diff --git a/generator_user_input.rb b/generator_user_input.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1baf022
--- /dev/null
+++ b/generator_user_input.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+# welcome message and user input (choosing amount of menu items)
+puts "Welcome to Lauren's Restaurant!"
+puts "How many menu items would you like to see? (10 max)"
+num = gets.chomp.to_i
+
+puts "Okay, if you'd like to see #{num} menu options, \nyou unfortunately need to come up with those options!"
+
+adj = []
+style = []
+protein = []
+array = [adj, style, protein]
+
+prompts = ["Now, provide #{num} adjectives: ",
+  "Now, provide #{num} cooking styles: ",
+  "Please provide #{num} foods: "]
+
+  3.times do |i|
+    puts "#{prompts[i-1]}"
+    num.times do
+      array[i] << gets.chomp
+    end
+  end
+
+  puts "Below is the menu you created!"
+  adj_sample = array[2].sample(num)
+  style_sample = array[1].sample(num)
+  protein_sample = array[0].sample(num)
+
+  num.times do |i|
+    puts "#{i + 1}: #{adj_sample[i]} #{style_sample[i]} #{protein_sample[i]}"
+    i += 1
+  end
diff --git a/primary_requirements.rb b/primary_requirements.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..26aab00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/primary_requirements.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+# Come up with the three arrays of ten items each.
+# Each list should be a different type of food
+#  or descriptor for that food.
+
+adj = %W[smelly creamy sticky stinky slimy strong stringy gooey pungent watery]
+style = ["deep-fried", "steamed", "baked", "boiled", "caramelized", "charbroiled", "grilled", "marinated", "microwaved", "pan fried"]
+protein = %W[steak chicken tacos kabobs beans tofu pork sandwiches bacon turkey]
+
+puts "Welcome to Lauren's Restaurant!"
+puts "How many menu items would you like to see? (10 max)"
+num = gets.chomp.to_i
+
+# to avoid duplicates, create a NEW array from OG array!
+adj_arr = adj.shuffle
+style_arr = style.shuffle
+protein_arr = protein.shuffle
+
+# output message
+# randomly pulls one item from each array
+puts "\nBelow are your menu options:"
+num.times do |i|
+  puts "#{i + 1}: #{adj_arr[i]} #{style_arr[i]} #{protein_arr[i]}"
+  i += 1
+end
+
+# ------ other things I tried:
+
+# First try:
+# this works to meet primary requirements
+# puts "\nBelow are your menu options:"
+# 10.times do |i|
+#   puts "#{i}: #{adj.sample} #{style.sample} #{protein.sample}"
+#   i += 1
+# end
+
+# long winded way of eliminating duplicates
+# for each (adj, style, and protein)
+# adj_arr = []
+# until adj_arr.length == num do
+#   rand = adj.sample
+#  adj_arr.push(rand) unless adj_arr.include?(rand)
+# end