Ferrero Raffaello Giveaway!

With Mother's Day fast approaching Ferrero are offering you a wonderful giveaway treat! The treat in question is a delightfully pretty chocolate box of Confetteria Raffaello.

With toasted almond at it's heart, Rafaello by Ferrero are a delicate coconut and almonds cream, encased in a thin, crispy wafer and dusted with coconut which just melts on the tongue. Yum yum!! Even though these would make a very nice and tasty treat for any fabulous mum, they would also make a lovely gift for your sister, daughter, special friend or even (if you love chocolate as much as I do) yourself! If you would like to go in the pretty hat to win this scrumptious Fererro chocolate box, all you need to do is leave a comment on this post. Maybe you'd like to share who these would be going to if you won. I'll get a small member of the Poppins household to pull out a winner on the 20th March and Ferrero will get your delicious chocolate prize out to you asap, and right in time for Mother's Day!

Good Luck!

Winner Update: Thank you so much for the comments on the Ferrero chocolates giveaway ~ I would so have liked you all to get a yummy box of chocs. Unfortunately there can only be one winner and I got little Miss. Poppins to do the picking.

Well done to Liz at Shortbread & Ginger whose name was pulled out of the hat and I hope you love your chocolates.

Do share now won't you Liz ;))

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Giveaway now closed - thank you.

Lego Land Discovery Centre Manchester

Last week I was invited with my family to visit Legoland Discovery Centre  in Manchester. One of the highlights was to see the unveiling of their new LEGO Star Wars Model Display  Now Master Poppins is a big, big fan of Star Wars and with us having never visited the discovery centre before, were keen to see what it was all about. A certain someone decided to take his favourite Star Wars rucksack with him ;) Miss Poppins was also excited at going and they both enjoyed meeting Buzz.

The Lego displays really were quite spectacular.

The children loved it when the lights went down and everything became night time.

We decided to make our way over to the Star Wars display that is being showcased at the discovery centre until the 2nd Jun.

I don't want to give too much away but the children thought was great. Master P loved the fact you could interact with the displays too.

We were in there for quite a while and had great fun in this special room on our way out.

After visiting the Star Wars miniland we went to watch the screening at the 4D Cinema  I have to say this for us, was the best attraction of the day. You really do get that 4D experience. It was great fun, and we all loved wearing our funny looking 4D glasses.

Next it was time for a couple of the rides, Miss Poppins and I had fun on this.

And we even saw a familiar face or two.

So, a really enjoyable visit and we certainly had fun. There is only one entry price at Legoland Discovery, Manchester, with all the attractions included. Tickets are available online from  £8.10 per person and the centre is open daily from 10am.

We all had a great time and shall definitely be back! I am very happy that I am able to give a family of up to four the opportunity to win free entry to the centre, on any day and time, and the tickets shall be valid for 12 months. So, if you'd like to go in the hat please just leave a comment here and in you'll go. 

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Disclosure: We received complimentary entry for a family of four to Legoland Discovery Centre for the purposes of this review post/giveaway. All words and opinions are my own      

Tassimo Coffee Machine Giveaway!

I don't know about you but I love the lingering aroma of coffee in my kitchen and am delighted to offer you the opportunity to win a fantastic Tassimo Coffee machine so you can experience that wonderful aroma for yourselves. I love visiting Costa, who have a super and popular Facebook Page and I have to say Costa Coffee is one of my favorite meet up places with girlfriends for a good chinwag over a delicious Latte. What is extra exciting about this machine, the T40 is that you can now enjoy the great taste of Costa coffee in your own home and at the touch of a button....

Gennaro Pelliccia, master of coffee at Costa, has worked with the developers from Tassimo to provide customers with a quality cup of Costa coffee that can be enjoyed at home. This has resulted in Tassimo Costa TDISC's, which used together with the Tassimo coffee machine, creates the perfect cup of coffee. The Costa TDisc range comes in three of the most popular drink options, Cappuccino, Latte and Americano. The TDISC's are to be used with the Tassimo coffee machine and the Costa at home Roast and Ground range with cafetieres and filter machines. I love that I can now drink Costa coffee at home. The coffee machine is so easy to set up and after a little run of the water that is kept in the tank at the back of the machine we were ready to go.... 

  

That is Master Poppins' little hand, he just had to press the shiny button. As the water comes out very hot he was supervised by me at all times. I love the sleek design, and as coffee machines go, the T40 really is a good looking one....   

 Now we just had to choose our Costa TDISC's....

  And then choose our mugs....

I think it was obvious which DR. Who fan picked this one....

And there we have it, a lovely cup of Costa Coffee. I did make it extra milky for Master P's cappuccino and he loved it, it felt like a real treat. The coffee itself is delicious and I can't wait to try out some of the other TDISC's. It really is so nice to be able to drink Costa coffee at home and I can't wait to hunt out some pretty new coffee mugs ;) If you would like to try out some Costa Coffee at home yourselves, then all you have to do to be entered for this giveaway to win a fantastic Tassimo T40 coffee machine along with a selection of your very own Costa TDISC's to try out, is to leave a comment telling me why you would like this super coffee machine in your life? A winner shall be picked at random in one weeks time. 

I shall get in contact with the winner, who must have a valid email address, ask for your delivery details and then your shiny new Tassimo coffee machine along with Costa TDISC's shall be sent directly to a very lucky you.

Giveaway T&C's: This giveaway closes at midnight 25/10/12 and a winner shall be announced shortly after the closing date. On this occasion the giveaway is open to UK residents only. 

Good luck

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Thank you for entering, this is now closed, a winner has now been selected at random.

Little Giveaway....

As a keen crafter I like to see what new craft magazines are out there etc and see if any are worthwhile me spending my hard earned pennies on. Is it only me that actually thinks you don't get an awful lot for your money and many are a bit, well samey samey. When a new one comes out and I kind of like the look of it, I have to buy it, though to be honest find many of the projects a little behind the times, and many projects following trends rather than making them. I am glad they are all out there though as is super that sewing and crafts in general is a big thing right now, and more and more people are picking up a needle and thread. Anyway, on one of my jaunts I came across this, many of you may have seen/heard about it, or even purchased one yourself, but was a bargain price, and although I knew I probably wouldn't be collecting all the titles, I hoped this first one may give me some valuable hints and tips about quilting and patchwork....

Of course I had to pick up another one for a little giveaway, so am offering the first issue of The Art Of Quilting on here. I shall probably have to cut the cardboard backing to make it easier to post, but everything shall be sealed and packaged, and is actually a super little project to make a Double Four Patch block, which you could back, and then could be used as perhaps a pot holder, wall hanging, a teeny dolls little quilt etc. There is also a tutorial on making a cushion cover. The idea is obviously to make up the quilt, whilst being guided by future The Art Of Quilting issues, but is a good starter read on patchwork etc.

And you shall receive all the ingredients to make up your block....

So, if you would like to go in the hat for this, I shall also send a little handmade something, feel free to leave a little comment to say so. Giveway closes at midnight on Sunday, 26th and is open to over seas too.

Good luck
Thank you for entering, this competition is now closed and a winner has now been chosen.

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Fabulous LG Optimus 3D Phone Giveaway!

Well its that time of year again where the pennies really start to count and I have to get myself into a *do I really need that* kind of thinking when out shopping, believe me, being the shopoholic I am tis hard, very hard. Doesn't one always NEED things that make us smile :) Now what is hopefully going to make you smile is the opportunity to win a fantastic LG Optimus 3D Mobile Phone, ( retailing at £420 sim free ) this is one cool phone, let me tell you a little about it....

* The world's most powerful smartphone with 3D.
* The high-performance smart phone lets you record, view and share 3D content without glasses.
* 4.3" WVGA display provides bright images allowing users to view 2D and 3D multimedia content.

Not bad huh? And here is what this baby looks like....

Getting one of these little charmers sent through the post would certainly cheer one up in these money saving times I would think, and money resolutions is what I would like to ask you about. You could be in with an opportunity of winning this fantastic phone, which has been offered by Tesco Mobile who are promoting their ever popular capped tariff's....

• Ensuring your monthly bill is never more than the cost of your tariff

• This is done by fixing your tariff so you can only use your inclusive minutes, texts and data

• The ability to top-up your account with a Pay as you go top-up, if you run out during the month

• The choice of Capping any contract on any phone across their whole range – a unique offer in the mobile market

 What I would like to know is what your new year's money saving resolutions are, and like me how you plan on saving money in this new year. Mine would obviously have to be to just not shop!! However I have been thinking of one or two little ways we as a family can be a little more money saving, and how we can save money. It began with me popping the occasional loose coin or two in our housekeeping fund tin, and it is amazing how much seems to be in there already. We are nearly ready for the big tin opener to pop by and see exactly how much money that would have been well spent ( on tat as my husband says ) by now is in there....

You have up until midnight 20th January to share your money saving resolution/s with me and a winner of the fabulous phone shall be picked shortly afterwards. Please make sure you have a valid email address so I can contact you and unfortunately on this occasion this giveaway is only open to UK residents.

Good luck!!

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Thank you for all your entries, congratulations to Nicki who was picked out of the hat :) 

Disclosure: For running this competition on behalf of Tesco Mobile, I received a shopping voucher for Tesco. 

Tesco Sony Ericsson Mobile Phone Giveaway....

I am reminded in so many ways at how quickly Miss. Poppins is growing up and with her 10th birthday just around the corner, I am constantly amazed at how time has flown since that day on November 5th, 2001, when my little bundle of loveliness came into the world weighing a tiny 5lbs 11ozs. One thing she desperately  wanted to have for her birthday was her ears pierced. I had always had in my mind, she would not be having any ears pierced until she was at least 16. Too harsh? Well we shall wait and see if I give in on that one. When it comes to gadgets, one item that we have briefly talked about her having for her birthday is a mobile phone. I hold my hands up here, I am  possibly  an over protective parent ( who isn't these days ) so her owning one would be very much so I could call her, and her me. Although she is yet to venture too far from the front or back garden on her own, and is at the age where I  know exactly where she is at all times, there may be a time in the distant future ( hopefully when she is about 40 ) where I don't know exactly where she is at all times. When it comes to costs, I think I would opt for a pretty little pay as you go for her as I get very confused about contract deals etc. With all these minutes and texts, would she ( us ) also possibly be faced with extra costs if she went over her limit, which, in these times can really pinch on the ( parent's ) wallet.

So when Tesco Mobile got in contact and introduced me to their newly launched Capped Mobile Phone Tariffs  I was eager to learn more. Basically as the parent of a child/teen with a mobile you can keep the bills under control by....

* Fixing the tariff so you can only use the inclusive minutes, texts and data.
* Therefore one's monthly bill would never be more than the cost of the monthly tariff.
* If you run out during the month, you can just top-up your account using a pay as you go top-up.
* Tesco mobile are the only network to offer this scheme across all handsets, and all price plans.

I have to let you into a little secret here, before Tesco contacted me to introduce me to their new tariffs, and also to offer a fantastic giveaway, I had already known a little about their newly launched capped tariffs. This was all due to this Tesco Mobile Capped Contracts television advert I had watched like a million times. And the reason I watched it so many times was I just loved to see again and again a lovely friend of mine's daughter who is in it. She looks just so cool and trendy, speaks with such a lovely clear and articulate voice and I just love her little giggle at the end when she speaks.

So, to celebrate Tesco Mobile's capped tariff launch, they have very generously offered a fantastic sim free Sony Ericsson Xperia Play Phone with an rrp of around £350 for me to offer as a giveaway on here and which I have to say looks especially FAN-DABY-DOSY!! A wonderful phone, especially for the gamer in you, and with so many features, it looks fabulous too....

As you may know I am a keen bargain hunter and with all this talk of money saving, to be in with the opportunity of winning this magnificent phone, I would like to know what is the best money saving tip, big or small that you have learn't down the years from your own family, something that you shall indeed pass down to your own children one day. I often find the best money saving tips come from years gone by, what our grandparents and great grandparents did to save on those hard earned pennies. I would really love you to share any of your money saving tips with me, and in a weeks time I shall ask the man of the house ( to make things all fair and equal ) to have a read of them and choose the most original/funniest etc to be the winner. I shall contact you for an address, forward onto Tesco Mobile and they shall then send you out your phone. It would indeed make a fantastic Christmas present too, if you could bare to part with it.

Closing Date is Friday 4th November

Terms & conditions: Open to UK residents only. There is no cash alternative, and only one entry per person.

Good Luck....

Well done to Helen whose old fashioned, seasonal, money saving tips, including not writing recipients names on envelopes, and carefully unwrapping presents at Christmas to re-use wrapping paper  inspired my husband so much. So, well done Helen, and hope you enjoy your new mobile phone. 

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Disclosure: In way of thanks for highlighting tesco mobile's new capped tariff I received a Tesco voucher for publishing this post. 

Whoopie Pie Book, A Giveaway....

Oh my I love sweet things, I love pretty books and I love whoopie Pies!!  Bake Me I'm Yours....Whoopie Pies is just the prettiest, sweetest little book, and I couldn't wait to have a flick through the pages....

If the front cover was anything to go on, I bet I was in for a treat. Whoopie Pies are quite a new thing and I have to admit I hadn't really heard much about them till not long ago. We ( the children and I ) have had an attempt at making whoopie pies at home and I have to say are always delicious. Apologies though as I don't have any newly baked whoopie pies looking perfectly staged, with a delicious prop or too at their side for affect. Oh no, they get eaten far too quickly to faff about taking photographs ;) So, what are whoopie pies? A whoopie pie is a sweet baked item which is a cross between a soft biscuit, a cake and a pie. It is made up of two round pieces of cake-like biscuits, which are sandwiched together with a sweet, creamy filling. Apparently other names given to these sweet delights have included hucklebucks, gobs and BFOs (big fat Oreos). There is no set size, as big or as small as you like.

While they have been around in the USA for a long time, we are all kind of catching on. Traditionally, whoopies are chocolate flavoured with a marshmallow cream filling, but the basic recipe can easily be adapted for a wide variety of other flavours and fillings. Many whoopies previously had all looked the same, no real identity and dare I say rather uninspiring looking. Not so with this cute book, which includes fun ways to create new and exciting looks for whoopies, with each project having a difficulty rating at the side, so you can start with the easy peasy ones, and then move onto the more complex designs as ones confidence grows. Here are some of the designs that really took my fancy.

Country Garden....

Rose In Bloom....

One of my favourite designs, Daisy Chain....

Chocolate Temptation....

Over The Rainbow....

Love Hearts....

Birthday Balloons....

Prima Ballerina....

 
I really do love this book, and even though I have only tried out some of the simple designs am eager to get on with the more complex ones too, especially with one or two birthdays coming up. The peeps at RUCraft have kindly sent a book for me to forward on as a giveaway, so if you would like to be in with a chance of having your very own copy of Bake Me I'm Yours....Whoopie Pies just pop me a little comment on this post. I shall pop you in the hat and pick a winner on Friday, at cake eating time, which normally in the Poppins house is all day, but shall make it about tea time. 
 
So, good luck if you decide to go in the hat, it really is a lovely little book to have.... 
 

 
I have to say this book looks a goodun too.....

EDIT: Thanks for going in the hat, a winner has now be picked :)  
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Who Wants A No1 Teacher Toblerone Bar....

Oh yes, when it comes to chocolate I am gal who likes to share, and so too it seems does Toblerone who are offering 3 lucky giveaway winners one of their special Toblerone bars that they have had created and aren’t for sale in shops. Seeing as the end of term is fast approaching, these super bars have a teacher theme, so if you would like to go in the hat to win a No1 Teacher Toblerone bar to give out at school, or to a special teacher you know, or even if you are a No1 teacher, give to yourself ;))

So, a nice quick giveaway, please feel free to leave a comment if you would like to go in the hat, I shall be picking 3 winners from the pretty hat about the same time tomorrow and forward winners details over to toblerone, who shall send out your bar in time for the end of week....yum yum!!

Edit: Thank you for joining in, 3 lucky winners have now been chosen from the hat and have got some lovely toblerone on it's way!
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Adorable London Tea Giveaway....

I am a big lover of tea, it really is my all time favourite drink and I am always keen to try out new varieties. So, when I was offered the opportunity to sample some fine teas from The London Tea Company I jumped at the chance. I was also very delighted as the London tea company have kindly offered a lovely Pyramid Prism in my favourite colour of pink packaging to one of you too. It is a lovely selection of teas, including  Green Tea Tropical, Peppermint ( one of my favorites ), The Eminent Earl Grey, and Lemongrass, Ginger & Citrus Fruits....

I was sent a wonderful Selection Tin which included English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Green Tea, Camomile, Camomile & Lavender, Lemongrass Ginger & Citrus Fruits, White Tea, Elderflower & Apricot,  Peppermint, and Green Tea Mango & Ginger Tea Bags.

 Now, one or two of these varieties I have tried out before, and Camomile especially for example, is one of my favourite tastes. However I was very keen to try out the White Tea, Elderflower & Apricot as I thought a perfect spring tea. It was a wonderful combination to taste. Nothing too overpowing for my delicate pallate and as white tea is known for it's skin enhancing properties, and contains anti-oxidants too, all good!! I also loved the English Breakfast, perfect for a morning brew, and the Lemongrass Ginger & Citrus Fruits was especially zingy! All in all a truly wonderful array of new tastes for me ( and hopefully one of you ) to try out.

I adore the pretty, colourful and up to date packaging ( a girl has to take these important benefits into account ) and I am proud to display these lovely Pyramid Infusers in my kitchen shelves ( and yes a girl can NEVER have enough pretty serviettes )

The delightful tea is served in London Tea's unique and biodegradable pyramid infuser. So London Tea....as it should be Gourmet....Organic....Ethical....And you can find them shouting out about all their new ranges, competitions etc on Facebook  and here on Twitter To get your hands on some, they thought you may like to answer just one simple little question....

Q: What are the four names of the tea mocktails London Tea have created?


Easy huh....now shhhhhh but I am not supposed to give any clues, but if you head over to their homepage linked to at the top of this post...it may help point you in the right direction. Shhhhh now, you never heard the clue from me ;0) All those with the correct answer shall go in a pretty summer hat and a winner chosen on Friday ( 10th June ) about tea time.

Good luck and happy tea drinking....Now which mug shall I choose for my next cup of tea....

Edit: Thank you for joining in, a winner has now beeing chosen from the hat.

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And We Have A Winner....

Well, having not long got back home after being stuck in a traffic jam for what felt like a hundred years, I realised Miss. Poppins had a giveaway winner to choose....



Well....


A winner....


Has been chosen....


And....


However much I wanted you all to have won....


And I have to thank so many of you for entering my giveaway and indeed for spreading the word about it....


There can only be one winner....


And that winner....


IS YOU....


YES YOU!!


Congratulations....


Flowers At My Table

Flowers At My Table is a truly scrumptious blog, and as Linda is recovering after surgery I hope is just the tonic. Linda if you could email me over your details I shall get it out to you.

Thank you so much again for joining in...was fun! I really do wish I could have sent you all one. Though there shall be a little giveaway again very soon. The London Tea Company found out that tea is possibly my all time favourite drink and sent me some lovely ones to try out...believe me they are truly delicious, and very much up my street....Some of the ones I tried out were Camomile & Lavender, Lemongrass, Ginger & Citrus Fruits, White Tea, Elderflower & Apricot, and Green Tea Mango & Ginger Tea...They have offered some too to offer as a little prize, so shall look forward to letting you know about it.

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Ickle Shout Out For Mary Poppins....

 I am not going to make too much of a fuss about this....
And shall let you know calmly and quietly....

But....

This ickle blog....

Written by ickle old me....

Is....

After lots and lots of lovely people voting for it.....

A....

Finalist.....

In the The MAD Blog Awards....

To say I am very touched and flattered that my blog is a finalist in the craft category is an understatement....

I am not going to waffle on too much about how I would love to win, and how much it would mean....

I started this blog as somewhat of an escape, and then I realised crafting was something I very much enjoyed, and became very passionate about. I wanted to inspire others to have a go at it, whether that be sewing a little cushion, or even doing a makeover on a skip found treasure. Also, I love spending quality time crafting with my own children, it really is a lovely way to spend some special time together....

This isn't just about me, there is someone very special  in the back of my mind, who, even though he came into my life for such a short time, has taught me so much and that life really is for the living. I want to follow my dreams, and I have been inspired by so many people in writing this blog and crafting. So, like the oscar winner in me would say, if I won, the award would be shared with you, the reader, my inspirers, my family.....Writing this blog and my passion of crafting is, in some small way, me following a dream of some sort. I am not going to shout from the hill tops, vote for me, vote for me, which makes me feel a little uncomfortable. But, probably as the under dog, I hope you don't mind me giving myself a little shout out, to let you know....

So, if you want to vote for Mary Poppins, and you think it deserving enough, you can find it listed, along with the other 4 lovely craft finalists....

Here

PS. Don't forget my pretty bag Giveaway don't know about you, but Miss. Poppins is VERY excited about picking a winner from the hat.

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I Got One!!!! Bag Giveaway....

Righty you lovely readers, here you go....I went back and as lots of you seemed to really go for the style of the bag I purchased, I got the last one in that colourway. I was chatting to the lovely market stall holder, who told me she had sold lots, hardly any left infact and we spoke about them being quite similar to certain styles, though of course no names were mentioned and as before, I can't think where the inspiration has come from...

Anyway here is your lovely giveaway prize....

You may know what it looks like, but here is a little reminder....

So, all you need to do, to go in the hat, is comment here and say why you want it, no having to follow me, tell the world about my giveaway, or even like my facebook page. Just one little comment and I shall pop you in the hat. I shall get Miss. Poppins to draw a winner in one week, 3rd of June about tea time. International readers are welcome too.

So happy there was one left for you :0)

Good luck !

Edit: Thank you so much everyone for joining in, a lovely winner has been chosen. 
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Here Is The Deal.....

Right, as so many of you lovelies seemed to have an eye on the pretty bag...I have decided when the market is back in town, I shall go back and see if I can get one....

To offer....


As....


A...


Giveaway....

That do ya!! :0) What I need from you is some favourite colour choices, there were red florals, navy florals, sky blue florals, white floral mixes, no pinks *sigh*. May be a different design, shall have to see what's there, if any left. I would love to get one for all of you, and indeed take orders, but on a practical level don't think I could be quite that organised. So I hope this is a fair compromise.

I shall bob back on Friday with hopefully a pretty bag on offer, so keep those pretty eyes of yours out for my post, if you want one.

X
 

Giveaway Winner And A Little UJ Love....

Well done to Sue from Vintage From The Village who has won the Rosie Flo Fashion Show I wish you could all have won but alas there can only be one winner. Well done Sue, I shall pop it in the post for you very soon.

Seemingly there is some royal wedding coming up ;0) I had wanted to handmake an array of UJ beauties, but time just flies by and I always seem to be chasing my tail, so thus far, have only got round to making one UJ cushion. Though she is quite a cutie I think....

I love the use of bobble trim on cushions, though it is not the cheapest of trims, so I do tend to use is quite sparingly, but just love the effect. The London inspired fabric is pretty cool too I think....

Oh and I did make a little UJ ring cushion for the soon to be Royal couple....

Well alright, not for THE Royal couple, but was handmade by myself to be popped in a wonderful Royal Wedding ebay charity auction that has been organised by a lovely crafter. Many other ladies have got involved and each has knitted a member of the royal wedding party. You can see the Archbishop here Prince Charles here and William and the Queen here Not being the bestest of knitters, I plumed for making the ring cushion, and thought I would give it a UJ twist. I can't wait to see the auction up, hopefully today at some point, and all money raised is going to the Japan Earthquake relief fund, so all in a good cause too.

Is holiday time here, so hoping for one or two family jollies. Goodness I have got so confuddled with half term, everyone has seemed to be breaking up at different times. So if you have had your half term hope it was a good one, and if, like me it is coming up to holiday time, enjoy!!

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