Friday, May 31, 2013

Happy Friday!


 A few things I LOVE about this picture from our outing this morning:

1. Ashley's face!! She is so happy her brother is "sort of" holding her hand, she sure does love him.
2. Liam's face and body language. He is willing to help her walk but could really take or leave it!
3. Seeing my little ones together and happy, seriously aren't these the moments we live for?

Have a great weekend filled with sunshine (I hope) and lots of laughter!

~ Sam
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Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Family Movie Night with Scott Shared Values, Vudu and Walmart #ScottValues


*I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias®  and their client. #cbias #SocialFabric


Family movie night is our favorite way to spend time together at home. My husband and I have always been movie fans and our son has turned into one too and we love it. Renting and buying movies can add up quickly so I am always trying to find ways to save money on movies. We belong to the Scott Shared Values program since we buy many Scott Brand items like toilet tissue and paper towels. I read that Scott brand items at Walmart have special marked vouchers on them for a free Vudu movie. Since I already purchase Scott items I thought it would be a perfect time to stock up and get some free movies too.

My husband has been using Scott brand toilet tissue since we have been together (almost 15 years) its been one of the main things he wont let me get a generic or other brands for even when I find a sale and have a coupon. I buy for myself the cheaper stuff to save money but I always have to buy my husband Scott brand. Its a mine vs his battle! When the brand I have is out (which happens often since cheaper brands have less on them) I sneak to the closet to get some of his and I am always informed that it should be replaced with two rolls for the one being borrowed. This makes me laugh every time!!


I do admit his brand of Scott is better and more value for my money so I now have my own stash of Scott tp in the bathroom. The cheaper store version will have to go!




For our family movie night this week we decided to let my son select the movie. We went to Walmart to get the Scott brand toilet tissue and paper towels, to have my son see what movie he wanted and get movie watching snacks. I love the Scott select a size style of paper towel since less is wasted.




My Mom told me about Vudu and that it was simple to use. My first thought was does this need some sort of credit card, and it did not to use my free movie code. I pulled the sticker off the Scott package and redeemed the code on the back at Walmart Shared Values webpage. I created an account and searched the movies. It is an easy site to use, so glad we know about it now.




So cool! Free classic movies when you sign up to use your free code.


We entered our codes and selected Wreck It Ralph since my son has been wanting to see that movie. We had our snacks of candy and popcorn. I made little popcorn holders using Scott Paper Towels and some ribbon. I folded them like a cone and tied off the end and filled with popcorn. This was a perfect way to hold the popcorn, be able to keep hands clean after and no cleaning of popcorn bowls.







With the money we saved on watching a Free Vudu movie with the Scott Shared Values program I feel like it was a $4 coupon on the items since we already spend so much on movie watching. Its a great value! Since we purchased two Scott items we had an additional movie voucher that I used to let my son watch a Disney movie while I cleaned the house, thats a win-win!

To stay up to date on the deals offered with Scott Shared Value program you can like them on Facebook.

The Scott Shared Value program has a great coupon right now for Disney's Oz the Great and Powerful. I love that I can save money on items that are more than just Scott with the program. Saving money is my favorite way to shop!

You can read about my shopping trip to Walmart in search of specially marked Scott items for our Vudu movie and see what other products Walmart carries to make a family movie night complete by
reading my Google+ story.
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Coupons to start your week!!


Breakfast
Snacks
Food + Condiments
Pet Products
Health & Welness
Baby Products
DVDs + Blu-rays
Magazines
Cleaning
Misc
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Sunday, May 26, 2013

Staying dry with Parent's Choice Overnight Diapers #ParentsChoiceDiapers




All thoughts and opinions are my own, I am so thrilled to have this opportunity to share my experience as part of this sponsored campaign from Parent’s Choice Overnight Baby Diapers.



As my 2 year old is growing at what feels like a rapid rate, out growing everything it seems, especially his diapers. Diapers are not cheap and between him and his baby sister it can cost a small fortune! I am always searching for a great diaper at a great value, after all there are so many other things to worry about paying for these days that their diapers need to be affordable.
 
Liam just waking up and being his silly self.

My son is starting to potty train and still in diapers most of the time. Potty training can be rough, it is not going as quickly as it did with my first son and I keep having to buy more and more diapers, and often trying to figure out the right size and fit that will hold the longest. During the day he is changed often but at night it is a different story.

Liam sleeps 9-11 hours a night, I know lucky me right? Is is a good thing, until he wakes up wet and miserable from a leaky diaper. We have been there more than once. He needs something that will protect him the entire night so I won't have to worry about him starting off the morning on the wrong note, wet and cranky. I am on the hunt for a good, yet affordable diaper. Recently we tried the Parent's Choice Overnight Diapers.

The overnight diapers have an enhanced dryness layer, the soft inner liner is hypoallergenic and treated with vitamin E and aloe to protect your little ones skin protect. Not only are the Parent's Choice Overnight Diapers great protection for extended periods of time, they are a great value.  For a size 4 diaper, an 74 count you pay only $13.97 a pack. Seriously what a great price!

My son has been waking up dry and happy these days and I feel good knowing that we are able to save money, yet still have a valuable product. It is a win win for us!

So happy to be dry!!


Night time protection for babies is an important consideration for parents as their little one grows. Ordinary diapers may not have enough absorbent capacity to handle multiple voids over long periods of time with older babies. When wet mornings become the norm, parents start looking for more protection to guard against overnight leaks.Parent’s Choice Overnight Baby Diapers are super absorbent for overnight and long-trip protection. This is an overnight diaper at prices that everyone can afford! This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Parent’s Choice Overnight Baby Diapers.
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Friday, May 24, 2013

Memorial Weekend Ideas: Family Fun at the Sacramento County Fair



Wow what a day!!! My family and I went to the opening day of the Sacramento County Fair held at Cal Expo. We had so much fun. We rode the rides, we had all sorts of fair food, saw some really fun shows, danced to cowboy music, my son went on a pony ride and he even was in a show as a kid cowboy. We had a day filled with fun and made many great memories.

This show was fun! This husband and wife team had a great act that finished with juggling fire while riding unicycles. 


My son rode every kid kid at least 10 times lol He kept saying Wow Cool this is Awesome! 

The kids tractor area had little tractors to ride, a mock cow to milk wooden cows to rope and even a kid tractor pull contest.

We always have to get Tri-Tip at a fair! We had a big dinner at the Big Bear BBQ stand. So good! 



We met the nicest couple while riding the FREE Train ride! She was a sweet lady who told us about the cool stuff at the fair, her family and gave high fives to people as we rode around on the train. The Western Express train was so fun my son did not want to get off. They were nice enough to let us ride for a while so we could rest our legs, get some shade from the warm day and my son could drink his Slurpee. Thanks to Sleep Train and the Sacramento County fair for inviting the Western Express to come to the fair and give out free train rides.


This was so funny! A Cowboy Clown on stilts lifted my little guy up.


One of my husbands favorite parts of the fair! The gardening and the animals. We were able to pet the cute little farm animals, learn facts about them and my son was even able to sit on a cow. The junior handlers for the livestock were such great kids. They were nice to us and helped my son learn more about the animals they were showing.


This goat had the cutest big floppy ears!




My son wanted to see the Wild West show with Cowboys and Horses we had walked pass but missed the first showing of so I set my phone to remind me of when the next show started. Oh my am I glad I did that. This was the cutest show ever! It is even called the Cutest Show on Earth! The show has a story line that the host carries out but includes kids from the audience. Such a cool idea! My son was the coolest little rootin tootin cowboy of the show. He got on stage and was the star of the show for about 10 minutes. She asked him questions, showed him how to use his "five" shooters and he was able to be a cowboy on stage. He said some silly things, was a little confused but it made it even cuter. My husband and I were giggling so much and he had the biggest smile on his face. I definitely recommend attending the Cutest Show on Earth if you bring your kids to the fair.


Riding the Merry Go Round for the 20th time lol
We had a ton of fun! We did so many things there is not enough room in my post to include all the great pictures. I also recommend the ride wristband. It was a big savings to be able to ride any of the rides we wanted and not have to worry about how many tickets we had left. My son rode his first big roller coaster this year with his Dad. He had a look of oh my on his face but was yelling this is so cool and told me he wanted to do it again as soon as he got off. There is also an indoor play area that is air conditioned if you need a cool down filled with interactive areas like giant bubbles, building blocks, giant chess and checker board and more.

We had a wonderful time filled with memories that we will have forever. Its an affordable fair since kids 12 and under are free and everyone else is only $5 with $10 parking.

If you are looking for something FUN to do this Memorial Day Weekend I suggest the Sacramento County Fair.


*This is not a paid post. We were guest of the Sacramento County Fair.
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Thursday, May 23, 2013

Arts & Crafts Memorial Day Sale on now at Melissa and Doug!



 Are you a big fan of Melissa and Doug like we are? 
If so check out their Memorial Day Sale happening now!!



Arts & Crafts are the perfect summer pastime, and for a limited time we’re having a very special Memorial Day Sale on our ENTIRE selection of arts & crafts! Shop now, and for every 2 arts & crafts items you purchase, you’ll receive a 3rd one FREE (of equal or lesser value). This includes all of our arts & crafts supplies, stickers, activity books, paint, stamps, and more!

PLUS we’re giving you a very special Gift with Purchase offer on all orders over $40 – our Sweet Treats Sticker Pad. Packed with hundreds of delectable goody-themed stickers, this jumbo pad is the perfect activity for the car, rainy days, and more.


*I was not paid for this post, just something I wanted to share with our readers :)
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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Do your kids ever...

fall asleep in strange situations, places or times? My children were never really "those kids", you know the ones that fall asleep in a highchair or playing on the floor? I always wanted them to be, but normally it is only in their beds, and occasionally in the car. Until lately...


Yes that is a chicken nugget in his mouth and yes he is sound asleep!

Disclaimer: We were on our way home from t-ball so we hit up the drive thru and I took the nugget out of his mouth right after I snapped this picture :)


We were on a family walk and she fell asleep in the backpack.

2nd Disclaimer: My hubby took the pack off, we snapped the picture and laid her down in her own bed. Although we did debated letting sleep peacefully while standing up :)



How about you? Do your kids fall asleep randomly? Or are they mostly bed sleepers?
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Saturday, May 18, 2013

Coming Soon to Sacramento! May 23-27 Sacramento County Fair


At my house we have a few annual events that we have to attend. Its just tradition to go and it would not be the same to not attend. One of those events is the Sacramento County Fair!!! We love the animals, the shows, the rides, the food and spending time together. 

Our top favorite thing to do at the fair is look at all the animals. My husband has family members that participated in the 4H programs as kids and we do have our "one day" plan to have a little farm with animals so I think its wonderful to have our son see the livestock and the junior handlers. We learn something new each year we attend. My son has been talking about sheep and piggies ever since I told him the fair was coming.

Making memories is what a County Fair is all about! Its hard to pick one day to go since each day is full of new attractions. I love that the price is only $5 for adults and kids 12 and under are FREE! Another SUPER Duper awesome part of the Sacramento County Fair is that it is a Smoke Free Fair, that means no smoking allowed inside the fair gates, gotta love a fair with just fair food in the air! :)

You can order tickets to the Sacramento County Fair here.




Getting to the Sacramento County Fair at Cal Expo
The physical address is 1600 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815. Vehicle entry through Gate D at Exposition Blvd and Challenge Way. Gate admission is located at the entrance to the Cal Expo Rodeo Arena.
[ CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS & MAP ] 

Fair Prices & Hours
The 2013 Sacramento County Fair runs May 23 - 27 (Memorial Weekend)

Fair Theme
"Let's Eat, Have Fun & Celebrate the Red, White & Blue"

Featured Days
 Thursday, May 23Opening Day-Celebrating Your Community-Invitational Mayor’s Goat Milking Contest
 Friday May 24Value Day - Dollar Food Items, 4 to 9 pm & Demolition Derby
 Saturday, May 25Stars & Stripes Bull Riding sponsored by Lasher's Elk Grove Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram
 Sunday, May 26Junior Livestock Auction, 10 am, Livestock Barn & Gran Jaripeo (Mexican Rodeo & Fiesta)
 Monday, May 27Military Appreciation Day &Team Sorting

Fair Admission
Kids 0-12: FREE
Admission: $5.00

Parking
$10.00

Bike Parking
Limited bike parking is available near the Rodeo Gate Entrance.

The Sacramento County Fair is a Smoke Free Fair!
Please smoke before entering the Fair. A designated smoking section is located prior to entry.

Mommy Lounge - Bldg C 
A private place for nursing moms enjoying the Fair

Fair Hours
May 23 - 24, Thursday and Friday 10 am - 10 pm
May 25 - 26, Saturday and Sunday 10 am - 10 pm
May 27, Monday, US Army Memorial Day 10 am - 7 pm

Carnival Hours
May 23 - 24, Thursday and Friday 12 noon – 10 pm
May 25 - 26, Saturday and Sunday 11 am - 10 pm
May 27, Monday, Memorial Day 11 am - 7 pm

Building Hours
Building C: Local arts, crafts, demonstrations & Wild Science
Building D: The Shoppers Expo with extraordinary products & services, free drawing daily 
Thursday - Sunday
10 am - 10 pm
Monday, Memorial Day 10 am - 7 pm

Livestock Pavilion Hours
Thursday - Sunday 8 am - 8 pm
Junior Livestock Auction, Sunday 10 am - 6 pm
Monday, Memorial Day * 10 am - 5 pm
*Most animals leave the Fair early on Monday morning. To visit the most animals please plan to visit before Monday.

Carnival Rides
Midway of Fun provides 30 fun and thrilling carnival rides to make your County Fair experience memorable and magical! The Main Carnival features 20 exciting rides and our Kids' Carnival (especially for youngsters 3 - 7) has 10 rides especially for our littlest guests.


What is your favorite part about attending a County Fair? 
Do you plan to visit the Sacramento County Fair? 




*This is not a sponsored post. We will be attending the Sacramento County Fair as guest of the event.
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A new kitty in the family...


This weekend the littlest sister in our family, Megan, got this sweet little kitten. 
He is just 10 weeks old and is the sweetest, tiniest little thing.
She has decided to name him Mango :) 
We spent all day watching him explore his new environment, try out his new toys and just be.
That and watched my children pick him up, put him down and carry him around like a baby about a hundred times!
Everyone is a sucker for a new kitten, and we are no exception.
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Thursday, May 16, 2013

Gorton's Seafood Challenge and 24 Hour Flash Giveaway



Gorton's Seafood products are always in my freezer. I like them, my son likes them and even my husband who can be picky about his brands like them. My mother in law loves the Popcorn Shrimp and anytime I get a good BOGO sale I pick her up some. Gorton's is a great way to get my son to eat Seafood. They have a great flavor and a quality that we like.



I am sadly allergic to shrimp, but my family LOVES them! I want to encourage my son to enjoy them as well. Just because Mom cant eat them doesnt mean everyone else cant. Last time my Mother in Law came to dinner the family had the Gorton's recipe for Skillet Crisp Shrimp Tacos. ( We used Popcorn shrimp with a sauce my husband likes to put on them but followed the basic recipe)

For my I enjoyed my favorite Fish Fillets with green beans and red potatoes. YUM!! I am also watching my calorie intake and trying to get summer fit for bathing suit season so I look at the  20 products at 200 Calories. I love the Grilled Tilapia its one of my favorite Gorton's products, it goes great with a salad.


Are you up to the Challenge of trying something new? Check out the newly designed Gorton's Seafood website to see the great recipes you can creating using Gorton's products. 

To find more recipes, product info and sometimes coupons and deals you can connect with Gorton's Seafood on FacebookTwitter, and Pinterest


24 Hour FLASH Giveaway


a Rafflecopter giveaway  



*24 hour flash giveaway. Limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts May 16 2013 and ends on May 17, 2013 at 7 pm PST. Winner will be emailed and has 72 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize. I was sent a product to review for this post.
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Little Caesars DEEP!DEEP! Pizza Review and Giveaway



Pizza is a go to food for many families. Kids love it, parents like it and its an easy dinner with minimal clean up. Since I am working so much we find getting Little Caesars Pizza on a night where no one wants to cook and we crave a great pizza is a good choice. My husband was telling me about what he heard was a Detroit style pizza where a deep dish style pizza has crispy sides and you put red sauce on top of the pizza. I told him I think that is exactly what the New DEEP!DEEP! Little Caesars pizza is. 



We headed to our favorite local Little Caesars to try the New DEEP!DEEP! pizza. We also ordered some bread sticks with dipping sauce.


Little Caesars new DEEP!DEEP! Dish pizza featuring 8 caramelized corner slices that delivers a crispy, crunch in every bite!  That's a large, DEEP!DEEP! Dish pizza, HOT-N-READY everyday between and only $8 at Little Caesars! Stop by your local Little Caesars today and try the new DEEP!DEEP! Dish pizza! It's a traditional Detroit-style deep dish with more of the stuff you love: crispy corner crust, more cheese and more pepperoni! HOT-N-READY from 4 pm to 8pm and only $8 (+ tax at part. locations). Value! Value!






We LOVE the DEEP!DEEP! pizza! I was surprised at the flavor. Its so soft and fluffy on the inside and has a crispy crust. We even put a little red sauce on top of the pizza giving it a wonderful flavor.





Next time you are craving Pizza or just need a quick dinner to grab Little Caesars is a great option. We even grab a $5 HOT-N-READY Pizza on the way to the park a few times a month for a casual fun picnic. 


When I asked my son for a bite to share he gave me the dont even think about it look lol 






Little Caesars Pizza is hosting a Sweepstakes!


ENTER!ENTER! For the chance to win FREE DEEP!DEEP! Dish pizza for a year.

DEEP!DEEP!-Stakes!






Frugal Family Tree is also hosting a GIVEAWAY for a $20 Little Caesars Gift Card so you can try the delicious new DEEP!DEEP! Pizza






 *Limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts May 16 2013 and ends on May 30 2013 at 12:01 am EST. Winner will be emailed and has 72 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize. I was sent a product to review for this post.
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Invisalign: The clear alternative to metal braces!

* This is a sponsored post on behalf of SITS girls for Invisalign. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Remember the days when metal braces were considered cool? Oh wait, neither do I! I guess it was cool to change out the color of your braces, colors like neon pink and green were always the go to choices in the 80's and early 90's. But having a mouth full of metal, all of the torture of frequent office visits and tightening of your braces are not on the top of anyone's fun list.

 invisalign3

Years ago metal braces were just the way it was if you wanted straight teeth, there was no other option. But technology is changing and always advancing, now there is a clear alternative to metal braces with Invisalign. Invisalign is a custome-made series of aligner trays that are made of smooth, comfortable and almost invisible plastic that you wear over your teeth to slowly straighten them. They are perfect for pre-teens, teens and adults! Not only are they almost invincible but gone are the days of eating restrictions because you have braces, you get to take out your "braces" while you eat. Did I just say you can remove your braces? Yes I did!


Here is an example of the Invisalign!

You might be thinking, this can't be as effective as metal braces for my teen, or that you are too old for braces yourself. That is simply not true, Invisilign the perfect alternative for adults and teens. With Invisalign Teen, you or your teen will have the self confidence to smile while your teeth are being straightened and nobody even knows it! Another plus to Invisalign is that the cost of clear braces is comparable to the cost of metal braces, I am pretty sure that most teens (or adults) would opt for the clear alternative to braces. Right?

My six year old and I enjoying the sunshine!
I know that my children will most likely need braces in the near future, my husband never needed them, he was blessed with straight teeth. I on the other hand, not so much. Braces were a part of my life and they were not fun. You better believe that I will be getting Invisalign for my children when they need them! The dentist has already told us that our 6 year old will be needing them in the future. Great. We better start saving our pennies now!

Want to know if you or your teen is a candidate for Invisalign? It is simple, you can take a Smile Assessment and find out!


Have you or someone you’ve known used Invisalign? If so, what was their experience?



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Monday, May 13, 2013

Mother's Day Tea Party with Bigelow Tea #AmericasTea

My Mother's Day gift basket full of Bigelow Tea items.


For Mother’s Day as part of a sponsored post for Collective Bias®  I had a Tea Party on the patio with my son enjoying Bigelow Tea. I created a drink recipe with Blueberry Bigelow Tea and blueberry lemonade.

Tea parties are not just for girls! My son and I love to have tea parties together. If its just water and the make believe type of tea party or a real party with tea and cookies I love the time we spend together. For Mother's Day we decided to have a real tea party on the patio among our growing plants. First we went to Walmart to buy all the items we needed for our party. We bought lots of Bigelow Tea, sweet treats, tea drinking items and lots of presents for me for Mother's Day.

I have read about the Bigelow Half Tea Half Lemonade drink and decided I wanted to make my own homemade version. I purchased Blueberry tea and a blueberry lemonade to make a delicious Blueberry Tea Lemonade drink to enjoy at our tea party.



I gently brewed 3 blueberry tea bags into a half gallon of water and added half the container of blueberry lemonade once the tea cooled. Soooooo good! 




For our main tea drink for our tea party my son selected Orange tea. I added a few slices of oranges to the tea for added flavor. My son ate a few slices before they made it to the tea pitcher, I love that about cooking with him, he will try all the ingredients like a true chef would :)




Now that I have my Mother's Day gift basket filled with Bigelow tea I can replace my winter teas with more light spring and summer teas in the tea drawer. I do always have to have Apple Cider tea all year long. Its delicious! Not only does Bigelow tea taste great I select this brand since they are a company that practices being green to protect the environment and has a land preservation program that saves valuable land from development. Bigelow Tea also achieved a Zero Waste company status. I was excited to see that, this means only 10% of there production items make it to the landfill. Other items are recycled or composted. I love the idea of that!  Also Bigelow tea bags are not bleached like some other brands. Overall I like that Bigelow Tea is a company that cares! 




My son and I have made Orange tea to serve with lemon cookies and chocolate covered dried fruit and the blueberry tea lemonade. My son could not wait for me to take a picture to try the blueberry drink. He placed a crazy straw in and drank half of it so quick! He loves it and so do I. 



Now that we have all our tea party items made we headed to the patio to enjoy it. We recently moved from a house to a condo. Our house had a huge backyard with many garden beds. We have made created great memories gardening and wanted to still enjoy it while living in a temporary situation. He even picked out a strawberry plant as a Mother's Day gift for me. Our garden right now may be small but we still have so much fun spending time planting and harvesting, its priceless. 





I asked my son which of his stuffed animals did he want to join our tea party and he told me this is just a Mommy and Baby tea party. Too cute! 



I love spending anytime I can with my son. I work full time outside the home and did not realize how precious each second we spend together really is. Doing things like having a Mother's Day tea party creates memories and bonding time with my son that is precious to me. After we enjoyed our tea and cookies we sat together on the couch to watch a professional bull riding competition and then Tiger Woods play golf. It was a wonderful way to spend the day with my son. 




You can read my Google+ story about our shopping trip to Walmart to find Bigelow Tea

Connect with Bigelow Tea online at their Facebook page and Twitter account. 

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