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A Kids Learning Tablet: The VTech InnoTab Review

October 18, 2011 By 1,047 Comments

++++++UPDATE++++++

December 20, 2011

I’m very disappointed to report that our InnoTab has broken. The software is fine and the product itself seems fine and durable, but the stand on the back portion which props the device has broken. One of the pegs “snapped” and the stand is no longer attached to the InnoTab.

I wrote the company an email immediately after the stand broke from the InnoTab and waited a week before calling as no contact via email was made on their end to reach me. Sad, since they’re a technology company! Calling I first made the mistake to saying I wanted a replacement part; I was directed by the automated voice to check online and she hung up on me. I had to recall and select an option that I didn’t feel met my needs, but I knew it would lead to reaching a live customer support representative.

I spoke with vTech about my InnoTab and since the piece can’t be replaced they have to replace the entire product. With the demand of the Christmas season they don’t have any on hand to replace mine currently, but they give me a reference number and I need to call back after Christmas.

I am happy that I finally got service. I’m also pleased that my problem is going to be fixed by vTech ESPECIALLY since my product is not old and has not been abused though my children play their InnoTab a lot.

I would still recommend the InnoTab, but I do have my doubts about the stand and recommending the quality of the features of the InnoTab. Lastly, you all know I have a pink/purple InnoTab; when I call back after Christmas I might see about having that replaced with a white/blue model. I wonder if they will mind?

+++++ORIGINAL++++++

At the Time To Play Holiday Showcase, I had the opportunity to play with the VTech InnoTab as it was awarded one of the top toys of this Holiday Season. I think it’s great having a toy like mommy and daddy’s iPad or computer that’s much more durable.

Vtech InnoTab

Plus it comes with a great line up of name brand applications that kids already know and love. From any Disney character to Scooby Doo.

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VTech sent MomStart one InnoTab to review and this is Summer’s review:

Children always want the latest gadgets and I’m not talking about your spouse, I’m really talking about your children! My sons always want to tough my phone, help me type on the computer, turn on the T.V. and entertainment center equipment, and play Wii and Xbox. Gadgets, gadgets, gadgets. I have to say my sons get it honest enough their dad is a software engineer and I love to stay in touch with everyone I’ve ever met via Facebook and my phone. But now my sons can have their very own age appropriate gadget thanks to VTech Kids.

My 4YO has been asking us when he could get his own laptop. Well, we one upped him with a tablet, a VTech InnoTab Interactive Learning App Tablet, which is suitable at home or on the go. This kid computer is designed for ages 4-9 year old. The style mimics other adult electronics with simple tile selection offering art, games, music, calendar, e-reader, videos, photos, notes, calculator, clock, friends, and also offers cartridge interaction and downloads. Children can then visit the Learning Lodge Navigator with a parent to get free V.Coins to buy new games, e-books, and apps.

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My 4YO is in love with his InnoTab and his is pink (not by choice we were mailed a pink one). He has been playing games that work on his problem solving skills and spelling. He enjoys making art and saves it on an SD card which is inserted into the InnoTab device. Most of the time my son uses his own finger, but he is fascinated by the stylus that comes tucked into its own little hole in the side of the InnoTab and uses it especially in the “Color & Pop” app. My 2YO even loves to play on the VTech InnoTab, his favorite is the freestyle art pad; though 2YO is too young if you’re thinking of this for a family’s first child. The VTech InnoTab just shouts CHRISTMAS GIFT!

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You can get your own VTech InnoTab Interactive Learning Tablet in white/blue or pink/purple. The price ranges from about $80-100 depending on retailer and preferred color. The cartridges include Scooby-Doo, Disney favorites (like princess and Cars), Sponge Bob, Penguins of Madagascar, and Dora; cartridges are sold separately and cost about $25 (cartridges are NOT needed for the system). To get started you will, however, need 4 AA batteries and an SD card so be sure you these on hand! This is also a toy you’ll want to have opened and added to before gifting to your child for an upcoming birthday or holiday season. Prediction … Christmas Hot Item so GET IT NOW!

Mom Starts Rating of the VTech InnoTab Interactivie Learning Tablet: A

If you want to keep up with VTech hottest kid items, you can Like VTech on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @VTechToys. You can also get your VTech questions answered by Pilar, the VTech Mom, through either forum.

VTech was also kind enough to let us host a giveaway too!

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winner, Debbie Stanton.

All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

We received samples.

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Halloween Shopping Ideas at Northgate Mall & Our Shopping Haul

October 17, 2011 By 9 Comments

This last weekend we spent our time shopping and having a great family day at Northgate Mall, one of the many Simon malls around the US. When we arrived there was a fire truck parked outside and that made the kids’ day right there. The firemen were just going in for some coffee but when they came out and saw the kids, they gave them official Fireman badges (you know stickers). Oh the kids were enamored.

Then we set out to do our shopping. But first, I had to go get a coffee so we all had a special treat at Starbucks just inside the food court. From Pumpkin Lattes, Apple Ciders, to Chi Tea Latte’s there are many options for all ages.

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Halloween was all over the mall, and one of my favorites was of course the chocolaty options: See’s Candies had plenty of trick or treat options inside their store. And the best thing about See’s Candies is that you can go in for a free samples. YUM!

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Taking in the seasons is a full sensory trip for us. We had to taste the flavors, smell the flavors and feel the flavors. So check one for the coffee. Check two took us into Bath and Body works where we had to smell and try everything. We ended up buying a trick or treat bag for 10.00. These bags have a large assortment of products in them, making it quite a bang for your buck.

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We found costumes for the kids. Miles is going to be a dragon, and Zoe is going to be a bumblebee. The dragon costume we found at Gymboree, and the bumble bee we found at Crazy 8, later we found out both stores are owned by the same parent company. I love Crazy 8 because it looks just like Gymboree but at a priced comparable to The Children’s Place.

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We spent so much time at Northgate mall on Saturday that we had to get lunch at Red Robin.

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Northgate Mall has quite a few options for lunch with the food court and restaurant chains inside the mall. After we finished our lunch we went to the Toys R Us, that is a part of Northgate Mall and participated in the Cars 2 Lego Event in honor of Cars 2 coming out on DVD and Blu-ray 3D November 1, 2011.

This is of course our Northgate Mall Shopping Haul video you have to check it out.

 

To Stay up to date on Northgate Mall Follow Northgate mall on Facebook, and Follow Northgate mall on twitter or check out the Northgate Mall Deals.

 

 

This was all thanks to Northgate Mall, I received a gift card from them to facilitate our shopping experience. "These posts do not necessarily represent Simon Property Group’s positions, strategies or opinions"

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Suzuki Junk in the Trunk Scavenger Hunt

October 17, 2011 By 638 Comments

A little over a week ago I was a guest with Suzuki Auto! Yes they make fantastic cars among other things. One of them being the world’s fastest motorcycle, but more about that later. For now let’s focus on how much fun their new Kizashi is to drive. It’s so much fun to drive. The inside feels sporty and I drove a standard. I love shifting gears, of course if you ask my driving partner how my driving was I’m sure she would remind me that I stalled out twice before I got the hang of it again. It was almost 3 years since I last drove one.

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The Kizashi features 8 standard air bags, front seat side impact supplemental airbags, read seat side impact supplemental airbags and side curtain supplemental airbags. Also the car has touch free smart key keyless entry and start system and I know that’s not new to most of you but I found it to be fascinating. I never tried a button start up before. One thing my family loves is that everyone has their own climate control, and the Kizashi has dual zone automatic climate control with rear passenger air vents.

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So one of the things we did with Suzuki is we had to drive through the country side to find Target and then we had a shopping scavenger hunt inside Target. The drive was a very nice drive. St. Charles is a beautiful city rated #1 Best town for families. I have much more to share with you about this wonderful event.

 

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The Junk in the Trunk! Everything fit in the Kizashi’s trunk, this is two sets of scavenger hunt finds. Plus there is plenty of room to spare.

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Everything was purchased at Target and you *should* be able to exchange everything for the correct size and color choices.

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This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winner, Katherine.

All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

*I’m not sure if they are including the receipt with the prize or not, but they will be mailing out what you see in the picture above.

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Warm & Creamy Mocha Pudding Recipe

October 17, 2011 By 47 Comments

 

Believe it or not, Cream of Wheat can look like this, decadent, mocha pudding. Cream of wheat has always been one of my favorite breakfast options. I love hot cereal so when they presented it to me as a gourmet cooking option I was in awe!!!

MochaPudding (2)

Cream of Wheat Goes Gourmet

Warm Creamy Mocha Pudding by Sara Moulton

4 servings

Ingredients

2 cups whole milk
a hefty pinch of salt
1/3 cup cream of wheat
1 ounce unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
½ cup chocolate chips or 2 ½ ounces finely chopped bittersweet chocolate
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons instant espresso powder (such as Medaglio d’Oro)
½ teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

Bring the milk and the salt just up to a boil in a small saucepan.
Add the cream of wheat in a stream, whisking, and simmer for 2 1/1 minutes, whisking often.
Take the saucepan off the burner, add the chocolates, espresso powder and sugar and let stand for 1 minute.
Stir until the chocolate is incorporated and the mixture is smooth.
Whisk in the vanilla and serve right away.

This recipe is by Sara Moulton

One of the hardest-working women in the food biz, Sara Moulton has been juggling multiple jobs – as well as a full family life – for her entire career.  The Food Editor of ABC-TV’s “Good Morning America” since 1997, Sara was a founding personality at the Food Network as host of “Cooking Live,” “Cooking Live Primetime,” and “Sara’s Secrets” between 1996 and 2005. 

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N3L Optics Sunglasses for Active People Oakley Miss Conduct Squared Sunglasses

October 16, 2011 By 329 Comments

Living in the Pacific Northwest showed me how much people love to do things outdoors. The summers here are usually very nice and the temperature stays low enough for everyone to be outside all summer long. Hiking, climbing visiting the ocean you can do it all here in the Seattle area. We have so many beautiful mountains surrounding us, tons of trails at different hiking abilities, and beaches for being around the water. Of course we have winter sports too. With the mountains comes skiing and wow in all of these activities I feel the need for sunglasses. Even in the winter time when we have dreary cloudy weather, it’s important to wear sunglasses.

My doctor actually told me when he said I should wear sunscreen every day that I should also wear sunglasses to protect my eyes. With all these outdoor sports N3L has the sunglasses for your eye protection. Here is a list of activities and what you should look for in a pair of sunglasses and set of sunglasses as a suggestion. I received a pair of Oakley sunglasses from N3L and I love them. I love how well they protect my eyes from the sun. Plus they look super cool!

Louise & Crystal

I’m on the right and I’m wearing the Oakley Miss Conduct Squared

 

When around water:

Polarization Lenses – a special filter in the lens blocks blinding rays of glare so you see things object more clearly, and boosts colors to make your view of the world more vibrant.

Lens Curvature – More lens curve maximizes peripheral protection against sun, wind, and water spray.

Mirrored Lens Coatings – reflects the sun’s harsh rays reflecting off the water so you see more clearly.

Hydrophobic Lens Coating – water beads up and falls off the lens to keep your view clear.

Dark Amber and Bronze Contrast Lens Tints – these tints enhance contrast and block blurring blue light which leads to greater clarity in water environments.

Secure Fit – losing your shades overboard is a real bummer. Save yourself from the depths of sorrow and the depths of the sea by wearing resilient frame materials like nylon together with rubberized grip points on the nose bridge and temples to keep the eyewear secure on your face. You also might want to consider wearing an eye retailer and/or floating retailer as extra insurance against losing your shades.

Smith Brooklyn  Shown at $119

The Brooklyn is refined feminine style featuring lenses that not only provide excellent protection from UV rays and impact, but also repel water, oil and dirt.

Smith Brooklyn Sunglasses

When Hiking:

Comfortable fit – Look for light weight frame materials like nylon and light weight lens materials like polycarbonate to enhance comfort.

Secure Fit – Resilient frame materials like nylon together with rubberized grip points on the nose bridge and temples keep the eyewear secure as you work your way up and down the trail.

Lens Curvature – More lens curve maximizes peripheral protection against sun, wind, and debris.

Contrast lens tints – amber, bronze, and rose lens tints boost the color contrast of the surrounding greenery so you see the trail better.

Oakley Necessity Shown at $130

Oakley Necessity

When Climbing:

Comfortable fit – Look for light weight frame materials like nylon and light weight lens materials like polycarbonate to enhance comfort.

Secure Fit – Resilient frame materials like nylon together with rubberized grip points on the nose bridge and temples keep the eyewear secure whether you’re right side up or down.

Lens Curvature – More lens curve maximizes peripheral protection against sun, wind, and debris.

Hydrophobic lens coating – keeps sweat from obstructing vision during ongoing assents

Miss Conduct Squared Shown at $140

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When running:

Comfortable fit – When you’re on the run, you don’t want anything weighing you down and that includes your sunglasses. Look for light weight frame materials like nylon and light weight lens materials like polycarbonate to enhance comfort.

Secure Fit – Resilient frame materials like nylon together with rubberized grip points on the nose bridge and temples keep the eyewear secure to you won’t have to continually push up and adjust your eyewear. Some manufacturers utilize special hydrophilic rubbers on the frame that actually increase their grip with perspiration.

Hydrophobic lens coating – beads sweat and rain off your lens to keep your view clear.

Lens Curvature – More lens curve maximizes peripheral protection against sun, wind, and debris.

Lens versatility – An interchangeable lens design and/or photochromic lens allows the wearer to change lens tints to better match the current light environment or sport application.

Anti-fog/Venting – an open-edge (aka semi-rimless) lens design and/or vented lenses will increase airflow to prevent the annoyance of lens fogging.

Parallel Max Shown at $129

eyewear

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winner, Happi Shopr.

All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

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NCircle Entertainment Halloween DVD Review Kooky Spooky Halloween & Tricks and Treats

October 16, 2011 By 4 Comments

By Reviewer Emily:

When October rolls around, I get my TIVO ready to search out all sorts of Halloween programs on television. There are plenty that I can watch after the kids go to bed: Horror movies, creepy ghost documentaries, Halloween themed cooking and decorating shows, etc. However, there isn’t much for my 2 and 5 year old to choose from. At these ages, many of the kid shows are still too scary or they are just a bunch of garbage. When I was given the opportunity to review NCircle Entertainment’s PBS Halloween DVD Line, I was thrilled since my kids and I both love PBS programming. The two DVDs, Kooky Spooky Halloween and Tricks and 100709_Kooky_SpookyTreats, feature two of our favorite PBS Kids’ shows, WordWorld and The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That.

In Kooky Spooky Halloween, the WordFriends get their share of scares the night before Halloween, when Pig sleep walks and everyone thinks he’s a ghost. Then, Sheep is making herself a super special fairy costume to wear for the big Halloween Party. But what will she do when her WordFriends need pieces of her costume for their own use?

Tricks and Treats features The Cat (voice by Martin Short) and his friends Nick, Sally, Fish and the Things. Meet the eeriest critters you have ever seen, arrived just in time for this Halloween! There’ll be lots of tricks and, of course lots of treats, to share with the animal friends you will meet! 100416_tricks_and_treatsThere’s a coconut crab, spider monkeys and bats, and plenty more fun with The Cat in the Hat!

Each DVD is 30 minutes long and are not only fun for getting into the Halloween spirit, but pretty educational as well. The Emmy award-winning WordWorld, uses rhyming, phonetics and spelling in each episode as well as colorful motion graphics to keep both kids and parents entertained. The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That series is just plain fun with the use of classic Dr. Seuss rhyming and silliness. The animation looks like it jumped right from the pages of the well-known books. Both Kooky Spooky Halloween and Tricks and Treats are big hits in our home and two DVDs I don’t mind watching over and over (and over and over) again!

Kooky Spooky Halloween and Tricks and Treats can be found at your local retailer or online, including www.NcircleEntertainment.com. They typically retail for about $6.99 each (but I recently visited NCircle Entertainment’s website and both DVD’s were on sale for $5.99 each). Be sure to also visit NCircle Entertainment on Facebook for a chance to win in their DVD Giveaway.

Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

About Emily:

Emily is also very active in the local MOMS CLUB. She raises chickens and has 2 shih tzus. Her daughter Caitlyn attends Montessori school and she hates housecleaning, loves wine and enjoys dining out. She would love to find a cure for the depression and anxiety she has dealt with on and off over the past 10 years, just like me. She is an amazing mom and friend.

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Tea’s Tea Company Pure Green Tea Review

October 16, 2011 By 11 Comments

By Summer:

If only we could bring back the summer! Summer in the Pacific Northwest is the most beautiful season. The warm days of lying in the sun, chasing the children through cool watered sprinklers, enjoying some in season watermelon with some refreshing cool tea all bringing the summer to the forefront of your mind. Don’t let it die; “quench your conscience” with Teas’ Tea.

I love tea. My first tea love was southern sweetened ice tea. I was then turned onto hot black tea. Lately with a healthier outlook I’ve been enjoying hot green tea. It was easy to be turned on by Teas’ Tea unsweetened pure green tea chilled with 0 calories, brewed before bottling with natural antioxidants.

imageThe Teas’ Tea company not only makes unsweetened pure green tea, but the make unsweetened jasmine green tea, green white tea, lemongrass green tea, rose green tea, mint green tea, and golden oolong tea. Teas’ Tea also offers classic country peach black tea and crispy apple black tea, as well as low calorie mango oolong tea, blueberry green tea, and lemon black tea. Teas’ Tea will have something to help you bring back summertime.

Check out Teas’ Tea at your local grocery store or you can purchase straight from their site or even Amazon. On sites such as Amazon or on search engines like Bing you may find Teas’ Tea with their parent company name ITO EN.

In you want to get ITO EN coupons and save on purchases of Teas’ Tea and their other products check out the ITO EN Facebook page and track them on Twitter @ITO_EN.

If you’re just into Teas’ Tea then you can Like the Tea’s Tea Facebook page and get COUPONS like their current 50¢ off coupon. You can also track them on Twitter @TeasTea_].

Disclaimer: Samples and promotional items were supplied for the facilitation of this review.

About Summer:

Summer is very active in our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living while cooking up a storm.

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Universal Pictures Presents Johnny English Reborn

October 15, 2011 By 364 Comments

Universal Pictures is gearing up for their upcoming release JOHNNY ENGLISH REBORN, the sequel to the comedy Johnny English and starring veteran funny-man Rowan Atkinson, Gillian Anderson, Dominic West and more.

Johnny English Reborn Movie Poster

Synopsis:

Rowan Atkinson returns to the role of the improbable secret agent who doesn’t know fear or danger in the comedy spy-thriller Johnny English Reborn.  In his latest adventure, the most unlikely intelligence officer in Her Majesty’s Secret Service must stop a group of international assassins before they eliminate a world leader and cause global chaos.

Johnny English Reborn

In the years since MI-7’s top spy vanished off the grid, he has been honing his unique skills in a remote region of Asia.  But when his agency superiors learn of an attempt against the Chinese premier’s life, they must hunt down the highly unorthodox agent.  Now that the world needs him once again, Johnny English is back in action. 

With one shot at redemption, he must employ the latest in hi-tech gadgets to unravel a web of conspiracy that runs throughout the KGB, CIA and even MI-7.  With mere days until a heads of state conference, one man must use every trick in his playbook to protect us all.  For Johnny English, disaster may be an option, but failure never is.  www.johnny-english.com

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winner, Amy.

All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

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Milky Way Simply Caramel Fun Size Chocolates

October 15, 2011 By 535 Comments

Milky Way Simply Caramel Fun Size? WHAT are you saying, I think I’m in love. The combination of chocolate and caramel and I’m in a very happy place. Plus, when I can eat just a small bite at one time, then I feel like I can eat a whole lot more, and I do.

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But for those of you that have actual resistance then you get the perfect bite size treat. This chewy treat is bursting with nothing but caramel, coated in irresistible MILKY WAY® Brand chocolate. YUM! This is what we’re giving out this year for Halloween, well, my husband and I were just talking about it. We’re not sure we’re actually handing out candy. We might have to go out and find some activity to do ourselves and just hide the chocolate and enjoy it without the kids even knowing. HMMMM.

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winners, Angela Winesburg and Amy.

All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

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Munchkin Pail It Forward Diaper Pail

October 15, 2011 By 522 Comments

Dah Dah Dah Dun dun dunna nanna nanna nanna na. Dah Dah Dah Dun dun dunna nanna nanna nanna na.  Is it Christmas time yet? No, well look out because it’s that time of year in the stores and yep now we’re going to be talking about Christmas here at MomStart too. I’m working on some holiday projects and ways to pay it forward and Munchkin is working on ways to Pail it forward.

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You know Munchkin, the makers of the Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail among other wonderful baby products right? “At Munchkin, we always look for ways to make the lives of moms easier.  ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda has been trusted for generations for odor control, so we incorporated it into our revolutionary diaper disposal system to help today’s moms maintain a nursery free of odors,” said Doug Gillespie, Munchkin Vice President of Sales and Marketing.  “We’re certainly proud of the steps Munchkin takes to create innovative products, and these research results are a true testament of our dedication to providing new options for parents.”

Now it comes in pink and blue:

 

Munchkin Diaper Pail Pink & Blue

 

Pail it forward is your opportunity to win an Arm & Hammer Munchkin Diaper Pail or 50.00 gift card.

To Pail it forward on November 1st you need to 

· Upload a photo of your Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail to Munchkin’s Facebook page

· Tag your friend and tell us why you love your pail and/or why your friend deserves an Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail and gift card

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winner, Nicolle B.

All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

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