussels. I will be topping off this meal with some Texas toast and kale Caesar salad!

Meal 3:

Last but not least, I will be enjoying some egg cups with broccoli and spinach within them. They’re most definitely a delicious and easy recipe to make. I’m excited to enjoy them all this week.

Here’s to an exciting week in the kitchen!

XOXO – Katie <3

October 17, 2021December 29, 2025

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The Life of Katie!

Everyday I’m hustling is I guess my anthem! To say that I am one that enjoys to be on the go is most definitely the truth. I have always LOVED to live for the hustle and am grateful to have it back in my life, due to the slowdown that COVID-19 brought to it all. My work life is most definitely picking up and while the days are tiresome at times, as I am adjusting to it all, working full time has been one of the most rewarding things that I have ever done for myself and to thank my family for the support that they have provided me in a variety of ways over the course of my life. Needless to say, The Life of Katie! blog posts are going to take on a much more simplified version moving forward. Through it all, as always, I want to hear what YOU are up to this week, so comment it at the end of this post!

What’s been on my mind?!

Top: Simply Southern (similar linked here)
Earrings: Target (much smaller hoops but similar style concept linked here)
Leggings: Cuddl Duds
Boots: Jack Rogers (similar style linked here)

What Have I Been Up To?!

Loving Grey’s Anatomy Season 18 – If you know me, then you know that I am CONSTANTLY gushing about ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy! Two weeks ago, this medical drama’s Season 18 premiered, and one of my all-time favorite characters – Addison Forbes Montgomery came back to the show. My inner Addison fangirl went CRAZY. At the same time, I have always admired how Grey’s Anatomy tackles real-world issues that are present in today’s society and learns and grows from the much-needed changes in our world today. For instance, in the most recent episode, Addison emphasizes how she feels that the current class of surgical interns is bringing forward the importance of not overworking our doctors in a world where doctors amongst others in several other careers are overworked. The same idea goes for including and bringing justice to those of ALL races, ethnicities, religions, gender identities, sexualities, abilities, and so much more. All in all, I LOVE Grey’s Anatomy.
Connectivity – One of my biggest struggles with my move to the Washington, DC area is establishing connections beyond my family and set of friends that I have had for years here pre-move. While it is nice to have already made myself a network in my brand-new city, I am also wanting to have more connections beyond the one’s that I have already. There are some ways that I am planning on using to become much more connected, too, but I have yet to want to share them. Though, I will say that I am starting with becoming connected through my workplace and within my company and branching out beyond my company life, too. I am a workaholic according to my friends – HAH!
Busy weeks – It’s crazy to think that we’re more than halfway through October! Yesterday, I feel like we were in August. That being said, my calendar is getting busier and busier and busier. But, TRUST ME, I love love love the hustle if you couldn’t tell already. I have a wedding to attend this weekend for my good friend Laura Kate, a trip to Raleigh to celebrate Laura Kate’s wedding and my Lil Sis Lelia’s Class Ring ceremony (y’all it’s a huge deal to get your Class Ring aka your Onyx here at Meredith College!) and go to the NC State Fair, I am making an evening visit to my favorite destination of mine National Harbor this week, attending a DC Bloggers meet up this week, and shooting LOTS of exciting content and working full time in between. Then, the craze and excitement continues for the weeks to come up and until early January 2022 as of right now. I even *yes, even* booked two Christmas excursions just the other day before they fill up. Needless to say, January 2022 will be pretty quiet around here – HAH!

Through it all, I am super grateful to be back on the hustle and bustle train of things and thought. I honestly missed it and LIVE for it. Even though it is an adjustment, I’m grateful for the stability and excitement and joy that it brings me in life. As always, comment down below what you’re looking forward to this coming week!

XOXO – Katie <3

October 16, 2021December 29, 2025

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My First Time Visiting My College Campus as an Alum

They always say: “when one door closes, another one opens.” On occasion, we revisit former chapters of our lives. It can be great, not so great, or a little bit of both when we do look back at our former times in life. For me, one of the best times of my life was being a college student at Meredith College – an all-women’s college down in Raleigh, North Carolina. And, last weekend, I was very lucky to be able to make a visit down to Meredith College to see campus for the very very very first time since I graduated. Although I was very happy to be back on campus, I am also happy to be beyond my college years *believe it or not*.

To us Meredith students and alums, Meredith College is known to us dearly as “Wonderland.” It is for good reason, too. Like myself, Meredith College is the wonderland where our best memories ever have taken place. There is something so special to my Meredith College sisters and I about our times at Meredith, however long they were for us.

My years at Meredith College, like I said, were some of the best of my life. At Meredith, I served as a student leader within my class and organizations school wide (you can see a list of all of the things that I was involved in in this blog post here), pursued a Mathematics degree with minors in Data Science, Statistics, and Website Development within the BEST Mathematics and Computer Science Department EVER (you can also read about all of the college classes that I took here), and met some of my best friends and now Meredith College sisters along the way. The memories that I made are memories that will last a lifetime and am eternally grateful that I was able to make, despite all of the things that occurred during my college years most notably being COVID-19. Through it all, Meredith College is the home of many of my most special memories. Truly, a Wonderland and my Wonderland these past four years and the several more years to come!

Over the course of my first few months in the post-graduation world I have learned to adapt and move beyond my college years. Looking back in my last few weeks of my undergraduate days, I was extremely drained from it all. I lived for the college life hustle and bustle – exams, homework assignments, long late study sessions, projects, and meetings around the clock. Not to mention, all of the gossip and toxicity – yes, the less-talked about things that are the prime center of any women’s college experience – that occurs, too. While gossip and toxicity occurs EVERYWHERE, at a women’s college, it takes on a different feel that at a coed school, such as my high school. When I graduated from Meredith College, I was drained and tired and ready for something new. Even though it is tough at times transitioning into the post-college way of life, it has shaped me into the woman that I am today and will shape me into the woman that I am to become moving forward. Although I proudly consider Meredith College to be a Wonderland, my sweet and beloved Wonderland is not perfect and neither are we as humans either.

When I stepped foot on Meredith’s campus, I was happy to be there. Meredith College recently filled its trademark Meredith Lake on campus that remained dry for decades before, including when I was a student there. However, I was also relieved to not be a student anymore. I was relieved that I could visit this chapter of my life again and again but not actually re-enter it. I could remember and reminisce about my sweet sweet sweet Wonderland as beautiful as it is, despite my current stage of life as a post-grad.

Whatever life may bring me, I know that Meredith College will always be there for me to step foot on as the most magical Wonderland that I know it to be.

XOXO – Katie <3

October 14, 2021December 29, 2025

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My Favorite Trips Abroad

Today’s blog post is more of a blast from the past! As I am *finally* starting to travel again like many of us are as well, it’s fun to look back on some of my many international travels pre-COVID-19. I feel very fortunate and blessed that I was able to travel vastly and wide when it was safe to and am looking forward to when it is safe to too. In college, I traveled to Canada, England, Scotland, Italy, The Vatican, France, Bulgaria, Belize, and Greece via study abroad and travel. Today, I will be sharing a photo flashback diary of some of my many adventures abroad! Bon Voyage!!!

Palace of Versailles Gardens, Versailles, France

Campobello Island, New Brunswick, Canada

Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Stratford Upon Avon, England

XOXO – Katie <3

October 12, 2021December 29, 2025

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