Friday Favorites-Middle Of January

It is Friday, and I could not be more excited. I'll be honest; January is not my favorite month. But this year, despite being constantly sick and it being bitterly cold, there have been some fun and exciting things happening that are making this long month much more bearable! So before I run around outside in my shorts and a t-shirt because it is hitting 40 degrees outside today ;-) I am excited to share my favorites from this week!

1. Bathtime Giggles

I have gotten so bad about snapping candids lately. I mean you guys, I do not have a SINGLE photo from Christmas Eve with Mike's family. Oops! But earlier this week, Lincoln was being SO adorable and giggly after bathtime, and I couldn't resist snapping a few photos. I just want to bottle him up at this age. I always find things I love at every age with my children, but this 18 months-2 years stage. It kills me. It is peak sweetness, and he is so chubby and squishy and adorable I find myself wanting to literally eat his perfect little cheeks. Don't worry, I refrain. I just love him so much.

2. New Diaper Bag

I posted earlier this week about my new diaper bag, and you guys, I just could not love it more. I literally get a compliment on it every. single. time. I go anywhere with it. After over three years of rocking the boy mom gig, I have finally decided that the men in my life are just going to have to deal with there being more pink than they may like (this throw blanket may also be a new addition to our living room decor). But back to the diaper bag; compared to others I have used I love the depth and height of this bag. I feel like I can fit SO much inside of it! If you are in the market for a diaper bag that looks nothing like a diaper bag (and will transition beyond the diaper years) I cannot recommend this one enough.

3. Fun and Easy Toddler Craft

We finally broke our cold spell this week, but we had another very cold stretch that lasted through all of last weekend, which meant we didn't get out with the boys at all. Influenza is running rampant too, so we are sticking as low as we can over this next month, because we did the Influenza dance with Jackson once, and I never want to do it again. So last weekend, I grabbed some construction paper, glue, and a sharpie market and drew a large snowman and let Jackson glue down mini marshmallows along all of the lines. He loved it SO much, and it was so incredibly easy to pull together! If you are looking for a quick, easy, and relatively mess free way to kill the time on a cold winter afternoon, this is such a fun option! Toddler bonus points because they can and will steal copious amounts of marshmallows.

4. This Jacket

Okay, so last week I rounded up a few of my favorites and gushed over this jacket. I love the pale purple color so much! But when I saw this gray fleece option, I about died. And bless my height, it comes in a size TALL. It just looks so perfect for spring, I need it!

5. HOW ABOUT THEM VIKES!?

How could I not wrap this up without mentioning that football game last Sunday!? You have truly probably never heard me whisper even a breath about football over here, but I just cannot help myself right now. If any of you were watching the game, you may have caught the announcers mentioning the Vikings and their history of missed field goals in the playoffs. Literally every playoff game they have ever been in has been lost by something silly such as a missed field goal where they end up losing by just a point. We have had our hearts broken so many times that I have stopped ever getting my hopes up. But that game on Sunday. My heart still races thinking about watching that final play. Our boys didn't know how to handle me and Mike screaming and jumping around. Lincoln immediately joined in and was flopping around like a fish out of water screaming his head off, and Mike quickly had Jackson yelling SKOL VIKINGS. It was one of those magical Sunday evenings you know you are going to remember. Win or lose the rest of the playoffs, they broke a curse with that game, and it was just so much fun to watch! 

Five on Friday // Friday Favorites // Friday Favorites // High Five For Friday

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Friday Favorites

We have made it to another Friday! And we are already into the middle of November; how crazy is that? For whatever reason, I have been feeling extra festive this year, and while my husband refuses any Christmas décor going up until the day after Thanksgiving, you better believe I have already been enjoying holiday cups from Starbucks and Christmas music on my car rides ;-) Since it has been awhile, I can't wait to share some of my favorites today.

Peppermint Oil

Mike and I recently sat down and had a discussion and decided to officially make a change in our home to essential oils. We have been using them sparingly for years, but we made the agreement that we should start actually switching out products in our home and replacing them with oils. And let me tell you, so far we do not regret it for a second. I have been loving experimenting, but one of my absolute favorites is peppermint. It is so perfect to diffuse with lemon to wake us up in the morning, or with pine and evergreen to get our house smelling like a Christmas tree. It is also great to rub a dot along your hairline if you have a headache (seriously, it works like magic). My all time favorite thing I started doing with this little guy, though, is adding a drop into my black coffee. It adds SO much flavor and tastes like Christmas in a cup, but has almost no calories! I have been enjoying this little combo every morning lately, and I don't think I will be stopping any time soon.

Christmas Pajamas

I can never get enough of holiday pajamas. I try to scoop up clearance pairs at the end of the season for the boys to wear the following year, but I can never resist getting an additional pair or two when the new styles come out. I love this car set, this has to be one of my favorite Christmas décor trends lately. I am always a sucker for a classic plaid set, and I'm pretty sure the quote on this pair was made for Lincoln. This final pair is such a classic, I just love little one piece sets like this.

Blush Finds

I always love finding a fun pair of pants to wear to work. Black dress pants can start to feel blah after awhile, so really how much fun is this blush pair!? Not only are they my favorite color, but they have the prettiest shimmer/sheen to them. And I saw this sweatshirt in Target and it came home with me immediately! It is so soft and cozy, and is perfect for lounging around on the weekends. I'm not sure if and when I'll stop with all of the blush things, they are just too good.

Lincoln Lately

This week I shared a bit of what Lincoln has been up to at 18 months old. He is our wild child for sure, but always keeps us on our toes and is at the cutest stage right now. I swear, I could eat him up!

Copycat Barbacoa Recipe

If you have not tried the barbacoa at Chipotle, you are seriously missing out. This stuff is so darn good, so last week I decided to attempt a copycat recipe at home. And it turned out SO good. I made some copycat cilantro lime rice and copycat corn salsa, and it truly tasted exactly like what I would get at the restaurant. Seriously, you will not regret making this stuff; Mike deemed it one to 'add to the book'. And if Mike approves, everyone probably will ;-)

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend-we are getting a heat wave after our cold week and will hopefully see some temps in the 40s. Funny how things change when you live in Minnesota!

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Friday Favorites

Happy Friday the 13th friends! Nothing more spooky than this day falling in the month of October! I think this calls for extra cups of coffee, snuggling up on the couch, and watching Hocus Pocus to celebrate. Also, if I see a black can today you can most definitely find me running in the opposite direction ;-) It has been awhile, so I can't wait to share some of my favorites lately!

1. Sueded Moto Jacket

Finally, on an awesome sale, I scooped up the moto jacket from Old Navy I have had my eye on! It is seriously the softest jacket I have ever worn, and it is so stretchy! I absolutely love the camel color too, it is a fun change of pace. I could not recommend it more-and it is on sale right now!

Jacket // Jeans // Sweater c/o // Booties

2. Light Wash Jeans

I am so in love with my new light wash jeans. I had seriously been on the hunt for the perfect pair for a solid month or two, and finally found them. They are a lower rise, but still come up high enough that I don't feel like a teeny-bopper wearing them, ya hear me? ;-) All jeans at AE are currently on sale, too! The current prices are some of the best I have seen, other great options are this pair and these, too!

3. Fall Themed Letterboards

I have been having so much fun playing around with my letterboard, especially now that we are into my favorite season! I decked out the little corner of our kitchen with some spooky décor (aka paper bats and fake spider webs), and smile every time I see it. I just love having a home to fill with little traditions! 

4. Pumpkin Patch

Last weekend, we took the boys to a local pumpkin patch for the first time. I would actually call it less of a pumpkin patch, and more of a corn maze/activity center, but they both absolutely loved it! There was a bouncy thing (I honestly can't even think of how to accurately describe it, because it wasn't a house but also wasn't a trampoline. Jackson had an absolute blast jumping on it! Lincoln was all about running around in whichever direction we didn't want him to go, but that is what being a toddler is all about, right? ;-) I am absolutely loving being at a stage with our kiddos where we can finally start doing these fun outings!

Ghost Shirts // My Top

5. New Blankets

This past week, we got a new throw blanket for the living room, as well as some cuddly blankets from the boys from Saranoni Blankets and we are O.B.S.E.S.S.E.D. with them! I cannot put into words how soft they are. The throw blanket is the most perfect soft and neutral shade, which I love because it will allow me to keep it on the couch all of the time to mix and match with my seasonal throws I put out. I always keep two throws on the couch, because, his and hers ;-)

I hope you all have the best fall weekend! I am probably (okay, definitely) going to be making more apple spiced desserts with the windows open, and just maybe will attempt to grab some family photos outside! The trees are entering peak right now, and it is just absolutely gorgeous!

Five on Friday // Friday Favorites // Friday Favorites // High Five For Friday

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A Little Bit Of Life Lately

Well, I continue to fall off of the bandwagon with blogging. Woops. To be honest, I have really lacked motivation to sit down and write. So often, ideas and motivation come to me, and I find myself writing a post without feeling like I have to. But lately, that just hasn't been happening for me. So often I find myself missing this little space and the awesome connections I have made through it, yet I also just can't bring myself to write if the words aren't flowing. So, instead of staring at a blank computer screen willing the words to come, I have been playing with the boys after dinner, watching my favorite fall TV shows that are finally back on (AMEN!), and spending lots of time in the kitchen on the weekends with the windows open, soaking up the beauty that is fall in Minnesota. Blogging is important to me; it has been the most incredible outlet, it has introduced me to so many amazing mothers from around the country who have become a real life support system for me, and it has been the creative outlet I need to feel like I am doing something for myself. But that is what this space is, something for myself. And so, if there is one thing I could freely spend all day talking (or typing) about, it is my sweet family which inspired this whole space from the beginning, so a life lately post is what we are going to end up with here!

I keep thinking the stages my boys in are so much fun, but I don't know if I could have anticipated just how sweet having two silly toddlers truly is. Jackson continues to talk up a storm, and has so many opinions lately. He loves to tell jokes, and will always tell me 'mommy, that's too silly'. Both of our boys are absolutely obsessed with the movie Moana lately-I have no idea how we just viewed it for the first time in the past few weeks, because the music is so amazing I listen to it even when the boys aren't around ;-) When Maui's song comes on, both Jackson and Lincoln get up and dance like fools. Lincoln is so darn precious, and he will spin around in very large, wobbly circles, and is so proud of himself. Those boys so often make me catch my breath because I am so overcome by their sweetness. Of course, they have plenty of salty moments too!

We got a bObi robotic vacuum this summer, and it has been one of the best additions to our home ever. I have it programmed to run mid morning during the weekdays, so I make it a point to clean up the living room and kitchen floors of all of the boys' toys, and come home to freshly vacuumed floors. It even knows how to find its way home, so it goes right back to its docking station to charge for the next day! Of course, after overcoming their initial fear of the thing, both of my boys basically consider bObi to be our family pet, and treat it as such. Lincoln has figured out how to turn it on, and we have now been forced to place our little bObi up and out of reach because Lincoln will abuse the darn thing all evening if we let him. In fact, he has received his first time outs due to his abuse of the bObi, and this has also resulted in some of his first full blown tantrums. We are talking arched back, hands in the air, rolling around on the floor as if the world is ending tantrums. And we aren't even halfway to year two yet; Lord help us!

 

Jackson is all about anything festive, and it has been so fun to whip out all of the pumpkins and fall décor and watch him get so excited about it. His favorite piece of clothing (today, at least), is without question his ghost shirt. I got one for both him and Lincoln and I have had to do emergency loads of laundry because he wants to wear it every. single. day. While it may not be good for the wear and tear of our washing machine, I just absolutely love having the opportunity to see all of the little joys in life through the eyes of a child. They truly bring the magic back into everything. It's so true when people say the only thing better than holidays AS a child are holidays WITH a child.

 

 

 

So that is life lately. Lots of lazy days, lots of snuggles, and lots of pumpkins ;-) Thank you to everyone who continues to follow along, you keep me coming back to this precious little corner of the world!

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Friday Favorites-Mid September

Well, it is Friday, and it is mid-September, and it is supposed to be nearly 90 degrees today. For you southerners I suppose that isn't saying much, but my Minnesota soul is just not equipped to handle temperatures that high, let alone at this time of the year! Of course, after today it is nothing but 60s and even some days in the 50s! Fall, I see you coming, and I am so ready for you!

1. A New Phone

Well, I finally bit the bullet after literally months of waiting and finally got the iPhone 7 Plus! You guys, I am so obsessed! After my very sad story of washing my iPhone 6 shortly after moving into our new house, I was rocking my old iPhone 5 until I was finished making the payments on my nonfunctioning phone. Kind of depressing, right? I told myself I had to wait until I could get the 7+ at the same amount as my current monthly payment, and that number finally happened, YAY I am finally working with a phone that takes pictures that actually look amazing. I wanted this phone for the camera features, and they truly do not disappoint. That, and the battery has a life longer than four hours which is a plus ;-) Now, wish me luck in not letting this thing anywhere near a washing machine, ever.

 I am seriously so obsessed with the portrait feature on this phone!

 

 

2. Vivora Niko Chair

This week the boys were so excited when this adorable vivora niko ball arrived. Jackson thinks the bear face on it is about the coolest thing ever. He has been loving using it to sit when he is at his chalkboard, and Lincoln prefers to drag it around by the ear ;-) It is a great tool to help kids with better balance, and even functions as an exercise ball. I love how cute it looks; it is such a great addition to the play room that really adds to the space!

3. Blush Sneakers

Do you all remember the coveted DV blush sneakers from Target last spring that sold out absolutely everywhere? Well, they are back in stock! I have seen then in my local stores, and it looks like all sizes are currently available online! If you had been wanting these, I would suggest buying them now before they sell out again!

Jeans // Shoes

4. Fresh Palette

So I think I managed to fully skip mentioning this (what kind of blogger am I?) but it was my birthday two weeks ago! The big 2-8! My sweet sister surprised me with a new eyeshadow and highlighter palette, and I am LOVING IT. I had been using the remnants of my old Naked palette and was definitely due for something new. It is designed by Carli Bybel, and I love the blush and gold tones to this one, and have been having a lot of fun mixing and matching the new options! I highly recommend it! 

5. Toddler Talk

I shared some of my favorite things Jackson says earlier this week, and I have to say, the nipple comment is by far the one that people seemed to laugh at the most ;-) I cannot say it enough, but sometimes I forget that a year ago at this point in time, we were having him assessed for speech therapy and were so concerned as he essentially said five words, at most. Now, we literally cannot get him to stop talking. He tells stories, plays make believe, and wakes up every morning and immediately needs to know where the last toy he was playing with before bedtime the night before is. I just love hearing his little voice so much. Head over to read up on the funny things our little man says!

I hope you all have a fabulous Friday. You guys, we are only a week away from the most magical month of the year!!

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Coffee Talk

Is anyone else in absolute disbelief that summer is drawing to a close? We are literally only one week away from pumpkin spice lattes, and I'll be honest, I'm not sad about it! So in the spirit of fall, grab your favorite spiced coffee, cozy up on the couch and pretending it feels like fall outside, and let's chat.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you...

 

I am feeling more lost with my career than I have in a long time. I mentioned last week that my boss resigned without notice, and ever since our department has kind of been in a frenzy and no one really knows what to do next. I am at a point of really weighing my options, but it is so overwhelming to ever consider doing something new.

 

In my dream world, I would work 2-3 days a week. Some days, I kick myself for not going into a career that works shifts so I could have this be more of an option. I so badly wish I had the desire to be a nurse, but I just know that isn't the right career for me. I hate not being with my kiddos more and being able to spend more time taking care of our house, and yet I know I would go crazy being home full time.

 

Every time the Powerball gets really high, Mike and I buy a ticket and then talk about what we would do with the money. And we legitimately end up in heated discussions. Over the lottery that we will never win.

 

I am relieved we are beyond party season. In a matter of four months, I threw birthday parties for both of my boys, a baby shower, a bridal shower, and have hosted family over to our house numerous times for dinners. While I love spending time with loved ones and planning these parties, I planned so many in such a short window and am more than ready for a breather.

 

Speaking of birthdays, September is both mine and Mike's birthdays, and then October is our anniversary. These occasions are all taken as an opportunity to go out to a restaurant and NOT cook ;-) I already have plans for childcare and dinner lined up for my birthday, and I already can't wait!

 

I am so off tracking with any sort of meal planning, and healthy eating has not been a priority at all lately, but I so desperately want to change that. Especially because the holidays will be here soon, and if I just continue how I have been going I know it is going to be bad news for me.

 

Since quitting breastfeeding, I put back on a few pounds, but also feel like my body is the most out of shape it has been in years. I am thinking we are finally at a point where if we got a new gym membership we might use it. I can't find a spot in our new house that would be good for a workout, but I NEED to do something!!

 

We are still in the process of potty training, and I feel like we are at an absolute stand still. He is in underwear all day, but still won't tell us he has to go (we have to ask), and he outright refuses to #2 on the potty. I am seriously about to lose my mind and am just so over it. I am even reaching the point where I sometimes get frustrated at him, which I know isn't fair. I am getting desperate, so am more than willing to hear people's tips and trips!

 

With that, I was just scrolling the channels and stumbled across Sweet Home Alabama, so it is time for me to sign off and watch Reese Witherspoon decide which hearththrob to marry ;-)

 

Happy Friday Eve!

 

Linking up with Annie today!

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Friday Favorites

WHEW. We made it to Friday. I am taking a much needed long weekend, with nothing on the agenda that really required me doing so. Work this week was an absolute whirlwind. I found out on Wednesday that my boss resigned, without notice, so in a matter of hours I became pretty lost in terms of what projects to continue working on, what this means for the future of our department, and basically how to proceed. Our section vice president has been incredibly supportive and helpful during the transition, but I still am quite frankly feeling a bit shell shocked by the whole situation! With that being said, this weekend is more than welcome, and I am excited to see some old friends on Sunday, and just enjoy some down time with family. Before doing that, I am sharing some of my favorites from this week that has had a lot of less than favorites ;-)

1. Peplum and Stripes

I have been seeing this top all over the place lately, and it was just restocked in all sizes! I love stripes, and the peplum detailing just makes it the perfect piece to dress up or down. I ordered it and can't wait to try it out!

2. ThredUp

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to try out some pieces courtesy of ThredUp recently, and am SO in love with what I got. I have never been much of a second-hand shopper, but ThredUp has truly changed my perspective. I was able to snag this sweater below, as well as a designer dress and a Zara scarf for less than $75. The retail price on all of these pieces was close to $700! Seriously, I could not believe the quality items I got at that price. I am going to be living in this sweater all fall while sipping on my pumpkin spice lattes ;-)

3. Baby Jeans

If there is one weakness I have besides baby pajamas, it is baby jeans. I just don't know if there is anything more adorable than a baby booty in a pair of blue jeans! This month it has really cooled off, and we have had to swap out for warmer clothing a few times already, so I am stocking up on fall essentials for my boys. Lincoln in these jeans literally KILLS me. And for Jackson, I love the soft waistband on these and these.

4. Little Baby Bum

Kind of by accident, we stumbled upon the Little Baby Bum videos on Netflix in the past few weeks. They have nursery rhymes, songs about colors, shapes, sharing, and they have about 92834 versions of 'Wheels On The Bus' which is quickly becoming my least favorite song. But you guys, these videos absolutely captivate my kiddos. Jackson asks to watch it constantly, and loves to repeat all of the shapes, colors, and words that he hears. I don't necessarily advocate television as a means of education, but he is seriously leaving so much from these videos! If you need a mama break and don't want to turn on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for the hundredth time, these videos really are great!

5. The cheesiest smiles

I was trying to capture some photos of the boys the other day, and by some miracle they both sat perfectly still, stared straight at the camera, and smiled million dollar smiles. You guys, I could not pose them like this again if I tried. In fact, I did try, because Mike said he wishes there wasn't a box in the background haha! And sure enough, they wanted nothing to do with it. I don't know if and when I will ever get a picture of them like this again, so it is my current favorite and likely will be for a long time! I could just eat these two up, I don't think I could love them any more if I tried!

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend, can you believe we are already into the end of August!? This summer just FLEW by, I hope you all enjoy what is left of it!

Five on Friday // Friday Favorites // Friday Favorites // High Five For Friday

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Life Lately [And a Giveaway!]

I can't believe we are already to Wednesday! Being off with a sick kiddo on a Monday leaves the rest of the week just feeling out of sorts. I missed doing a recap of our weekend (and it was a good one!) so rather than doing a delayed weekend post, I figured I would just dive into a bit of life lately instead! And, I have teamed up with some of the sweetest ladies for an AMAZING giveaway..you can enter at the bottom of this post! :-)

We just wrapped up all of the wedding festivities for my brother and sister-in-law (I am so excited to officially be able to call her that!) It was truly one of the best weekends ever. I don't think I could have watched someone be more excited than she was to marry my brother. She jumped up and down, threw her hands in the air...her excitement and their love for each other was contagious. Neither of my boys were on board with the happiness, though ;-) Jackson made it halfway down the aisle before abandoning ship to go back to the nursery to play with all of the toys. And poor Lincoln woke up the day of the wedding with a low grade fever. Mike did his best all morning to manage their naps and keep them on a good schedule, but they arrived at the church and Lincoln was just hysterical. Nothing would calm him down. So, we finally threw up the white flag and Mike had to miss the entire ceremony and drive around until Lincoln fell asleep before coming back to get Jackson. Two family weddings in the past year..and Jackson didn't make it down the aisle at either. Woops!

Mike dropped off the boys at his parent's after the reception, and the rest of the night was SO. MUCH. FUN. We all danced, and got in some of the best sibling time we have had in ages. We got my brother and my uncle, both of whom DO NOT DANCE, out on the dance floor. I don't think anything would justify it as being an amazing reception more than that ;-)

Blurry. Which is probably an accurate representation of how we and the person taking this picture were feeling at that point ;-) Seriously, it was SUCH a fun night. Any night I get to slow dance and see this guy put on a tie is a good night :-)

 

 

 

Aside from the wedding, life lately has been a lot of this:

And this:

Lincoln's first coffee (or oreo smoothie). He LOVED it. And when I tried to share it with him he yelled at me. A child after his mother's heart!

I die every time I look at pictures of him wearing goggles. He was so proud, and looked so ridiculous!

Naked babies and sticky popsicles are how Saturdays have been going around here lately.

On the weekends, Jackson has been making a 'bed' on the couch/ottoman, and curling up to watch a movie, and every time he pretty much passes out instantly. Summer and sunshine are AMAZING for wearing out toddlers. I am already dreading the cooped up winter days where they can't burn off their energy outside!

 Both of our boys LIVE for the riding lawn-mower. Who needs a theme park when you have one of these!?

 His snuggles are sparse, so I take them whenever I can get them!

And if this isn't the epitome of lounging, I don't know what is ;-)

Lincoln is cutting some teeth and had some sort of a bug, so all weekend and the start of this week were pretty rough. It is always so hard to see your baby in rough shape. And, even in his sickness, this kid is just not a cuddler. Yesterday, he crawled off of me from the couch whimpering, laid himself on the floor, and crashed. I guess the floor is cozier than mom!

We are prepping for Jackson's birthday party this weekend. You guys. He turns THREE tomorrow-I am kind of in disbelief over it. I never knew three years could go by so quickly. He is all about the minions, so a Despicable Me theme is what we have going on. He is going to be so excited!

I feel like we are finally coming up on a bit of a slow down in our lives now. We have thrown more parties, showers, and had family events happening in the past five months than I think we have ever had, so while I love hosting get togethers and having things going on, I am pretty excited to enjoy these final weeks of summer with open calendars and preparations for fall. I KNOW, how dare I already be talking about fall, right? ;-) But that crisp air, Sunday football, and all of the pumpkin things makes my heart all sorts of warm and fuzzy. But I'm not wishing it away too quickly. We have at least a few more weekends of watching the boys splash in the pool, first!

OKAY, now for the giveaway! You guys, the winner will receive an IPad valued at $450, as well as a $50 Starbucks giftcard! It will close at midnight on August 6th, so be sure to enter before then!

Starbucks + iPad Pro Giveaway

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