Archive for the ‘beauty’ Category

Want to Look Like A Princess? How to choose flattering clothing for YOUR body shape

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

When I was in my twenties  I bought a dress that I called “my princess dress.” One of my favorite childhood stories was “The Princess & The Pea.”     I secretly believed I must be a princess because I was so sensitive.   If you think about how Fiona from the movie Shreck looked  before she turned into an ogre, this was my image of a princess.   My princess dress looked like the dress Fiona wore.   It was dark blue velvet with a deep v neckline and princess darts.  It narrowed at the waist and had a soft flowing  A line skirt and it was long.   This was many years ago before Shreck had been made and my idea of what a princess wore came from my viewing Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.

I put that dress on many times, but was never able to wear it out of the house because instead of looking like a princess, I looked like a stuffed sausage.   The dress was my size but even when I exercised and toned up and lost a few pounds, I never looked good in it.   It hung in my closet for several years unworn.  Finally, I gave it to a friend of mine who had similar coloring to me and was the same height, and weight as me.   The minute she pulled it over her head she look like a princess.

Why did she look so wonderful in the dress and why did I look so awful in the dress? The answer is  body shape.  I have a  wide waist and narrow hips and she had a  narrow waist and wider hips.  The dress narrowed where I widened and widened where I narrowed.    My narrow parts were hidden and my wider parts were emphasized by the style of the dress.  My friend look fantastic because the dress shape dress was an extension of her  body shape.

Body shapes have both curved and straight lines but there will be a predominance of more curves or more straight lines. If your body shape is  more curved, clothing with waist definition will be more flattering.  If your body is straighter, like mine, clothing without waist definition will be more flattering..  Choosing clothing that widens where your body widens and narrows where your body narrows will  help you to feel comfortable and look your bestl everyday.

What do you have in your closet that you haven’t been able to wear?  Do you know why you haven’t worn it?

Nancy Goldblatt, “Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore,” is a professionally trained personal image consultant.  She works with individuals and groups in Baltimore and surrounding areas.  Contact her at nrgoldblatt@gmail.com or 410-235-5325. www.WardrobeWiz.com/

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Secrets of Smart Clothes Shopping

Friday, August 6th, 2010

How do you make a decision about what clothing items to buy? Besides the clothing fitting you and flattering your shape and body colors, what else should you consider?

Here are 9 secrets of smart clothes shopping  from personal image consultant, Nancy Goldblatt, “The Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore.”

1. Look at care tags, if it says “DRY CLEAN ONLY,” the item will be more costly to maintain.  If item says dry clean without the word ONLY you can probably hand wash it or even machine wash on gentle cycle.

2. Squeeze fabric in your hand for 10 seconds to see how likely it is to wrinkle. If it bounces back with few or no wrinkles you probably will not have to spend time ironing it.

3.  Can you wear it with 2 or 3 items you already own or can you wear it 2 or 3 different ways?

4.  Try it on and sit down in it, raise your arms above you head, raise your arms to your chest with your fists together and elbows out. Then bend over and touch your toes. Does the clothing  item move with you or restrict your movement?

5.  Don’t expect items to fit perfectly.  They will probably need to be altered.  So bring some straight pins with you.    The pins will enable you to see how the item will look after alterations.

6.  If you have had “your colors done,” keep your color chart in your purse so you won’t be wasting your time trying on unflattering colors.

7. If you have had a face and body shape analysis and have line drawings of your best styles bring your line drawings with you.

8. If there is a two or three piece matching outfit get all of the pieces, if they are flattering.

9. If you are on a tight budget, get items that are solids and do not have decorative designs or embellishments.  These will be easier to mix and match with your existing wardrobe.

Before I became an image consultant in 1990, I did not know what colors or styles looked good on me and I would spend many hours shopping and trying on things that looked awful on me.  The more things I tried on that looked bad, the worse I felt about myself.

Now that I know my best colors and styles, when I go shopping, I can quickly skim over the aisles.   I usually  only have to try on items to see if they fit.  This saves me lots of time and my self esteem remains intact.

Nancy Goldblatt, “The Wardrobe Wizard,” of Baltimore is a professionally trained, personal image consultant.   She specializes in working with women who have lots of clothes and “nothing to wear.”  (After you get a wallet of your best colors, and line drawings of your best styles, “The Wardrobe Wizard,” will teach you how to  shop your own closet.)   Nancy is available to work with groups as well as individuals.  Contact her at www.WardrobeWiz.com

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Four Tips for Choosing A Flattering Purse © 2010

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

+Here are four tips for choosing a purse that will flatter you.  You will need to consider color, scale, shape and where the purse sits on your body.

COLOR

  1. Because our eyes automatically search for colors to be repeated, when you carry a purse that repeats one of your natural body colors (hair, skin or eyes) you will look visually pleasing and be able to wear this purse with everything you own.

SCALE

  • 2. Here is a way to determine a good size purse that will be in   proportion to your body.  Spread your fingers apart with your thumbs  touching and measure horizontally from little finger to little finger.  This measurement is the widest or tallest your purse should be to be in proportion to your body.  Measure your hand from your wrist crease to the end of your longest finger.  This could be the depth, height or width of your purse.  (If you hands are in proportion to your body this suggestion will work for you.)

STRAP LENGTH

  • 3. If you can adjust strap length, adjust your purse to end at a place on your body that is the narrowest.  For example if you carry your weight in the lower half of your body, and have a defined waistline, shorten the straps so your purse stops at your waist.  If you are top heavy, lengthen straps so your purse stops at your lower hip or thigh.

SHAPE

  • 4. A purse that has some softness and some straightness is best for most bodies.  If you have a very angular (straight body) and angular face, you can choose a purse with sharp angles.

TRENDS

  • Recent purse trends include super sized handbags, clutch bags, vintage, brightly colored and metallic bags.  If you are petite, a very large handbag may dwarf you and if you are a plus size an over sized bag may emphasize parts you don’t want emphasized.

If you do choose a brightly colored purse, try to repeat the color in your outfit at least once or twice.  This repetition of color can  be done with a scarf, shoes, or belt.  As stated previously our eyes unconsciously search for repetition of color and this will help you to look more pulled together.

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Nancy Goldblatt, “The Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore,” is a professionally trained Personal Image Consultant.  She came to image consulting as part of her own journey to look and feel good in her own short, plump body.  Since 1990 she has been dispelling “The Barbie Doll Myth,” that the media promotes.  This myth tells us that to be considered beautiful, a woman must be tall, thin, perfectly proportioned and forever young.    Nancy counters this myth by teaching women of all sizes, shapes and ages that “real beauty,” is about looking visually balanced.  She is available to work with individuals and groups in the Baltimore-Washington area.  She plans to soon begin working virtually with clients in other geographic areas.

www.WardrobeWiz.com

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How to Choose Shoes that Fit & Flatter

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

Do you have trouble finding comfortable, flattering shoes? Here are a few tips that may make your hunt for the right shoes easier.

Shape:  Make an outline of the shape of your foot on a piece of paper.  Cut out the shape and take it with you when you shop for shoes.  Hold the shape up to shoes you like.  If the shoe widens where your foot shape widens and narrows and curves where your foot shape narrows and curves its worth trying on.  Be sure to try both shoes on and walk around to see how the shoes feel.  If they feel tight, or pinch  do not purchase them.  They will never feel comfortable.  Also, its a good idea to try shoes on at the end of the day, because our feet tend to swell at the end of the day.

Style: If you have a short or broad foot and are wearing a skirt or dress  a low vamp will be more flattering than a high vamp.  If you have a long narrow foot a higher vamp can shorten the look of your foot.

Heel height: The shorter you are the lower your heel should be.  You didn’t read that last sentence wrong.  Its about proportion.  In my twenties I tried to wear very high heels.  Unfortunately, I am short and I looked like “Minnie Mouse,” in those heels.   Also, the higher your heel height the more it throws you off balance.  A two inch heel should look good and not throw your balance off too much.

Color:   Choose shoes that are a shade of your hair color. You will be able to wear these shoes everyday and with everything you own.  By choosing shoes that are a shade of your hair color you will automatically be pulling yourself together visually because our eye automatically searches for repeated colors.  Many shoes now come in metallic colors.  These are especially nice looking in sandals.

Do you have a favorite tip about choosing shoes?  Feel free to comment and share your tips about shoes.


Nancy Goldblatt, “The Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore,” is a professionally trained Color 1, personal image consultant.  She specializes in helping women whose size or shape has changed and who  have lots of clothes and nothing to wear go from “Sad to Fab.”  She teaches how to go shopping in your own closet first.  After a client works with the Wardrobe Wizard she will have line drawings of her best styles, a wallet of her best colors, and the ability to mix and match and shop with ease.  Say goodbye to the panic of “nothing to wear.”

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The Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore” has a Gift for You: A List of 7 of my favorite things –

Friday, December 25th, 2009

My gift to you for the New Year  is a list of 7 of my favorite things.  These are products or resources that I use to keep myself healthy and looking good.   ( I am not being compensated in any way for recommending these products and resources.)

1. Life Extension Foundation: www.lef.org/ publishes a magazine with great articles on vitamins and supplements and they sell supplements and have an extensive online website with articles and a discussion forum.  It costs $75 to become a member and qualify for member only discounts on blood tests and supplements.  You don’t have to be a member to subscribe to their informative magazine (cost is $12 a year) that has easy to understand articles.   Latest magazine has articles on “How To Combat Influenza Infection,” ”How Vitamin C Protects The Skin,”  “Tea Promotes Weight Loss in Over Weight Individuals,”  and more.  Their excellent website and discussion forum are free.

2. Your Prescription For Health is a business based in Owings Mills, Md run by holistic pharmacists Brian Sanderoff and Raymond Hinish.  They have a radio program on  680 am every Sunday morning from 10-12 noon, eastern standard time.  If you do not live in the area you can listen on the web and or they podcast their show.  Brian and Ray work with Dr. William Pawluk, a conventionally trained Dr. who now works as a complementary Dr.  They frequently have guest experts on the show and you can also call in with questions. Your prescription for health discounts their supplements and vitamins and shipping is free if you spend $100 or more.  Their website is www.IllnessIsoptional.com/ The website has articles and protocols for various problems.  I believe Dr. Hinish also sends out a free e-newsletter to subscribers.

3. X-Clear saline nasal spray  contains xylitol. In addition to keeping your mucous membranes moist,  it prevents nasal congestion and extensive research says the xylitol in the product prevents bacteria and germs from making you sick.  Find more about it at: www.Xclear.com/

4.  I am now taking 5000 mg of vitamin d3 for my immune system.  (Get it at your local vitamin store, its not expensive)   I learned about the importance of D3 first from listening to “Your Prescription for Health.”  Since I learned about it about a year ago,I have encountered many articles about the importance of vitamin D3.

5..  I originally began taking Magnesium Citrate for muscle tension.   I have discovered its also good  to prevent constipation and since its a natural muscle relaxant it helps decrease anxiety.   I take a powder product called MagnaCalm that I get from Your Prescription for Health.   There are lots of different Magnesium products available.

6.  My newest favorite television show is “The Dr. Oz Show.” Dr. Oz is a heart surgeon who was discovered by Oprah. He makes learning about health fun.   I have recently learned how high blood pressure can cause kidney disease and I now  know what “healthy poop looks like.”    He has the “No embarrassment Zone,” where audience members can ask any medical question.  He also has a “Truth Tube,” where people can discover their “real age,” based on their body measurements, weight and life style.   Watching his show has inspired me to begin a regular exercise program.

7. Dr. Daniel Amen is another Dr. who makes learning fun. He is a neuropsychiatrist who has been studying the brain and taking pictures of the brain for over 20 years.  He has written about 6 or 7 books and his newest book “Change Your Brain, Change Your Body,’ will be out in February 2010.  I originally discovered Dr. Amen on PBS.   ”Change Your Brain, Change Your Life,” “Your Miraculous Brain,” and “The Brain In Love,” periodically get re shown on PBS.  They are also now on DVD.  He now sells his many books, dvd’s and cd’s on his website.  His website also has lots of free articles and tests.  The latest free tests are ADD and subtypes of ADD. (In addition to being “The Wardrobe Wizard,” I am a psychotherapist)    In my psychotherapy practice I have been using his materials to help me better diagnose and treat my clients.  His main website is www.amenclinics.com/ You can also go to www.brainspace.com to see before and after treatment  pictures of brains with different problems.  Subscribe to his free newsletter, you will learn lots of great information about taking care of your brain. What is good for the brain, is good for the rest of you.

My wish for each of you is a  “healthy and happy,” 2010.

What are some of your favorite things that help you to be your most beautiful inside and out?  Please share with others your favorite things in the comments section of this blog.

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Paula Begoun, “Cosmetics Cop,” comes to Baltimore

Sunday, December 13th, 2009

When Paula Begoun aka ‘The Cosmetics Cop,” came to Baltimore Thursday, Dec 4th and spoke at Barnes & Noble in Pikesville, Md., she stated, “For centuries women have wanted to look pretty, and wasting money is not pretty.”

Paula came to promote  version eight of her book  “Don’t Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me.”   I have been a fan of hers since she wrote “Blue Eyeshadow Should Be Made Illegal.” in 1986.   I currently subscribe to her  on-line  “Beautypedia.”  It costs  $24.95 a  year to subscribe  and new products are reviewed every two weeks.

I find it saves me money because it prevents me from impulsively buying new products.  Paula said her goal has always been to help women save money. She has saved me a lot of money over the years.

Before  I buy a new product I go  online to “Beautypedia,” to check  “the Cosmetic Cops” review.  Cosmetic & skin care reviews include both drugsstore, department store and other retail brands. I am still unsure about the product and  it’s a drugstore cosmetic, I buy it at CVS or Rite Aid because even if it has been opened  or used it can be returned or exchanged.  Paula emphasizes in her reviews that expensive products are not necessarily better than less expensive products.

Paula now wears two hats. She is still “The Cosmetics Cop.”  She and her staff evaluate thousands of brands of makeup, and skin care products.  She gives a smiley face with a check mark for outstanding products and a frowning face for products that aren’t well formulated and do not do what they promise.   She also has her own line of makeup and skin care products called “Paula’s Choice.”

I especially like her exfoliating AHA  and her BHA  products. I have  very dry skin  but in the summer time I get oily around the T zone.  I break out with pimples under the skin and even have had a few blackheads.  Nothing helped me until I used her 2% BHA product.  It cleared up my pimples without overly drying my skin out.   “Yeah, Paula’s Choice.”

If you like Internet research and want to get reviews of new products coming out, its worthwhile subscribing to Beautypedia’s online reviews or  if you prefer buying a book, get her latest version of  “Don’t Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me,” available in paperback from Amazon for $19.77.

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How White Should Your Teeth Be?

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

Have you whitened your teeth or are you thinking about whitening your teeth? Do you wonder how white your teeth should be?     As we get older our teeth darken or yellow  from the foods we eat and the things we drink and smoke. Whiter teeth can help us to look more youthful.  However, if you overdo the teeth bleaching, your teeth may end up looking like they are false.

An easy way to determine how white your teeth should be is to look at the whites of your eyes. Do this when you aren’t tired or sick.  If you bleach your teeth a whiter color than the whites of your eyes, this color will cause your teeth to become your focal point (the place people eyes go to first and keep being drawn back to).   If the color of your teeth is a brighter white than the whites of your eye this  will not only cause your teeth to look fake, but it may make your skin look dull or washed out next to the very bright white of your teeth.  By repeating the same or simialr shade of the whites of your eyes in your teeth you can create visual harmony.

Our eyes find visual harmony relaxing and pleasing.   When you look visually harmonious you will look your most attractive and you will communicate instant confidence and intelligence.

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Avoiding Looking At Your Body In The Mirror?

Sunday, October 25th, 2009

When was the last time you looked at yourself in a full length mirror? I am asking this because the more “over fat,”  you are or “out of shape,”you are the harder it is to look good in your clothes.

I must confess, that for some time now I have been looking at myself in the mirror only from the chin up. Yes, I use my full length mirror before I leave the house but  recently I only quickly glance at my self from head to toe.   The other day I had to get a pictures taken of my silhouette in fitted non-camouflaging clothing  for a sewing project I am doing. I am still in shock.

I have always had an apple shaped body with narrow hips, flat bottom and muscular legs. When I gain weight its usually in my stomach and waist area.  My previously flat derriere is no longer flat.   Because I know how to dress for my body shape I had even fooled myself, until I saw those pictures of me without camouflaging clothes.    I know I must take action for my health and of course I am concerned about how I look and finding clothes that fit me.  The areas I need to work on are my eating habits, exercise and sleep.

My eating habits are better than most of the other people I know, but they aren’t perfect.  I consider myself a flexitarian.  I eat mostly steamed vegetables plus small amounts of chicken and fish and dairy such as non-fat yogurt, low fat cottage cheese, almonds and walnuts.  My weakness is rice tortillas and gluten free cookies.   Also, because I am a night owl and stay up late at night, I tend to eat a snack before I go to bed.   I have read that this is not good because those calories are not burned off and eating right before bedtime disrupts sleep because the body is busy digesting food and can not completely relax.

I have been watching the Dr. Oz show lately.   Dr. Oz says  to be healthy a woman should not have a waist over 32.5 inches. If your waist is larger than this, it means your belly fat is beginning to crush your other organs, especially your kidney function.  One way to determine a good waist size is to take your height in inches and divide it in half.  According to Dr. Oz your waist size should be half your height or less than half your height.

What is your waist size in relation to your height? How do you make time for exercise?  What do you eat that isn’t good for you?  When was the last time you looked at yourself in a full length mirror with only your under ware on?

Because I needed a “jump start,” to start exercising again, I applied to be in a research study at Johns Hopkins Hospital Bayview in Baltimore, Md.  Its called “Shape Up.” There are two components to this study a nurtrition component and an exercise component.  I am hoping to be assigned to both the nutrition and exercise parts.  The exercise would be at the Hopkins facility. As I write this, I am realizing that besides getting more sleep,and not eating before bedtime what I really need is, help with “building in” exercise to my daily life for a long term change in my habits.

How have you built exercise into your busy daily life?

I

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Tim Gunn and Me At The Baltimore Book Festival

Monday, September 28th, 2009

About Nancy Goldblatt:

I am a professionally trained “Personal Image Consultant,” based in Baltimore, Maryland.  I call myself “The Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore.”  I specialize in working with women whose size or shape has changed or who have too many clothes and nothing to wear.    I help my clients by first teaching them how to shop in their own closets.  They get a wallet of their best colors and line drawings of their best styles.  Most of my clients are women but I also work with men.  After I work with a client they will knew what clothing to keep, and what to eliminate.  They will also know what items they should get altered and how to fill in the gaps in their wardrobe.  Best of all , they will get rid of the panic of ” those nothing to wear moments.”

The  weekend 0f Sept 25-27th, 2009 is the 14th annual Baltimore Book Festival. This reminded me of what happened several years ago, (I believe it was 2 or 3 years ago.)  when Tim Gunn,  of Project Runway, was one of the featured speakers. I am a fan of Tim’s and I was looking forward to hearing him speak.  At that time Tim had just gotten his own show and had written a book.  He was speaking at the  Baltimore Book Festival to publicize his new book.

Unfortunately, I had trouble finding parking and by the time I parked,and walked 5 or 6 blocks to the book festival, I had missed Tim’s talk. When I finally got to the area where he had spoken, I discovered there was a long line of people waiting for him to autograph the book they had just purchased.

The book was sold out, so I borrowed some one’s book and quickly looked through it. I felt disappointed because  I did not see any new information that I had not seen elsewhere.  I have a hunch the book may have been written quickly to capitalize on the popularity of Project Runway and Tim’s new show which had just begun.

I was disgusted with myself for not arriving earlier and my lower back was in spasm and I was looking for a place to sit down. I passed a small table with two chairs.  There was a sign that said something like “Sit down, and participate in a psychic experiment.”  The experiment  was sponsored by students from Maryland Institute of Art.     I asked for more information, but mostly I wanted a place to sit and rest.

The experiment was simple, there was a sender and a receiver. I would be the sender.  There was a volunteer receiver already seated.  All I had to do was sit down at the table and concentrate on an image in my mind and try to send the image to the receiver.  He had a pencil and paper and would draw what he received.  I decided to picture “the happy face symbol from the 1960’s.”  I choose this because I was feeling the opposite of happy and I wanted a distraction from my “pity party.”

I concentrated as hard as I could to mentally picture the “happy face symbol . ” The receiver began drawing after a minute or two.   I watched as he drew a line and then made it curve around.  At the end of the line he drew two sheep.  The MICA student asked me if that was the image I sent.  I said, “No, I was picturing a happy face symbol.”  

 I looked at the pencil drawing again and started laughing.  I was laughing because I  realized the line the receiver drew that curved around was the same shape as the long line of people waiting for Tim Gunn’s autograph.  I would not have called those fans of Tim, sheep, at least I would not have said it outloud.  But when I saw the picture “the reciever,” had drawn, I realized that’s what I had been thinking.  Those “Tim Gunn fans,” clutching their newly purchased books, standing in an extremely long line under the hot sun reminded me (at least on an unconscious level) of sheep.

As I laughed and shared why I was laughing with the MICA student and the receiver my spirits lifted as I realized what was really on my mind.  I was shocked that my unconscious mind would view them in this way because I am usually very non-judgemental.    I like to believe it was a combination of the hot sun, my aching back and the fact the book the people standing in line were clutching did not seem to have any new style information.  I am still a fan of Tim’ s.  I don’t know what he is like in person but on television at times he appears a bit formal and proper but his genuineness comes through.  I am ready now to get a copy of his book and do more than just skim it. 

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The Trouble With Bargains

Monday, September 21st, 2009

I recently  helped Theresa pare down her wardrobe.   She had many things in her closet that still had the tags on, but no longer fit . Theresa realized that she had too many clothes but couldn’t resist buying more clothes because they were on sale.  How many of you have bought something just because it was on sale?

What other criteria do you need to consider besides the fact an item is on sale for it to be a bargain?  Here are some questions to ask yourself.

  • Can you wear it with three things you already own or can you wear it three different ways?
  • Is it comfortable, does the fabric breathe?
  • Does it fit properly?
  • What kind of care does it need?  Grab the fabric and squeeze and hold for 10 seconds.   Does it wrinkle easily?   Can it be washed?  ( If it needs dry cleaning it will cost you more long term.)    Also, most dry cleaning uses carcinogenic chemicals and some of these chemicals may remain in the fabric.
  • Don’t forget color.  Does the color make your eyes sparkle, do your shadows and lines disappear?
  • Do you really need it?

When I go shopping, I have my helper, my “Wardrobe Wizard Pocket Pal.”  This includes my wallet of 50 of my best colors and  line drawings of my best styles. I still  have trouble making decisions, at times , because sometimes “my wants and my needs,” are in conflict.  So I carry a pendulum and I ask my pendulum for help in making my final buying decisions.    I believe my unconscious mind knows the right answer and projects this on the pendulum.  (yes, even “The Wardrobe Wizard ” needs a second opinion at times.)

How do you make your buying decisions?  How many so called  “bargains,”  do you have hanging in your closet that you rarely or never wear? Wondering what to do with those unworn bargains?  If you live in the Baltimore-Washington corridor, “The Wardrobe Wizard,” can work with you in person.  Currently I am exploring ways I can work with clients long distance but I have not worked out the details yet.

Nancy Goldblatt, “The Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore,” is a professionally trained personal image consultant.  She specializes in working with women whose shape or size has  changed.  Contact her at 410-235-5325. or nrgoldblat@gmail.com.

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