Top 5 Picks for Mother's Day Gifts

With Mother's Day around the corner, it's a no-brainer to share with you my top picks for Mother's Day. I'm a mother of three very active children and even though I have these items below in my possession, that doesn't mean I don't need more Vera Bradley! Especially number one and number 5! I hope my husband is reading this....

Please note on all of these, take extra care to look at her wardrobe and/or décor. Know her favorite colors! Vera Bradley comes in all colors of the rainbow and then some! She will definitely appreciate that extra touch if you get her something in her favorite colors.

1. Vera Bradley Zip ID Case with Gift Card (or Car Key) – This also makes for a great teacher's gift! Vera Bradley Zip ID Cases retail for $12, or you can pick up a Disney Vera Bradley one for $15. In the clear ID window, simply insert a gift card to her favorite store, Starbucks, spa... the possibilities are endless! If you want to step it up a notch even further, attach the key to her new car to the handy silver logo key ring and REALLY surprise her!

2. Vera Bradley Hipster – This is a crossbody bag, so it's perfect for busy moms to keep their hands free! There are lots of Vera Bradley crossbody bags, but this one is the classic Vera Bradley bag. They retail for $60, but you can find them in retired colors for less if that's a bit salty for you. They are lightweight and have adjustable straps, which make it a good choice for moms who have neck, shoulder, and/or back pain. They are great for errand-running, shopping, taking to the ballpark, etc. Make her life easier with a Hipster!

3. Vera Bradley Preppy Poly Bags – Really any bag in this line will work. Preppy Poly is lightweight and water proof. I personally use my Preppy Poly Tote as a diaper bag for the gym and church. Kids spill all sort of things, and this material will let Mom worry less about that happening. The material is easy to spot clean and very durable. Preppy Poly comes in lots of colors and select patterns. The purses start from $50 on sale to $158 retail, but you can also often find these cheaper on Vera Bradley's eBay store. I paid around $30 for my generous sized Tote there.

4. Vera Bradley Throw and Book – This one comes with a warning. Throws ARE ADDICTIVE! Vera Bradley throws are very popular and famous for their softness. The colors are eye-popping and fade-resistant. You will want one, two, or three for yourself! My husband sleeps with at least two of them every night. Regular sized throws range from $24-$49 and the extra large throws start at $40 on eBay. Now if she's going to curl up with a comfy throw, you need to get her the new book by the cofounder of Vera Bradley, Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, “A Colorful Way of Living.” Don't cheat her and get the Kindle version, this book pops with color! The best price is on Amazon for $17.24. It's an easy, fun read, and very inspirational.

5. Vera Bradley Weekender – If you really want to wow over your special lady, get her a Weekender to surprise her with a weekend getaway! (That's if you didn't wow her with a new car already, but there's room for both!) The Weekender is a great bag for those quick trips. It has a sturdy base, rolled handles, and a removable strap. In my opinion, it's easy to carry than the Large Duffel. It retails for $98, but, again, you can get it cheaper if the pattern is retired.  As a Mom, I couldn't tell you how utterly happy I would be if I got a weekend getaway! It doesn't have to be expensive, a couple of nights in a hotel away from the kids already sounds like heaven! Sleeping at night, lounging around, eating HOT meals, catching up on ME time... wow. I'm really hoping my husband reads this!

Saving Money on Vera Bradley

I very rarely pay full price for my Vera Bradley pieces. There are only 2-3 items I can think of where I decided it was worth it. Not that Vera Bradley isn't worth the money, but let's face it, money doesn't grow on trees. Plus the more I save, the more Vera Bradley I can buy. At least that's my philosophy, and it's not share by my husband. I did pay full price for my husband's IU collegiate throw; the collegiate line never goes on sale and is always excluded from coupons (boo!). I also couldn't resist the a fw years  back. It was a limited edition line and I never saw it on sale.

Let's check out the myriad of ways you can avoid paying full price on those gorgeous Vera Bradley bags:

1. Coupons – these used to be so wonderfully abundant! Back in the hey day of blissful mass ordering, 2011 – 2013, Vera Bradley had $20 off $75 coupons galore. They primarily send coupons through online purchases. Ladies were ordering like mad, especially with the free shipping of $75 or more. Now they have scaled them back, coupons are now $30 off $125 and you're not guaranteed to get one in your order. These coupons are only good on full-priced items. These coupons can be used online or in a store.

2. Birthday coupons – be sure to sign up with Vera Bradley to get their best coupon, the birthday coupon! It used to be either 40% off one item or 25% off your entire order, but now it seems to consistently be 25% off your order. It still does not include the collegiate line and I don't believe the full priced leather. However it does include most full priced items! You can use this online and in the store. You can not be able to use it for a hot holiday sale at the outlet stores, but check first. Vera Bradley is very inconsistent with sending out birthday coupons. I didn't receive one for about four years and then started receiving them again. Just call customer service and they will give you a code if you didn't receive your coupon during your birthday month.

3. Retirement – you may be really itching to buy something in that newly released pattern, but good things come to those who wait, If you can wait until the pattern/item retires, then you will get a better deal than when buying when the pattern/item is current. Vera Bradley retires patterns/items about 3-4 times a year. They will announce ahead of time what patterns are going to be retired. However, they don't annouce style retirements. The best way to see if a style is going to retire is to check out the style when there is a new pattern release. If the item is not showing up in the newest patterns, there's is a 99% chance the style is going into retirement.

4. Sales/Promotions – Vera Bradley has a lot of promotions throughout the year. You can sign up for text alerts to stay on top of them. I have also signed up for their email list, but their emails are not consistently sent out and don't usually announce sales. Typically their emails only talk about new patterns/styles or remind you of what you recently browsed on their website. They often have great holiday sales, especially at their outlet stores. My favorite is when they offer a free item with purchase on top of a sale.

5. Price Adjustments – if you find the same item you purchased is now cheaper, you have 10 days from the date of your purchase to contact customer service for a price adjustment. You will receive a gift card for the difference.

6. Vera Bradley eBay store (Vbay) – a few years ago Vera Bradley started selling on eBay directly. They had a lot to learn in the beginning! Shipping wasn't free as it is now, and they tried to treat it as an extension of their website, instead of as an eBay store. A lot of negative feedback resulted, but they have since learned their lesson. It's a great place to find deals! They often have slashed prices, free shipping on everything, and often have additional discounts depending on how much you spent. They update their eBay listings a few times a year. Their eBay store does include the “factory exclusive” items that are made for their outlet stores, but now Vera Bradley states this in the listings. Pay attention! You won't find current items, but you can get a steal on retired ones!

7. Ebay, Amazon, and Etsy, are all popular websites to buy Vera Bradley from. On these, excluding Amazon, you can find great prices on both new and used Vera Bradley. Amazon only has new Vera Bradley. If you're buying used, please make sure to read the listing, see all the pictures, and know exactly what you're getting. If you're buying from a person who's selling out of their house, make sure the home is smoke free, and if you have allergies, pet free. It's really difficult, but not impossible, to get smoke smells out of fabric bags. Be sure to check out the eBay Completed Listings in Advance Search to see how much items are selling for. The green price means it sold at that price. Search by Recent First. You don't want to over pay!

8. Department Stores – Vera Bradley has branched out to department stores in the last couple of years. I never thought I'd see that happen, they used to be so strict with their brand control. You can even sometimes find retired Vera Bradley at Sam's Club! Discount retailers like Stein Mart and TJ Maxx now often have Vera Bradley retired pieces. They also now sell current items in the big department stores like Macy's and Dillards. When those stores have promotions, they often include Vera Bradley. This can be a great way to get new items at discounted prices. Vera Bradley also has patterns that can only be found at the large department stores, like Winter Palace.

9. Outlet Stores – Vera Bradley now has their regular stores and outlet stores. You have to be careful with the outlet stores because they sell their “factory exclusive” items here and the quality, in my opinion, is a little lower than the regular stores. For instance, the factory exclusive bags have nylon lining instead of the interior patterns. However, around the holidays, the outlet stores can have great sales. They also accept phone orders and orders over $75 are shipped free. The outlet stores also have outlet exclusive patterns like Chandelier Floral, Fiesta Floral, and Pirouette Pink.

10. Annual Outlet Sale – I LOVE this sale! Granted, prices were lower in previous years, but if you're around Fort Wayne, you have to go. This sale is every April. Prices are around 40%-60% off, sometimes more. If you go early, you can find some current items (probably seconds), hard to find limited releases, and unique items they used for photo shoots/advertisements. If they offer a coupon for the Annual Outlet Sale, it's usually found in the local Fort Wayne newspapers and in the Indianapolis Star. You can't use regular coupons, birthday coupons, nor gift cards. There are no returns nor exchanges with items purchased at the Annual Outlet Sale. If you're interested in going, please check out the most comprehensive guide to the Annual Outlet Sale here in my blog!

11. Third party websites such as QVC, eBags, Zappos, and Zulily have Vera Bradley. QVC even has exclusive patterns like Meadow Garden, Raspberry Banana, and Key West. QVC also has Easy Pay for Vera Bradley from time to time.

12. Online rebates – these are a no-brainer for anyone who shops online! There are several out there, like eBates, Mr. Rebates, and TopCashBack. Simply register at one of these sites, then go through them to get to where you are shopping. With Vera Bradley, you'll usually get 3%-5% back from your purchase. Once the order is comfirmed, the money is processed into your account. Then once it's available, you can withdraw it. You may have to accumulate a certain dollar amount to be able to withdraw it, like $10. These rebates do take a little time to be available, but what's the harm? You'd be leaving money on the table otherwise. You can use these online rebate sites to also shop the department stores and third party websites that sell Vera Bradley. I've personally received over $2000 back over the years.

13. Facebook groups are a great way to not only find deals, but to connect with other Vera Bradley fans and learn more about the brand. They are a great resource to find sales, learn about upcoming patterns/styles, and where to shop. I highly recommend joining Vera Bradley Buzz to stay on top of the latest Vera Bradley news. You can't sell there, but there are lot of other Vera Bradley Facebook groups you can buy and sell in.

14. Craig's List/Garage Sales/Estate Sales – I'm from Indiana, the home of Vera Bradley, so I'm used to seeing Vera Bradley at garage sales and estate sales. If items don't sell at garage sales, you'll find them on Craig's List. I've found a lot of cheap Vera Bradley on Craig's List. I've lived in places where Vera Bradley was popular so you could find a lot of it, and I've lived in places where Vera Bradley wasn't popular. I didn't find a lot, but what I did find was cheaper because the people selling it wasn't familiar with Vera Bradley. These are fun places to find vintage Vera Bradley! Just use common sense and stay safe.

15. Goodwill/Salvation Army/Thrift Stores – the down side of living in Fort Wayne was that the local thrift stores sold their Vera Bradley inventory at crazy high prices. However, now that I don't live there, when I find Vera Bradley, I can find it crazy cheap. Also check out second hand stores like Plato's Closet and Clothes Mentor. Most of my Vera Bradley jewelry collection came from one stop at a Plato's Closet! I've even found new cheap leather wallets for $35, new in the box!

16. Poshmark, Mecari, LetGo, Tradesy, Vinted, Threadflip, Listia, ThredUp, and other countless reselling apps are so easy to shop from! My favorite and most trusted is Poshmark, and I've bought from Mecari, too, with no issues. You can find lots of sellers just looking to get rid of their Vera Bradley, listing it, and not doing their homework to find out how much their Vera Bradley is worth. It can also be on the flipside, I once saw a used cosmetic bag for sale for $90! Used!! However, you can make offers and bundle to save more money.

Top 10 Reasons to Go to the Annual Vera Bradley Outlet Sale – as Explained by My Sister

My sister penned her top 10 reasons to go to a Vera Bradley Outlet Sale in response to my Outlet Sale Tips articles. Of course this in jest, but it highlights the absolute craziness that can happen there. My commentary/defense is in red. :)

10. Purses as far as the eye can see. - Enough said.

9. Waiting 4+ hours to get in and then another 4+ hours to check out. - Oh yes, this can happen! One reason is because of point 8. She wasn't with us when we waited 6 hours to check out at the Charlotte Outlet Sale. That was the longest wait. Good times.

8. Praying the Vera Bradley point-of-sale system crashes and you get one free item no matter what. - This happened one year on a Sunday afternoon. The sale was starting to close and the line wait was long. If you had cash, you could check out easily. Well, we didn't have cash, so we had to wait. Some people left. We stuck it out. Our efforts were rewarded with one free item of our choice as an apology from Vera. We each chose the Cupcakes Pink Garment Bag as our free item. Vera bliss!

7. Watching your sister instruct her father, husband, brother-in-law, and male coworkers on what to get and them understanding to not argue nor make smart aleck (not the word she used) comments. - Ok, I can explain this. I was under A LOT of stress! I was two weeks post-partum with kid #1 and had had a C-section. I couldn't carry much, heck, I wasn't even allowed to drive yet! My family and friends stepped in to help me and I am forever grateful! However, I, understandably, wasn't quite right in the head at the time. Did I also mention I was also trying to breast-feed?

6. Praying your mother doesn't kill you on the way with road rage. - My family lives 5 hours from Fort Wayne. It's pretty much a straight shot for them. It's not hard. Unless you're my mother.

5. Praying your sister doesn't kill you with her road rage and random u-turns. - Yes, I admit it. I have road rage combined with NO sense of direction. I lived in Fort Wayne for six years and it never got better. In my defense, there are three rivers in Fort Wayne and sometimes when you cross one the road name changes. I once may have went east in Ohio to back to Indiana. Instead of arriving home in 45 minutes, I may have taken a lovely, scenic, 2.5 hour drive up to Cedar Point. To get back to Fort Wayne.

4. Eating a whole box of donuts is perfectly acceptable. – When is it not? She's the skinny sister, apparently our levels of acceptance are different.

3. DeBrand's chocolate soda and desserts. - I've written about this slice-of-heaven-on-Earth a few times in my blog. You have to go to one of their three locations. The closest one to the Coliseum is about 10 minutes away on Coldwater Rd. Besides, you'll work it all off while shopping anyways.

2. Watching your sister get punched over a purse. - Yes, I was THAT sister. To this day, I have NO idea why I got punched! And it wasn't over a purse, it was over a Pink Elephants Large Backpack. There were literally a ton on the table, and pattern placement doesn't really matter with Pink Elephants. Side note, I got the bag. And a souvenir bruise on an arm.

           1. Sleeping on the sidewalk in the middle of a thunderstorm. - That was their experience, not   mine! I got to stay in the car and nurse my newborn while they waited in line. Just to let you   know, it was their decision to go out, I did not coerce them. Wait... would they rather sleep outside in a thunderstorm than stay in the car with a slightly emotional, stress-out new mom? Good thing I'm done writing this, I have a call to make.

Local Restaurant Recommendations for the Vera Bradley Outlet Sale in Fort Wayne

Where to Eat in Fort Wayne

Local Favorites Near the Coliseum

1. Casa Mare - this is right across the street from the Coliseum and a Fort Wayne favorite. This family-owned chain has four locations around the city. All have a fantastic house salad, fresh ingredients, and fantastic desserts. The Stellhorn and Dupont locations have wood-fired pizzas. You won't break the bank here!
2. Mr. Coney – also serves breakfast! A very cheap Fort Wayne staple!
3. Don Halls – they have 13 restaurants around Fort Wayne and the surrounding area, ranging from a burger joint to Japanese (Takaoka) to upscale dining. They also have a hotel within 10 minutes of the Coliseum and it's pretty affordable. The Factory Restaurant and Triangle Park are the closest Don Hall restaurants to the Coliseum. The Factory is an American sit down restaurant in the mid-priced range and Triangle Park is more upscale.
4. Cosmos – serves breakfast and lunch
5. Cebollas
6. Bandidos
7. Cookie Cottage – the most amazing cookies!
8. DeBrand Fine Chocolates – the best dessert place in Fort Wayne. There are three locations, with the one on Coldwater being the closest to the Coliseum. They have sodas, hot chocolate, ice cream, as well as assorted chocolates. And they ship!

Fast Food Near the Coliseum

1. Taco Bell
2. McDonalds
3. Five Guys
4. Wendy's
5. Rally's
6. Food Court at Glenbrook Square Mall – Charley's Subs, Chick-Fil-A, Panda Express, Ruby Thai, Mexi Grill, Sbarro, Sarku Japan, Subway, Shawrma Mediterranean Grill, Eats Diner

Chain Restaurants Near the Coliseum

1. Ruby Tuesday's
2. Chipotle
3. Dos Margaritas
4. Red Robin – attached to Glenbrook Square
5. TGI Fridays – attached to Glenbrook Square
6. Panera
7. Starbucks
8. Pizza Hut
9. Buffalo Wings & Ribs
10. Red Lobster
11. Bob Evans
12. IHOP
13. Olive Garden
14. Baker Street Steakhouse
15. Granite City Food & Brewery – try their Two Pull if you like craft beer!

The restaurants I mention below are at or within walking distance at Jefferson Pointe. By walking distance I mean literally in the parking lot surrounding the shopping area. You won't cross any streets to reach these. I'm sticking to walking distance, assuming you're arriving via the bus from the Outlet Sale.

Local Favorites at Jefferson Pointe

DeBrand's Fine Chocolates – it's a smaller location, but there is some seating for some serious dessert eating!

Fast Food at Jefferson Pointe – There used to be a food court here, but now it's a Pepsi vending and play area. These two fast food places are in the parking lot.

1. Chick-Fil-A
2. Burger King

Chain Restaurants at Jefferson Pointe

In the shopping area:

1. Panera
2. Chipotle
3. Flat Top Grill – a stir fry place where you pick your own ingredients and how you want them cooked. So yummy! A little pricy.
4. Tucanos Brazilian Grill – fancier Brazilian place where they bring the meats to your table to serve. You're ok in jeans, though. A little pricy.
5. Starbucks
6. Cold Stone Creamery
7. Red Mango

In the parking lot surrounding Jefferson Pointe

1.   Biaggi's – Italian, and one of my favorite restaurants in Fort Wayne! Try the                  Fettucini with Lobster and the Creme Brulee. A little pricy.

2. McAlister's Deli – known for their excellent sweet tea! Very decent deli that won't break the budget.
3. O'Charley's – I dream of their loaded potato soup and hot rolls!
4. Logan's Roadhouse
5. Eddie Merlot's – one of the most expensive restaurants in Fort Wayne, but I hear it's worth the price!
6. Smokey Bones – great BBQ

The only guide you have to read about Vera Bradley Annual Outlet Sale in Fort Wayne

Pre-Sale Preparation

1. Know your dates. The annual sale is generally in April, but the dates change every year. The dates for the next couple of years are as follows:
1. 2017 – April 19 - 23
2. 2018 - April 11 - 15
3. 2019 – April 10 – 14

2. Register early. You can register at the sale, but why take away from your precious shopping time? You can go to www.verabradley.com and at the bottom,
   

   

   click on “Register for the Outlet Sale.” There you can register for free and purchase session tickets for $5 per session. Children must be 14 years or older to register and make purchases. You can attend more than one session. Saturday and Sunday are free admission, but registration is still required. You can buy tickets for the sessions at the sale, but there are only so many tickets per session. The early sessions do tend to sell out. One of the main reasons Vera requires registration is to make sure you keep within their shopping limit of $3500 for the entire sale. This is to help curb the reselling on eBay and other venues.

3. What is a session?
   

   This is a two hour time span where you get to shop your heart out. The perks of sessions include less crowding, better selection (earlier the better), and less line waiting. You cannot get back in once you check out, even if there is time left for your session. Children 14 and older attending a session will also need a ticket. The prices do not change for the session days. The prices tend to get better on the weekend, but there is no rhyme nor reason to what and how much is discounted. Typically the more there is of an item, the more likely it will be further discounted as the sale goes on.

4. Coupons vary from sale to sale.Usually you get one when you register to help offset the fee. I've noticed a tendency for Vera to offer coupons for Friday night shopping. Last year, 2016, the local papers had a coupon for $10-$15 off your purchase. The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette is available in the mornings and the News Sentinel is available in the afternoons. You cannot use a birthday coupon (dang it!) or any store coupons at the sale. And vice versa, you can't use an outlet sale coupon at the stores, nor online

5. This article is primarily for out-of-towners, but if you are a local reading this, try to score a ticket to the Friends and Family session on the Tuesday before the sale. I have been able to find a ticket through the Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce in the past. Ask around, your company may get tickets. It's so well worth it!

6. Book your hotel as early as possible. Hands down, the Holiday Inn right across the street from the Coliseum, on Coliseum Blvd, is the best hotel to stay at. They are the only hotel to have a bus that runs to and from the Coliseum. Coliseum Blvd is a very busy road, I don't recommend trying to cross it on foot. It is a newer hotel and the amenities are nice. My mom and sister have stayed there with no issues. This hotel sells out every year, so call to find out how soon you can book your stay with them. It's already sold out for this year. The Coliseum is not hard to reach, most hotels are within 10-15 minutes, and with the exception of downtown hotels, you will stay on the main roads and/or I-69 to reach it.

7. Parking at the Coliseum is very easy, but unfortunately, you are charged $5 per vehicle for every time you park there. There are no discounts on parking. Buses and RV's are $15. There is also a Preferred Parking lot near the entrance that is $8 per vehicle.

8. Pack and dress accordingly! Indiana weather is notoriously unpredictable, especially in the spring. Check the weather reports, there could be rain, snow, perfect weather, or even hot. One day can be completely different from the next. Your indoor attire should include comfortable shoes and clothing. I suggest lightweight clothing, you're going to get a work out with all that walking and lugging bags. And for Pete's sake, bring a Vera Bradley bag to use at the sale! It's a celebration of all things Vera! Why bring another brand? I've always preferred the Mini Hipster, and I hear the small Backpack works well, too.

9. Line waiting, whether it's to get into the sale or to check out, it's inevitable. I do recommend going as early as possible. When I lived near the sale, we generally got in line an hour before we could get in. The news always showed Vera-crazed ladies arriving at 3:00 – 4:00 AM for a 7:30 session. I've seen some even camp out overnight. If you're in a group, plan accordingly, bring chairs, pillows, blankets, to make yourself comfy, but be sure to have someone able to take them all back to your car before you go in. Bring snacks and drinks, there are bathrooms available when the Coliseum is open (not at 3:00 AM!). There will also be refreshments available for sale while waiting in line.

10. Do your homework.
    

    

    Recently retired patterns and styles should be easy to find. If you're looking for new patterns, you'll have more luck the earlier you go. While in line, you will receive a paper with the layout of the sale, prices, and selection. Study it, memorize what you can. You've got time to kill and probably didn't bring distracting little ones! This pricing sheet covers the most items, but not all. In the beginning of the sale, you will find unique items that weren't made for mass production for some reason or another. Also, the sheet will not be updated when there are markdowns. Typically prices start at 40% - 60% off of retail. If you're going to the sale multiple times, don't forget to take a sheet with you when you leave so you can strategize for your next round of shopping.

11. Talk to people in line, especially if it's not the first session. They can give you a feel for what's inside. Check out the Vera Bradley Facebook groups for information. Follow Vera Bradley on Twitter and Facebook and check them often for updates and discounts. They often post on Twitter when there are no check out lines and when the sale is so full that the fire marshal will not allow people in. There is usually a radio station live there inside the sale. Listen to it for updates, too.

12. Charge your phone!
    

    I know it sounds obvious, but the Coliseum will zap your battery. You'll need it to keep in contact with your group, check eBay prices, and use the calculator. Even better, use one of the new Keep Charged bags Vera now sells. The line is limited, but the best bag they have in this line to use for the sale is the Triple Zip Hipster So handy for situations like this!

13. What not to bring?
    

    No carts, strollers without real kids in them, no personal shopping bags. If you take a wheelchair, you have to be sitting in it. Don't act like you can miraculously walk once inside and use the wheelchair to shop. It's been done before and they've been booted. Don't bring fake babies in strollers, you'll be caught at the entrance carousel. It's been done before and they've been booted. I don't recommend bringing small children to the sale, but if you have to (and I've been there), please keep them in the stroller. Don't make them walk so you can load up the stroller. Don't be that mom. Please, please, please, keep a hold of them, there are so many ways inside the sale they can get lost.

14. You need to also consider your safety. Please don't get so caught up in shopping that you lose your belongings. If you do lose something, go to the Customer Service desk at the center stage.

15. I have seen fights over bags, and I have also been punched for a Pink Elephants Large Backpack, even though there was a table full of them a foot away. Please be civil to each other. Remember, you attract more flies with honey. Once there were a few rugs for $20 each being handed out at the center stage. There was no way I could get in there to get one. People were getting nasty (men, too). One lady and her husband each got one near me. People were making rude comments to them, but they ignored them to their credit. I stood by and offered my opinion as to which one the wife should pick. She chose the 3'x5' Java Blue rug and gave me the other one. I've been the proud owner of a $20 5'x6' Caffe Latte rug for going on 6 years.