MittenKitten
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Post by MittenKitten on Nov 29, 2011 15:17:21 GMT -5
sugilite: Welcome! I love how you have your name in different colors!
Busy life here. Got DS#2's room half painted. Really meant to get the other half done today but it just isn't happening. I will work on it Thursday and Friday.
Lost over a pound over the Thanksgiving week YEAH! It has been so slow but these 3 months have been the WORST of my life.
Now trying to figure out the holiday activities and goings on for the family.
As for goals for next year:
1. Lose 35 lbs, with work it will be attainable. I have been losing around a pound a week for the last few weeks. Considering how stressed I have been and how many people are trying to sabatoge me this is pretty good. I may enroll in a race of some sort to help me with this goal. I have been exercising with the Wii for at least a half hour every day in addition to what I have already been doing.
2. Go on a Family Vacation to the Wisconson Dells and do the Family Camp again.
3. By the end of the year get DS#1 and DD insured. Not sure this is attainable. Sad part is they should have qualified for Medicaid but I was too busy fighting for transportation for DS#2 to fight that fight also.
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MittenKitten
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Post by MittenKitten on Nov 29, 2011 15:21:40 GMT -5
Oh and Secret Santa: I like dark chocolate, the color blue, taking relaxing baths. Don't like any flower scents but cinniman or apple or things like that are fine. Hot chocolate is yummy. I like to read and tend to read romances to let my mind settle.
mizbear: Good luck with DM. Are you going to be okay with her living with you? Are you doing your bazaar this weekend?
3cats: you go girl! Sounds like the kitty likes you better. My dad used to have a cat that would come for the winter and then disappear for the summer. Figured he lived with some people that went south for the winter.
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mizbear
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Post by mizbear on Nov 29, 2011 18:15:55 GMT -5
DM and I used to share a room for many years so I think we will be ok. I have asked my boss to do the bazaar between me not feeling well, the ankle, and needing to get everything straight with DM.
Look tomorrow morning for a response to everyone's posts and my master plan for the rest of the year.
HUGS everyone!
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mizbear
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Post by mizbear on Nov 29, 2011 18:23:28 GMT -5
Tomorrow is the 30th. I will be posting final monthly number and starting the new thread.
Honey- I like all of them- although I know for many, debt-free is an oxymoron in December.
Delightful December Dedicated December Disciplined December
We wish you a merry No Spend!
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moneysquirrel
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Post by moneysquirrel on Nov 29, 2011 21:42:22 GMT -5
Update: 16 NS Days and 5 CS Days
I am counting today as a CS but I should be reimbursed for what I spent. Had to attend a conference downtown and parking is very expensive. Have to do it all over again tomorrow. So I am quite sure that it will also be a CS day unless I go shopping on my way back to the car. I think I will be safe as I will be attending with a male coworker and I don't think he would be happy with me trying on shoes.
I think I am beginning to feel better. Still coughing a lot but mostly late at night or early morning. Of course, the voice sometimes leaves me. It was a good thing that I had the conference this morning since I had no voice early.
Secret Santa -- I love chocolate, tea, handmade items, and love the colors of red and purple. I wear a lot of black and primary colors. I do like unusual Christmas ornaments especially the nativity ones or ones that represent a city or region. I do have trouble with scents and have more than enough lotions and soaps so please no more of those.
This should be the milestone of 200 posts. Since I don't post on any other threads this is major for me.
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on Nov 29, 2011 23:28:01 GMT -5
moneysquirrel - Congrats on post #200!! #party# mizbear - I go for Dicsciplined December mk - I'm with you on the losing weight in 2012. I'm leaning towards doing the 30 day shred in January since I have no desire to run when it is cold out and then go back to running in the spring. It just got cold here on Sunday and I'm ready for spring already. Of course...I want to lose weight in 2012, but if we want DS to have a sibling I'll be looking at getting pregnant in 2012. Financially, it would be a stretch to have a baby in a 15 to 24 months, but we wouldn't be going into debt to do it. Speaking of losing weight, over the last 2 months I have cut out my nightly ice cream, I have cut out eating after 9pm (I typically do not snack at all after supper any more) and I work out basically every day and do some workout at work - to get my heart rate up through out the day and to break me out of my funk at my desk. My pants are finally feeling looser ... in fact the size 12s that I bought this summer (only new work pants I have bought since having DS and only time I have ever bought a size 12) are too big and look terrible on me now. I avoided the scale for a couple weeks while I got through the 5k and my birthday because I didn't want to be bummed out by the scale and yesterday for the first time since May I was below 160 - granted it was 159.8, but hey I can still claim it. So, I feel like I'm getting there. Definately still struggling with drinking too much soda. Before I had DS, I was a 1 can a day. Now I usually have 2. I drink about 120oz of water and don't drink milk or juice or coffee or tea. Money wise - we've done pretty well sticking to cash and buying only what we plan on buying. Still struggling a bit on the groceries, but trying not to waste money elsewhere has helped, plus with me not snacking as much at night it has helped a little.
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startsmart
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Post by startsmart on Nov 29, 2011 23:50:32 GMT -5
Whew, done with NaNoWriMo with 50,117 words. Actually a little more but that's all I've verified so far. Together with last year's writing it'll be a 80-90,000 word novel titled: Crime & Family, Just Another Bloody Thanksgiving and if you're interested you can read my excerpt here: www.nanowrimo.org/en/participants/kellyinca/novels/crime-family-just-another-bloody-thanksgivingToday was a CSD and tomorrow should be a NSD to finish the month. I am so glad that the month is coming to a close and start tomorrow on a great note with a new client!
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MittenKitten
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Post by MittenKitten on Nov 30, 2011 10:22:34 GMT -5
Final Numers 25/20 controlled/no spends. I will probably have to pick up lunch for DD and myself as we will be doing a lot of running today. Need to pick up DS#2 for his dental post op, then drop him off at Day Treatment, then come back home, rest for 15 minutes THEN take the puppy to training.
DS#2 really agrivated my shoulder tendonitis. NOT fun. I am trying to wait until the new year and my new deductable since I hardly used any of it this year. OUCH!!!!! Plus he will probably agrivate it today.
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sheilaincali
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Post by sheilaincali on Nov 30, 2011 10:29:17 GMT -5
I think I have 23/20 NSD. We did pretty decent this month. Slowly getting better at staying in on the weekends or not leaving the house without a plan or a list. Several times we successfully talked ourselves out of eating out. So that's a bonus.
This has been a pretty good year for getting DH on board with things (now if only, knock on wood, he could stay in the same vehicle all of 2012). Going to sit down with him this weekend and really go over our finances and our plan for 2012. We don't have a lot of debt- one credit card and my car payment but I still want to get those knocked down significantly in the next year.
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mrslynch
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Post by mrslynch on Nov 30, 2011 10:31:03 GMT -5
will finish the month with 24/25 controlled spends. not too shabby.
this an interesting month. i'm still trying to balance everything with f/t work and my eventual move into freelancing but i did hire a marketing manager AND i got asked to do an "ask the experts" interview with successful personal finance author/blogger. i'm so pumped about that! i've started putting some concrete goals in place to make the move. i just hope the income cooperates with those goals!
i also had to make some hard choices this month regarding some friends and family but i've come to this conclusion--i'm 34 years old. i don't have time for bullshit, drama, and people who don't support me even if they disagree with my choices as they're my choices, not yours. i also don't have time for people who truly don't care about me. so, out of my life they go. i'd rather be alone than surrounded by people who pretend to care about me.
i'm hoping to participate a bit more in december. i'm trying to get organized--it's not going well--and sometimes posting gets pushed aside. i shouldn't do that. i need you ladies for laughs, accountability, and your general wonderfulness.
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shanendoah
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Post by shanendoah on Nov 30, 2011 10:49:02 GMT -5
Yesterday was a spend. When I got my braces last December, I was told to expect to be in them 2 years. Yesterday was my 11 month checkup. I asked the Ortho if we were still looking at another year, and he said no, not another year, only another 3 months! I was super excited and decided to celebrate with Taco Bell for lunch, $5.55, which is what made it a spend. Hopefully today will be a no spend and I will meet my goal for the month.
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mizbear
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Post by mizbear on Nov 30, 2011 11:26:06 GMT -5
Disciplined December it will be then!
Later I will post the numbers and my edited post. Long morning.
I lost 2.2 pounds! YAY!
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ses
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Post by ses on Nov 30, 2011 12:03:23 GMT -5
Final update 27/30 NSD
I am procrastinating. I need to clean out the fridge and check just what groceries I might need before tomorrow when the snow arrives. I just finished the last of the yummy 8 grain and omega-3 bread and rolls I made for Thanksgiving. Now I am considering making some more, but there are other things I need to do more, like clean the fridge and get whatever trash that generates out before the snow starts.
I did think about my goals for next year and this is what I came up with.
1) Top off my EF to a nice round number 2) Build up my Household Account. The new siding and the bay window really decimated it and I know both the furnace and water heater are both 12 years old. If I don't plan for a replacement, you know both will die on the same day! 3) Learn to live on a reduced monthly budget due to LTC premiums. 4) Start a FUN account to cover my toys, books and splurges to keep them out of my monthly budget. 5) Continue my decluttering--WHY did I think I needed all this stuff?
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3catslady
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Post by 3catslady on Nov 30, 2011 14:58:55 GMT -5
update for the month; 29 NSD of which 8 were CSD, 1 EOD. Almost a perfect month. If I can do this again next month, I will put 2 eating out days in my budget but this month I got them under control. It only took me 3 years to get here. I am still trying to figure out what my goals for next year will be. I know I am going to continue to get gift cards each payday and I am going to add gas cards to the lot but not one each week. I think one a month would do it because that would be $120 for gas and I don't use that much gas in a month, (this month $65 for gas). Do you ladies mind if I take a couple of your goals for the year? There are a couple that I need to do and will make my life easier. ETA; I forgot to add RED ROSE TEA to my list for Secret Santa.
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Jaguar
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Post by Jaguar on Nov 30, 2011 15:15:40 GMT -5
Hi Everyone, I just saved myself $72 CDN in Bank fees......I went to the Post Office instead and bypassed those added fees.......
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Jaguar
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Post by Jaguar on Nov 30, 2011 15:19:03 GMT -5
Namaste Everyone,
I asked Moonie about how I would do it, and she just went ahead and done it herself......So I consider it a gift from Moonie.
Smart Spending, Happy Saving To You !
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mizbear
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Stand back. I have a budget, and I know how to use it.
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Post by mizbear on Nov 30, 2011 15:27:41 GMT -5
GREAT NEWS! We sign the papers to move DM in with me tomorrow!
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redwagon
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Post by redwagon on Nov 30, 2011 15:54:43 GMT -5
shanen - yay for no braces soon! I had mine on for a LONG time because I never did anything they told me to do lol. I was a stubborn kid. Your teeth will feel so slimy at first. It took me a while to get used to it.
muttley - we can be preggo buddies!
mrslynch - so excited for you!! way to go out and grab what you want!
miz - yay on the 2.2 pounds! I'm afraid to go weigh in at WW but I think I'm doing okay. I've at least been tracking this week and making an effort to work out. Zumba tonight!
sugilite - welcome! yay on saving on bank fees!
Booked my flight to Alaska for our cruise next summer. And as I'd just sent about that much money to the credit cards earlier this week, I essentially paid in cash. Right? lol. Ah, justification...
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Jaguar
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Post by Jaguar on Nov 30, 2011 16:02:48 GMT -5
Yeah anyday you save $72 cdn is huge........I saved a lot on my new computer as well, about $600 I guess just by doing my homework. And I saved $140 on my high end desktop speakers.....This is all since the end of Oct. and I'm freaking damn proud of myself......just do extra legwork on line checking everything out.
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azmom
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Post by azmom on Nov 30, 2011 19:24:32 GMT -5
***HELLO*** I have really missed you guys but life has been something busy and I have been TRYING to spend less time online. My 16yo niece will be having spinal surgery later this month to correct curving due to scoliosis AND her mom (my sister) sprung the news that she is PREGNANT (33yo single mom to three (16,15, 10) The time I spend on my blog has been plenty of online time. I hope to rejoin you all in the New Year as I will be a girl on a mission to save, which is only possible if I can rack up NSD! 3CATS: You amaze me and are a true inspiration! Muttleyn: Congrats on completing your 5k-I saw it on facebook but never got a chance to respond! That is so super awesome and I am so proud of you! I am going to TRY to compete in another marathon next year if my body is willing. Gals: I put a few links to training programs on my blog post today if you are interested. It starts with a walk/run program and progresses to a marathon - all for beginners. I MISS you all so much. I have been trying to read along and I do have other comments to make but I have to get off this computer and play with my kiddos. ~HAPPY NO SPENDING~
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spruby
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Post by spruby on Nov 30, 2011 20:08:34 GMT -5
Final Update: 25/30 CSD/NSD and ~22/30 restaurant points used
So doing the big cook and eating out of the freezer has made a huge difference. The final key seems to making the menu plan on Sunday night - it would have saved me a stop at Chick Fil A tonight.
Spending was really emotional spending - work has been a roller coaster lately and frankly I just want them to make a decision on this job. Hopefully soon. Think good thoughts please - as much as I want the job I *need* them to make a decision one way or another so I can screw my head on straight and move on.
COTW - Goals for 2012: 1) Save, save, save - this is doable - but that means I'll be hyper focused on the NSD 2) DH retires May 2012 - he'll start freelancing - also doable - but requires #1! 3) spruby gets a new job - doable 4) spruby loses weight - 50lbs - doable 5) downsize the stuff/clutter - doable
See you in December!
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on Nov 30, 2011 21:02:17 GMT -5
Well, I guess I'm going to be out for good. I got the "this is your last chance and if I catch you on the internet again at work, you will be fired speech today." My boss probably should have given me the speech a while ago and I probably should have just been fired today, but I've got another chance and I can't blow it. I don't have a whole lot of free time at home since I've been trying to work out every night and after being on the computer all day at work, I don't want to be on it much at home. So, we'll see how much I'm not here.
Thank you all for being my friends. I know that is why I spend so much time online at work since my online time is almost 100% message boards. There is no one else in my office half the time and my only non-husband adult interaction comes Sundays at church. Anyway, I figured I would fill you in.
Happy December all.
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moneysquirrel
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Post by moneysquirrel on Nov 30, 2011 21:26:00 GMT -5
Final Update: 16NSD and 6CSD
Today was another CSD since I had to pay for parking for my conference. No other spending took place. I may end up back at the mall later this winter since there were a few items that caught my eye and there are no other locations of the store in the area closer to my home. Maybe during my break.
Muttley -- we will miss you so pop in when you can.
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Honeylioness
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Post by Honeylioness on Nov 30, 2011 21:29:05 GMT -5
End of Month Update:
29 NEO 23 NSD/CSD* I came in under budget for groceries this month which was great. * I went over in several other categories, but that was because I paid off all my bills * I received my fist UI check and it is much more than I had anticipated I would be getting each week. I have chosen to have Federal and State taxes taken out of each payment so I don't have a large tax bill in April. However I will still be geting about $500 a week for 26 weeks - which means I will only need to use $300-400 a month from my remaining severance of $9,000 to cover my expenses if I keep things on track. So that has relieved a bit of my ongoing stress. * I will have a couple of additional expenses in December not normally a part of my budget: Postage to mail gifts My first COBRA payment My Co-pays to the chiropractor * I will be doing something on Friday that I am not sure everyone will agree with, or understand. I need to think about how to write about why I am doing it and then perhaps write a post about it on my site. It is still percolating. And yes, it does involve money. Saw the chiropractor this morning, learned the pain in my elbow is a muscle strain - not sure just HOW I managed to do that. And this weird thing going on with the middle finger of my right hand is called "Trigger Finger". There isn't really much that can be done unless it becomes worse - which is annoying. I am going to my BFFs tomorrow morning to "shop" through her closet for some new-to-me interview blazers and things. Then back home for lunch with a couple of friends from work. Question for everyone: Has anyone done hypnosis before? I am thinking of paying for some sessions to quit smoking. I know it won't be cheap but Logically I know it will be cheaper in the long run than the cost of smoking, and will have health benefits. I am just leery of being that vulnerable to someone. Guess I am afraid I will start mooing or something when the phone rings. mitten - Great news on losing ANY weight during the Holidays. Yeah you!! startsmart - GREAT job on the novel. Perhaps someday I will actually stay disciplined enough to really do a NaNoWriMo myself. MrsLynch - Congratulations on the interview. Hang in there, you know we will be here for you when you need us. shanendoah - Wonderful news on the braces. I bet it will feel great to be done with that. SES - Keep us updated on how the de-cluttering goes. I am starting to think about doing some of the same myself. And yes, you do NEED a "Fun" account. 3cats- Feel free to use whatever goals work for you, even if someone else posts them first. Sugilite - Good work on the bank fees. These sort of mind shifts in how to do things are how we all move forward. And just to be nosey .... is your family from India? Just wondering because of the "Namaste".muttley - We will be on the lookout for another Baby Muttley update. And in my opinion, I think you are drinking the second soda to get the caffeine kick you need to chase after a toddler. Sorry to hear you had a confrontation with your boss. But I completely understand. Check in when you can. azmom - Thanks for checking in. I can imagine the stress of dealing with such major surgery on a young relative - but YIKES on your sister. I can only imagine her stress levels are through the roof.
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moneysquirrel
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Post by moneysquirrel on Nov 30, 2011 21:46:37 GMT -5
Honey -- I am a non-smoker but one of my friends used hypnosis to quit several years ago. I seem to remember that she listened to a series of tapes after the initial sessions. It worked for her.
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on Nov 30, 2011 21:50:52 GMT -5
Honey - Hypnosis is how my Grandpa quit smoking back in the 80s. It worked like a charm.
My DH hasn't mentioned this to me, but apparently he called our insurance about smoking cessation. They emailed him some information, questionaires about when do you smoke and why do you smoke and what could you change to help you stop smoking. I don't know too much and i don't want to push, but I'm really excited that he took that initiative.
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moneysquirrel
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Post by moneysquirrel on Nov 30, 2011 21:54:50 GMT -5
sapphire--Happy Birthday!
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Jaguar
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Post by Jaguar on Nov 30, 2011 22:06:20 GMT -5
HoneylionessNo, I'm Canadian of English/Native bloodlines....... I do meditation & brainwave entrainment the Namaste is a greeting that I give out........ Your statement on mind shifts is very true for me. It was meditation that changed everything for the better in my case. And I don't mean airy fairy either, just feet firmly planted on the ground. Honeylioness have you ever thought of doing Brainwave Entrainment or Meditation to quit smoking ? There's hypnosis CD & MP3 as well. I quit smoking in Sept 1997, good luck. Ask me whatever you want, I'll explain as best as I can.
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mizbear
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Stand back. I have a budget, and I know how to use it.
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Post by mizbear on Nov 30, 2011 22:20:28 GMT -5
muttley- HUGS!
I am busy compiling and editing. Will start the thread for tomorrow though.
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pointy
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Post by pointy on Dec 1, 2011 6:07:19 GMT -5
Final update: 22/21 NS and 26/26 No QVC ;D
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