Maria Murphy Creative

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5 Easy Steps to Building a Charcuterie Board

Building a Charcuterie Board

It’s no secret that charcuterie boards are trending…and delicious!! Building a charcuterie board for other people can be intimidating sometimes, so I’ve created steps for you to make your very own Pinterest-worthy charcuterie board!

STEP ONE

The first step is picking out your base, this is where you will put all of the snacks! Your base can be a large cutting board, tray, platter, or even just a plate – whatever you choose or have around the house! Also, plan ahead for if any of your food needs to be put in a ramekin (honey for example) and place those on your base first to make sure you have room in the end. Here are a few of my favorite boards and trays that work great for a charcuterie base!

STEP TWO

The second step is to lay out your meat and cheeses, these will go on the platter first since they take up the most space. Place your larger blocks of cheese symmetrically apart from each other on the base, then fold or lay out your meats in between. My favorite deli meats and cheeses are usually meats like hard salami, prosciutto and pepperoni, and for cheeses I like to mix soft and hard cheese like brie, sharp white cheddar, goat cheese and smoked gouda. These days I have to mix in some dairy free cheese alternatives, so I like to place those in a small ramekin in the middle of the board.

Step 2 Building a Charcuterie Board

STEP THREE

The next step is adding in the extra foods that enhance the meat and cheese, like fruit, honey, preserves, olives, nuts, etc. You can start to fill in the gaps on your base with these items and use the small ramekins you placed on the board from step one.

STEP FOUR

The fourth step is adding crackers and or bread! Gimme all the carbs! I love so many different kinds of crackers and each one goes well with different types of meat and cheeses. Mixing up textures and flavor profiles (savory/sweet and hard/soft) will also help enhance more flavor for the meat and cheese!

STEP FIVE

The last step is tools! Add in your cheese knives, spoons and/or honey dippers, and any other kind of tool you will need to create each bite. Here are some of my favorite tools to elevate your board!

If you’re hosting or building a charcuterie board for a holiday party this year and find this post helpful be sure to take a picture and tag me on Instagram so I can see and share!

Cheers to a festive Holiday Season!!

Holiday Stocking Stuffers for the Whole Family

It’s officially that time of year… Christmas Shopping! Whether you love it or hate it, I’m sure you’re in the middle of making your Christmas lists for you and your loved ones. To save you some time, I thought I’d share some items we personally put on our lists for Santa. Specifically for holiday stocking stuffers!

I know stocking stuffers can be a pain point because you’re not only looking for something that actually fits in the stocking, but you also want something that can be used beyond the holidays. Who needs Christmas socks past Christmas morning, am I right?

Here are some ideas to fill your stocking for the whole family!

Mason is really into arts and crafts right now and Miles will be teething, beginning solids, and entering so many fun developmental stages over the next year so I wanted to give Santa great ideas for both of my boys.

Now for mom, thank goodness so many of our favorite things are small. Lipstick/gloss, jewelry, the list goes on! Here are a few of my favorite holiday stocking stuffers.

We all know dads can be tricky! For Josh I think about things he can use for productivity, working out, and the weekends! Hope these items spark some ideas for you!

Be sure to follow along with me on Instagram and Pinterest for more holiday updates and inspiration!

Murphy Home Feature: Functional Rooms

On today’s Murphy Home Feature, I’m sharing our office, play room, mud room, and laundry room! While our guests won’t be spending time in these more functional rooms, our family uses them a ton, and we designed them to fit our own needs as much as possible.

When you first walk into our home, you’ll immediately see the office and then the play room to the left of our entry hall. I knew I wanted the office to sit in the front of the home because I really like seeing who is coming and going throughout the day. My dog also loves to sit with me when I work and he loves to look out the window as well! Also if I’m hosting a client meeting at my home, it’s nice having the office in the front of the house so clients aren’t having to take a trip through the home to reach the office. 

We talked a lot when we were first designing the home, and I knew that I wanted to have the play room just off of the office and it’s been SUCH a lifesaver. I have doors to the office facing the hallway and then a second glass door that lets me look into the play room so I can watch my son play. It’s been so helpful as a working mom because I can keep an eye on my son while working, so I’m not constantly having to go back and forth between work and watching him. 

I think our play room is one of the most unique areas of the house because of the way we designed it. There are two barn doors that connect at a corner, so the room can be either entirely closed off or almost completely open and work as an extension of the main living area.

When Mason is in there playing while I’m working, I close off the doors so I know he isn’t wandering throughout the house unsupervised. It’s also an added bonus that we can close the play room off when we have company and completely hide the mess of all the toys. But when we’re home and in the living room or kitchen, we have a direct view of him playing without having a mess always cluttered up in the living room.

This house is our forever home, so I definitely see this play room evolving as our needs as a family change. Once my kids are a bit older, I see the space being used for homework in the afternoons. And beyond that, the long term vision for the space is to use it as a music room. My husband and I are both musicians, I play piano and violin and he plays guitar, and this room would make the perfect spot for our instruments to live. Mason is already into music as well, so I see piano and guitar lessons in our future, so it will be so nice having a dedicated, functional room for that. 

Design wise, I decided to be a bit more bold in the smaller spaces of the house to add a little more personality to the overall home. I did that by incorporating a lot more dark accents –  black built-in shelves into the office, the black doors in the playroom, and the black cabinets into the laundry room and mudroom. They add that punch our home needed without being too trendy in the main areas of our home. 

So that wraps up our home tour for now! If you missed previous weeks’ blog posts I’ll link them here! Nursery, Main Living Areas, and Bedrooms & Master Bath. 
 
I’ll continue to share more as we finish decorating these rooms over the next year or so and as always, be sure to follow along with me on Instagram and Pinterest for more updates and inspiration!

Murphy Home Feature: Our Bedrooms and Master Bathroom

On today’s Murphy Home Feature, I’m sharing our bedrooms and master bath! While we really try to focus on spending time together as a family in our main living area, I’m a big believer in our bedrooms being a sacred, private space and wanted to make sure the rooms suited everyone’s needs as best as possible.

My goal for our master bedroom was to make it feel slightly elevated, yet still feel cozy and relaxing. I also wanted to stay consistent with our living room by adding a vaulted ceiling with wood beams and a chandelier. A key feature to making a bedroom feel comfortable and functional is to add seating. It’s important to have a place to sit beside your bed to put on shoes, or sit and chat with your spouse if they’re getting ready, etc. Also, adding some greenery into a bedroom adds more texture and interest.

Our bedrooms all have the same window treatments that I talked about in my Nursery Room Blog Post. Just as I mentioned there, we have cordless woven wooden roman shades and blackout curtains, which can make the rooms appear pitch-black, even in the middle of the day!

I wanted our master bathroom to have a vintage feel so we chose a 2-inch white hex tile with a dark grout and absolutely love the timeless look. We also opted for towel hooks as opposed to towel bars. Not only do I like the look better, but it also allows for our towel to dry faster.

Another goal we had for our bathroom was to keep our countertops clear of clutter so I made sure we had a ton of storage both under the sinks and on our open shelving so we can hide all of our mess. My biggest recommendation for open shelving would be to invest in baskets to place all of your bathroom products in so everything still appears clean, and we’ve actually stuck to it really well!

In our guest bedroom, we decided to try to use as many furnishings as we could that we had used previously in our old house. We used the same bed, the comforter, and lamps from our previous master bedroom, the rug from our previous home’s living room, and the dresser was a hand-me-down that was used as storage in our previous master closet.

I may choose to redecorate this room with updated furniture at some point in the future, but I’m happy with the way the room looks for now as well! I don’t know a ton of people who can afford to completely refurnish their entire home at once, so I’m a big believer in using what you already have to make the space work until you’re able to afford to redecorate!

In our oldest son, Mason’s room, we also used a lot of furniture that we already owned! We already had the bed, and the nightstands were my living room end tables in college. I definitely wanted to incorporate some elements for my son so it felt like his very own special room, but still wanted the space to match the rest of the home well.

He really loves cars, so I actually created the artwork on my computer and simply printed it and put it in frames for him. The key was to add some of his character into the space but doing so in a way that would still match our home’s design!

Be sure to check back in the next few weeks to see all the other rooms in our home I’ll be sharing! And follow along with me on Instagram and Pinterest for more updates and inspiration!

Murphy Home Feature: Main Living Areas

On today’s Murphy Home Feature, I’m sharing our main living area! I think the main living area was the most important space when we were designing our dream home because we wanted it to feel warm, inviting, and to serve as a space where people wanted to spend time.

One feature I knew I wanted for our opening living area was a vaulted ceiling. Our home is around 3,000 square feet, which is a perfect size for us, not too big and not too small.

Knowing we still wanted a 4 bedroom 4.5 bath, we still wanted to keep the majority of our square footage in our open living area. The vaulted ceiling was a must for us because it creates the illusion of a much grander living area. We wanted this space to be were we spent most of our time, together as a family and also when we’re entertaining.

I wanted our home to feel warm and cozy, and really focused on blending those subtle, warm tones into the neutral color scheme of our home. When we built the house, we knew that it would be our forever home, so I also put a lot of effort into making sure the appearance of our spaces would age well as interior trends change.

I talk about this a TON in other blog posts, but I always recommend going for more timeless and transitional styles with hard finishes (think: floors, wall treatments, wall colors, tiles, etc.) because those details will always be more expensive to change out in the furniture if your taste or trends change (which they always will).

I like to reserve trendier looks for easy-to-replace decor such as side tables, artwork, poufs, lamps, and bar stools!

Our home is really a melting pot of so many different styles. With my Italian background, I love anything with a European vibe and the character that comes from incorporating vintage pieces as well!

On the flip side, I love the clean and simple look of modern lines and the simplicity of a Scandinavian home. Our living room, kitchen, and dining room are a perfect example of how all of those styles can come together! I’m a big believer in this: if you find something that you love, get it and figure out how to incorporate it into your space! I really think that making a space your own and not sticking to a specific style is when really unique and interesting things can happen!

Be sure to check back in the next few weeks to see all the other rooms in our home I’ll be sharing! And follow along with me on Instagram and Pinterest for more updates and inspiration!

6 Interior Wall Treatments to Consider for your Home

When designing a home, I like to think not only about what can be used to fill the space, but also how we can add more architectural interest! Interior wall treatments are without a doubt one of the best ways to accomplish this. While they can be overlooked, wall treatments can add a subtle (or BOLD) statement to your space.

There  are six main wall treatments you should consider when designing your space! Each are great options depending on where you choose to place them within your home. As I always preface when talking about designing a space, interior design is subjective and rules are meant to be broken. The tips I’m sharing in this post are simply my personal preferences and recommendations!

Paint

The first wall treatment is the most standard in homes – paint! Paint is a great foundation and will work absolutely anywhere within your home. You know I love white walls, but painting an accent wall or even fun patterns can bring new life to your space.

Tile

Most commonly used in kitchens and bathrooms, tile is a great element to incorporate into your space. Wanting something extra special? Think about going floor-to-ceiling with your tile not only for practical reasons (it can take on water better than other interior wall treatments) but also because it can make such a great statement. I’ve shared a previous post about my favorite tile designs. Click here to read!

Masonry

Masonry encompasses all types of brick and stone and is a great way to add interest to a space! Using interior masonry to makes a space feel grander and I like to incorporate it into those bigger spaces like living rooms and master bedrooms. I especially love masonry on fireplaces!

Personally, I don’t love to mix masonry types and would recommend using the same ones throughout your home. Not only do I say this about mixing brick and stone, but also painted and unpainted brick. I definitely suggest taking the exterior of your home into account and opting for the same type of masonry you have there. If you have a certain type of painted brick outside, go for the same painted brick inside, and vice versa! Check out my previous post to see the exterior finishes I used for my home!

Wallpaper and Fabric

These types of interior wall treatments make a fun and bold statement, and I recommend using them sparingly and in smaller spaces. I love the elevation wallpaper can add in places like bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kids’ rooms. Don’t miss my previous post on my favorite wallpaper designs!

Molding and Paneling

These are great options to add interest on large, solid walls! There are sooo many options here, I probably need to write a post just on this type of wall treatment. Some of the most popular right now are batten board, wainscoting, shiplap or other tongue and groove paneling. These treatments work best as textural accents, and are great for entryways, dining rooms, and bedrooms.

Plaster

Just like paint, this is a great interior wall treatment that can go anywhere in your home. Plaster has become more popular recently, and I love to opt for it if I’m wanting to add some subtle texture within a space!

I would recommend no more than two to three interior wall treatments throughout your home. I like having more than one treatment to add diversity and interest, but typically like to stay under three so there’s still a sense of cohesiveness. If you decide to use a certain treatment in one room, consider adding it to another space as well so it doesn’t feel out of place!

These finishes are great for walls, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop with the vertical planes in your home! Wall treatments on ceilings are another great way to add interest. If you use a certain finish on a vertical wall in one room, you could choose to add it to a ceiling somewhere else.

How have you incorporated different wall treatments in your home? Do you like to stick to the basics, or go for something more daring and bold? Let me know which treatments are your favorite!

Be sure to follow along with me on Instagram and Pinterest for more updates and inspiration!

Second Baby Must Haves

When I was pregnant with Mason, my first son, I didn’t know what to buy! I did a ton of research through different websites and ended up getting pretty overwhelmed. Things that work for one baby may not work for another, so I purchased quite a few things I ended up never using. So, here are my second baby must haves!

Now that I’ve gone through the experience of having a kid, I’ve realized that it’s best to just purchase the basics before your baby is born! At the end of the day, all you really need is a safe place for the baby to sleep, clean bottles if you want to bottle-feed, clean diapers, and clean clothes. And if you’re nursing it’s still great to have formula on-hand, just in case!

When shopping for my first child, I didn’t put a lot of thought into what I would need to purchase for myself and solely focused on what Mason would need. I felt like I ended up neglecting myself during those first few months, and I definitely don’t want to make that mistake again! Now, I’m not only thinking of newborn essentials, but also what you would need as a new Momma in the fourth trimester.

Today, I’m sharing the things that came in handy for Mason and I in those first several months. Because these items worked so well before, I’ll definitely be keeping them on hand for our second son! Click on the images below to shop for second baby must haves!

Be sure to follow along with me on Instagram and Pinterest for more updates and inspiration!

Maria’s Chattanooga Travel Guide

I’ve been excited to share a Chattanooga Travel Guide for so long! I’ve called Chattanooga home for about seven years, but have been visiting the city for even longer because my husband has lived here since 2010. I love how Chattanooga is a smaller town nestled in the mountains, but still has so many of the amenities and vibes of a larger city.

There are so many options for both younger people who want a fun night out at trendy bars AND families who want to spend a fun day with their kiddos. The city is also perfect for a weekend getaway! Whether you’re trying to escape the hustle and bustle from a big city like Nashville or Atlanta or if you live in a smaller town and want to have a fun weekend without the stress of a large city, Chattanooga truly has something for everyone.

Besides the stunning views from places like Point Park and Rock City on Lookout Mountain, Signal Point on Signal Mountain, and even Cloudland Canyon just south of us, I think my favorite part of living in Chattanooga is the people. Everyone is not only so down to Earth and friendly, but also SO supportive of our local community.

A few weeks back, my husband and I spent our Babymoon at the Edwin Hotel. My husband went to grab a coffee from Provisions Coffee shop located within the Edwin, and he overheard a tourist in front of his comment on the lack of Starbucks locations in the downtown area. The barista was so prideful in being able to tell him about Chattanooga’s commitment to supporting locally owned businesses, and coffee was definitely not an exception! It made me really proud to live in a city with such a strong passion for supporting business owners in our local community!

Josh and I keep a shared note on our phone of all the local spots we want to try, and it honestly grows faster than we can keep up with! There are so many places we still want to try, but I’ve created a map of some of my can’t-miss spots I know you’ll love!!

Chattanooga Travel Guide

Beyond top picks, here is a full list of places in the city that I love!

Stays in Chattanooga

Chattanooga has so many beautiful stays! I’ve gone around and selected some of my favorite unique stays that I love. As I mentioned, we just stayed at The Edwin Hotel for our Babymoon. It has stunning views of the river and is so convenient to the Art District and the pedestrian bridge.

I also love the Westin in West Village because of its convenience for being able to simply walk across the street to so many great restaurants, and its proximity to Downtown Chattanooga. These are some of my favorite boutique hotels that are all great and unique in their own ways:

Self Care in Chattanooga

Who doesn’t love to spend a little time relaxing and pampering every once in a while!? I get my hair done at the Wild Honey Hair studio and Kerry is fantastic! When I finally found her, I was so happy! Ama Spa is also one of my favorites. I started going a few years ago when Josh got me a massage and facial for mothers day one year. I’m totally hooked now! Here’s a full list of some of my favorite self-care businesses:

Shopping in Chattanooga 

I have to admit, I don’t do a ton of shopping downtown, but I still had to call out some of my favorite spots to find local goods and spend a little bit of money. Collective Clothing and Belle Rive Boutique are both especially great, and have generously offered discount codes for you guys to use (be sure to check out my social media for the codes)!

Spots for Kids in Chattanooga

Chattanooga has SO many great places for families, both outdoors and indoors! I especially love our aquarium, and people come from cities all around to visit it. It’s broken down into two buildings for both freshwater and saltwater. The aquarium also features a petting area and really cool butterfly garden. Lake Winnie is a local waterpark and is also fantastic for a fun summer day! Here’s a full list of some of my favorite family-friendly spots:

Breakfast and Brunch in Chattanooga

Aretha Frankensteins is one of the first places my husband took me for breakfast in the city, and their pancakes are iconic. They serve single pancakes that are truly large enough to split between two people because they take up an entire plate and are SO thick and fluffy. They have a very small dining space, so try to get there right when they open to avoid a wait!

I also love Bluegrass Grille. It’s a nice and casual spot, and EVERYTHING on the menu is good. They’ve graciously offered a free coffee or tea with your meal, so again, check out the coupon in my Chattanooga highlight! Whitebird is located in the Edwin and is a bit more of a fancier spot that I love. We went for brunch and everything was absolutely incredible. Here’s my full list of restaurants that I love:

Lunch in Chattanooga 

My husband and I used to meet at Public House all the time for lunch when he was working downtown. Their salmon is amazing! If you’re doing some shopping in Warehouse Row, it’s the perfect place to stop in because it’s on the edge of the building. Mainstreet Meats is also to die for, their burgers are amazing! Here are my favorite lunch spots:

Date Night Spots in Chattanooga

This Chattanooga travel guide list for date night spots could be SO long. One of my favorite things about Chattanooga is how everything and everyone is so down to earth, but we have so many great spots to get dressed up and have a nice night out, even with kids! Alleia is probably one of the most romantic atmospheres in Chattanooga. Tony’s Pasta has some of the BEST homemade pasta, but be prepared to wait! They aren’t currently offering any kind of reservation or call-ahead options, but the wait is so worth it every time!

Family-Friendly Restaurants in Chattanooga

One of the most iconic spots in Chattanooga is definitely Champy’s. It’s so popular but so so good! Their fried chicken really is unmatched. My family gets Lupis all the time, and I love how we don’t feel too crappy after eating there because of all the local fresh ingredients. Here’s my full list!

Vegetarian/Vegan-Friendly Spots in Chattanooga

Chattanooga actually has a pretty large plant-based community, and the restaurants truly do a ton to cater to that crowd! Mayan Kitchen is probably my favorite Mexican restaurant in Chattanooga, all of their ingredients are so fresh! Real Roots is also amazing, and they’re offering a discount code (check out my social media)! Here’s my full list:

Coffee Spots in Chattanooga

You already heard me talk about how much Chattanooga loves local coffee, and our wide array of local coffee shops show! Our coffee shops are great for getting a little work done away from home, having a coffee date, meeting for business, or just stopping in for a little pick-me-up!

Bars and Breweries to Visit in Chattanooga

For those who don’t know, Asheville has the largest number of local breweries per capita in the United States. We’re so fortunate to live in Chattanooga, because many of our local breweries, like Naked River Brewing, are led by master brewers that have trained and learned in Asheville! Naked River has a delicious Moon Pie stout made with real Moon Pies, which is a Chattanooga-based company!

Hutton and Smith is a definite hotspot and might be the most popular beer in Chattanooga (both in the taproom and in grocery stores), with so many unique and specialty brews. Check it out to see their large collection of hanging mugs. Each mug hanging from the ceiling is reserved for a specific patron that became active with the brewery when they first opened. It’s impossible to get a mug for yourself, unless they have a raffle, which has only happened a couple times since they first opened.

Honest Pint has a super fun and casual vibe. Fun fact: it used to be a brothel! Shoot some pool, play darts, or sit at one of the tables that have taps built right in for a fun night with friends. For something a little trendier, check out Flying Squirrel in our Southside neighborhood or Whiskey Thief for beautiful views of the river at sunset. Here’s my full list:

I hope this Chattanooga travel guide helps with your next visit! I’ve been CHATTing with a ton of local business owners recently and have decided to host a giveaway this week to give back to the local Chattanooga community! Be sure you’re following me on Instagram this week, because I’ll be sharing how you can win one of FIVE $50 gift cards to a local Chattanooga business of your choice, PLUS anyone can get access to some fantastic discounts to local companies in our beautiful cities! 

Summer Maternity Clothes: My Wardrobe!

This season of pregnancy has been different in so many ways! My morning sickness in the first and even second trimester was more intense this time around (growing a baby is WORK, guys)! The seasons that I’m pregnant this time around are different as well! So, I had to think about my summer maternity clothes options. 

Mason was a late winter baby, so my maternity clothes were completely different. Wearing maternity clothes in the fall or winter was so easy (in a different kind of way) because I could throw on a sweater and pair of leggings and be good to go! Some people said that I would struggle with my third trimester being during the summer, but it honestly hasn’t been as tough as I expected. A big reason is due to the clothing choices I’m able to make in the summer!

With the current trends and styles that are so popular right now, I’ve been able to wear a lot of clothes that aren’t specifically labeled as maternity. Prairie-style pieces, flowy dresses, biker shorts, and oversized graphics tees have all become staples in my closet this season.

Maria Murphy Summer Maternity Clothes

Let’s talk about some of my favorite maternity retailers! One of my favorites has been Nothing Fits But. I love their styles because I feel like I could wear them once I’m no longer pregnant as well, which is always a plus. They’re more for special occasions in my opinion but definitely worth taking a look at!

I’ve also gotten several dresses from Pink Blush Maternity. They have so many great options that are more affordable than other retailers.

If you don’t mind splurging a little bit, Hatch makes beautiful, high-end maternity clothes that I love.

Some of my favorite everyday retailers for key pieces that fit are Old Navy, Walmart, and Amazon. Sizing up on running shorts from Walmart has been a lifesaver for workouts! Biker shorts and oversize graphic tees from Amazon are great for everyday around the house! And Old Navy has some super cute and affordable flowy dresses!

You can click on the links below to shop some of my favorite summer maternity clothes from all of these retailers!

What are some of your favorite summer maternity clothes and styles to wear? Do you prefer to stay comfortable when pregnant, or do you like to dress up just as much as you did before? Let me know!

Entryway Design Tips: Function and Aesthetic

Oh, the entryway! This one space sets the tone for your entire house because it’s the first thing anyone sees when they walk into your home. The “first impression” if you will. And there are definitely things to consider when deciding on an entryway design with decorations and furnishings to help give off the best impression possible! 

As always, it’s best to think through functionality first, and then from there, you can make the space visually appealing. First, let’s talk through a few things that help your entryway become more functional.

Maria Murphy Entryway Design

Mirrors work so well in the entry. Adding a mirror on your wall can be SO helpful for both yourself and your guests because let’s be honest… people like to look at themselves. Whether you’re wanting to do a final check before running out the door, or your guests are wanting to take a quick glance before they fully enter your home, a mirror is a great item to add to your entryway design.

A bench is a great thing to incorporate into the design of your entryway as well. Benches can be helpful for guests if they would like to take their shoes off when they come in, or if they’re wanting to put their shoes back on before leaving.

Don’t forget about coats! Does your entrance have a small closet to store coats for your guests? Or should you think about getting some kind of coat rack for them to use?

Some kind of entryway table is also so important! More so for you than your guest if you use your main entryway on a day-to-day basis. In that situation, consider opting for an entry table with drawers so you can store items such as keys and mail without cluttering your space. If you don’t have an entry table with drawers, baskets and trays are a great alternative to help keep things organized and clutter-free.

Beyond functionality, now you can think through making your entryway design as aesthetic as possible. Again, you’re setting the tone for the rest of your home, so think through the overall vibe you’re wanting your guest to feel when they visit and stick with that vibe in your entryway. You can pull in items such as artwork, books, rugs, lamps, and plants to make this space an extension of the rest of your home.

For more inspiration, be sure to follow me on Instagram and Pinterest!

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