Congratulations! 'Timeless' Winner!

I ran my numbers and random.org picked #2 , Fab Kate, who said,

Sunblock is the #1 way I protect my skin.

April 27, 2010 1:51 P

Thanks to ALL who entered!  I wish I could give each and everyone of you a vial of this wonderful stuff!  Congratulations again, Kate!  It's your time, I can tell!

To Your Health! GT's Synergy Kombucha Drink!

I recently stumbled upon an article about Kombucha, the wonder tonic that is being touted as the year's hottest cool beverage!  Apparently, it has replaced the craze for Acai and Pomegranate juice and has the likes of Reese Witherspoon carrying it around on New York City streets.
 The recorded history of Kombucha begins in 19th Century Russia, but is thought to date back to early China, during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC).  It was called 'The Drink of Immortaility', and today still has many health claims, the main one being that it detoxifies the body and energizes the mind'.  There are many Kombucha enthusiasts, who swear by the beneficial results Kombucha consumption brings!  A recent study suggests that glucaric acid, the active ingredient in Kombucha,  probably makes the liver more efficient.  Also, Glucaric acid is commonly found in fruits and vegetables, and is being explored independently as a cancer preventive agent.
The general consensus seems to be that with regular, daily consumption, you’ll notice improvement in immune system functioning and energy levels within about a week, the healing of more minor ailments within a month or so, and the healing of more radical illnesses within a year or so.

_______________________
Enter G.T. Dave and Synergy drinks--In 1995, Millennium Products founder GT Dave's life came crashing down when he heard that his mother, Laraine Dave had just been diagnosed with a highly aggressive form of breast cancer. After a week of emotional turmoil, he was relieved to find out that her breast cancer had not spread and that the pungent tasting cultured tea that she had been drinking was part of the reason why.
Some of the nutrients found in Kombucha are:
Active Enzymes - These are the "life force" of the most vital raw foods.  Research shows that every human is born with a plentiful amount of enzymes.  However, they bigin to diminish as we get older which results in signs of agin. When these enzymes are replenished the body is able to maintain a more youthful state.  They also assist in the stomach's metabolism of foods, soothe indigestion and calm the appetite to prevent overeating.
Natural Antibiotics - These antibiotics only target the "bad" bacteria and naturally prevent and treat infections.  (Not to be confused with pharmaceutical antibiotics which are prescribed by physicians or the ones used in meats and dairy.)
Mucointinsulfat Acid - Repairs the stomach lining.
___________________________
My first experience with Synergy Kombucha was funny because I wasn't expecting what I tasted.  This is a sweetened tea, that’s been fermented by a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast (a SCOBY, a.k.a. “mother” because of its ability to reproduce, or “mushroom” because of its appearance).  I was expecting a sort of fruity taste because I got the 'Cosmic Cranberry' for my first bottle.  Instead, I got a tart, vinegary, fermented, trace of alchohol, sort of taste and I really didn't like it that much.  But I forged ahead and got through the bottle. The next flavor I tried was the Strawberry Serenity.  This was much easier to drink and by then I had figured out that this isn't a drink that you chug down.  It's something you sip throughout the day, maybe before a workout, or before a meal to control appetite.  There is no wrong time to drink Synergy Kombusha.  So the way I like to drink it is throughout the day.  I did have immediate results or signs of improvement.  I felt more energetic and had more clarity of thought.  I felt better digestive processes and I felt more able to wake up in the morning.  Is it because of Kombucha? I'm not sure.  Apparently, there are over 3 million people who regularly drink Kombucha, according to a report on NBC's Dateline.  They must see something beneficial about it. So, may I recommend Synergy's Organic & Raw Kombucha to you?  Other flavors include Mystic Mango and Divine Grape, among others! It's definitely worth a try!  Get it at your local health food store or where quality health products are sold!


I'd love to know if you've tried Kombucha and what you thought about it.  Please leave me a comment here.  If you haven't tried it, does it sound interesting, or just another health fad, here today, gone tomorrow? 

Breeze Comfort Sports Bra Giveaway!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

I recently did a review on a Breeze Comfort Sport Bra.  I am now happy to announce a giveaway for someone else to win a Breeze Comfort sports Bra of their own!  If  you want a bra that supports, doesn't pinch under your arms or your shoulders, and wicks away sweat, this one is for you!  They have recently added even more to their bras, including:

Two sets of exchangeable, perforated bra pads: a softer set for everyday wear and lower impact activities such as yoga and Pilates and a firmer set to provide more support for medium/high impact activities.

Mesh lining for breathability in high sweat area.

Adjustable straps for better fit.

Supple, smooth moisture wicking fabric.

 

To WIN this contest and get a Breeze Comfort Sports Bra of your choice, please complete the mandy (mandatory entry) and any others that you care to in order to increase your odds of winning!  Thanks in advance.  The winner will be notified by e-mail (so please provide me with that) and asked to provide their shipping information!  Breeze Comfort will then ship your choice of Sport Bra to you!

Mandy:  Visit Breeze Comfort and tell me which sports bra you'd like and in which color! (If you win, you may change selections!)

Extra Entries (The numbers in bold are the extra entries you can earn!  Please leave a comment for EACH extra entry!):

+2 Look at my Breeze Comfort Review and tell me something about it.  What did you learn, what would you  have liked in it that wasn't, too long, too short, etc.

+3 Grab my button and put it on your blog's main page! 

+2 Follow Breeze Comfort on Twitter here!

+2 Friend Breeze Comfort on Facebook and post on their wall that I sent you and what you learned about Breeze Comfort!  Ex: "I am here from AGalNeeds...!  I learned that (tell them something you learned!)"

+3 Friend me on Facebook! 

+2 Be my follower on Google Friend Connect!

+2 Follow me on Twitter! 

 +2 Enter any of my other Giveaways! Tell me which ones!

+5 Blog this and leave a link to this post AND to Breeze Comfort!  Tell me where you did by leaving the link to your post!

+1 Tweet about this giveaway and leave me the tweet status! (Can be done daily!)

Thanks in advance to YOU for participating in  this giveaway and thanks to Comfort Breeze for this opportunity to provide one of my readers a chance to win!  This giveaway will close on 5/27/10 at 11:59 pm MST!  I was provided with a product to review and give my own opinion, which I did!  All winners are chosen with Random.org.  I will choose an alternate winner if giveaway qualifications are not met!

My Breeze Comfort Review

I'm of the opinion that the less my girls jiggle, wiggle or bounce during a work-out, the better.  So when I was asked to review the Breeze Comfort Sports Bra ($39.99), I was happy to give it a go.  I was sent the Silver/Black Peek-a-Boo Sports Bra and I got it in my size, which I was surprised that my size encompassed several sizes.  For instance, if I (hypothetically, you understand) wear a 34D, that size also is the size for 34C and 36C and 36B).  In other words, that would be the medium size sports bra. "Wow!", I thought to myself, "that is a lot of "wiggle" room!"  I was a little bit skeptical that if someone has a smaller frame and a larger cup, or a larger frame and smaller cup, maybe that wouldn't give the full support they would need for an extreme sport, like running or aerobics.
A Little Bit About Breeze Comfort
 The patented ventilated bra pads are a godsend for women because they allow air to flow through so that sweat doesn't build up in any one area. This patented process lets heat and moisture out but allows air and circulation in.  These tiny perforations aren't visible from the outside, so you don't have to worry about the bra being sheer or see-through!

I love it when an online company provides free shipping.  Even if the shipping cost is absorbed into the retail price, I still feel like I'm getting a deal!  All US orders are free shipping and all $50 International orders are free shipping!

They are having a great sale right now!  Buy any 2 basic or basic push up bra and get one of their free breathable sports bras!  This is going on thru May 9th!  So free shipping plus a free sports bra! 

My Experience and Recommendations
I really love the style of the Peek-a-Boo Sports bra.  It has just enough pizazz to make me feel like I'm stylin' while I work out and I like that.  The comfort and breathability is amazing.  If you, like me, are someone who needs absolute support while working out, please order a smaller size.  If you are a medium, order a small because, while there is adequate support, my standard of absolutely no "wiggle room" was not quite there for the extreme sports!  All in all, however, I loved this sports bra and I would recommend it to my friends!

Famous Last Words! I Hate Entering Contests On Wordpress!

I, personally, will never switch to Wordpress!  Yes, I understand it's the supposed greatest piece of shiz to hit the bloggy world.  But try to enter a contest with Wordpress.  Geez!  It's like the Wordpress police are always riding you to post your life history before each comment that you make. Also, if you post at any speed at all, there's Wordpress, telling you you're posting too fast.  And then tonight, I was posting my entries in a nice little contest and I was told that I looked like a spammer and to please punch in the magic letters before I could go further.  I did so, and then it told me that I had posted this comment before.  Hello?  It's a multiple entry comment.  Do I now need to be creative and say something new and different in each multiple entry giveaway comment?  How many ways can I say "I blogged"?  I did blog this!  I therefore blogged my arse off for this!  I will now declare that I heretoforewith blogged this! etc. etc. ARGGGGGH!  Next, it just shut me down in the middle of my entries and told me to contact the blog administrator because I had used up my comment privileges.  Crap!  I'm never going to enter a giveaway on a Wordpress Stream again. (Those indeed were famous last words - I enter WordPress contests all the time, although they still aren't my favorites!  I have learned to multi-task while I'm waiting for the comment to sync and I can submit another comment!)  I would never put my own readers through what I had and do go through every time I enter a giveaway hosted with Wordpress.  Thanks, I'll keep my Blogger-owned blog and trust that they will be more polite to those who visit here.

On an aside note, I understand the need for security on a website that does monetary transactions.  Wordpress is a good bet for someone who does that, based on all the red tape I have to go through just to enter a giveaway.  But even that has failures. I know of a Wordpress Website Builder, Suzanne Bird-Harris,  who has several clients that have had their sites hacked.  One of these clients had to have her site rebuilt 3 different times.  I imagine she didn't like the bill for that. 

The best way to avoid hacks into any site where you go to get or give secure information is to have great passwords that you change regularly.  I know, it's such a pain, but it's the safest way.  You can do it easier by having a combination of CAPITAL LETTERS, lower case letters, numbers, special characters (#$^@$&$&*),  and at least 8 characters long.  To make the hassle a little easier, you can use add-ons such as SECURE LOGIN for Firefox and other such programs that automatically load and remember all your passwords.
Update 6/21/12 - These days, most of the giveaways I enter are done on Rafflecopter.  I, too, have switched over to this nifty little gadget.  Entering is a snap and because of it, more people are enticed to enter!  Practically gone are the days of low-entry giveaways, although there are still some to be found.  But he new definition of a low-entry giveaway is anything under 1200 entries!  



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A Fun Hobby

I like disc golf. I like my husband for introducing it to me. He bought me the bag, the discs, and I actually know what over-stable and under-stable are and a few other choice terms.

Greg is the most urgent and intense driver (of discs). He can chuck those puppies over 350 ft. When I watch them,they look like birds in flight, rising up and down with the wind. Just last night, he placed 2nd in doubles, adding $12 to the family pot! This is no small feat since he is the old man of the bunch. One comment that was made was, "Wow! For an old man, you have a hell of an arm."

I must tell you, he thinks I'm a heck of a putter, too. Whenever I make a nice putt, especially in front of a bunch of guys, he starts talking to me in ways that to the normal ear, may sound dirty. But it's actually a lot of disc golf phrases strung together with "my wife" in there somewhere. I have a slight hearing problem and sometimes it is hard to distinguish between consonants, like p and b. But I have no problem distinguishing between those two vowels when we're out playing. It is ALWAYS "nice putt."

Seriously, ladies, disc golf with your man is fun. You're out in a beautiful park, the weather is nice (but not necessarily), you're getting fresh air and exercise, quality time with the hubby, etc. etc. If I was single, I'd take up disc golf, for sure, as a strategy. There are hardly any good women players out there and single, athletic guys aplenty. Greg tells me about some of those he meets. Airline pilots, CEO's of small companies, millionaires, you name it. Heck, Greg plays with a certain BYU quaterback's dad and some of his friends. Of course, there are also the pot heads and nerds.

Sometimes I'll see guys out introducing the sport to their dates or girlfriends. I have to laugh at times. The girl will be wearing a flowing dress or flip flops or a halter top, her hair perfectly coifed. She looks like she needs to be mall shopping or something. The thing that she feels is most important is to look beautiful for her man. And then she throws. It is embarrassingly unwieldy, but the guy gallantly compliments her and urges her on. Hopefully, she will be persistent and the guy will be patient. If so, she will have it made and she doesn't even know it! 

I think it's fun to see families playing together. One time there was a couple playing, with baby stroller in tow. He was obviously a player and I assumed she was along for the outing, not necessarily the playing. Then came her turn. She let loose a throw that outdid mine by a few feet and she wasn't even trying. By the time their little guy gets to be three, he'll be a player for sure. The other day I saw a little guy tagging along with his player dad and possibly his grandpa. He wss carrying his own disc. I thought, "how cute, the little guy might be out of his element trying to keep up with the big boys." But no, this little guy was a bonefied player and he let those discs rip. So there are a lot of little disc golf virtuosos coming up the pipe.

Greg taught me how to play. It used to be that every time I made a throw, there he'd be, with another and another suggestion. "Please, just let me throw and enjoy my time here!", I'd say. I really didn't care how many feet my disc went or if I made the basket in 4 or 8 tries. So he'd let up for awhile until he just couldn't stand it and there come the comments and coaching once again. He's a lot better now....because I'm a lot better now! I may even enter my first tournament this year. And tomorrow he is playing a tournament in Ogden. We're trying it out today though!

'Timeless' by Nicole Miller Giveaway

Timeless, by Nicole Miller, is one of my favorite beauty pick-me-ups.  It is a gentle exfoliant that won't wreak havoc on your skin, even if you have sensitive skin.  It gently gets rid of dead cells that have a way of piling up on your skin like unwelcome crashers at your party, making skin look dull and lifeless.  The only thing more effective would be a chemical peel.  But I won't get into the cost of that.  Some of us don't have the funds or time to get all crazy like that once a month!  In addition, chemical peels can be very irritating to sensitive skin.  Timeless is a great alternative and I just love it.

"Younger skin (as in the teen years through the mid-twenties) renews its surface layers every two to three weeks. As we age (mid-twenties and on), the cell turnover rate slows, causing the dead skin cell layer to be thicker. That’s where Timeless Age-Defying Serum comes in. The gentle formula and patented ingredient AHCare® helps loosen dead skin cells and speed skin’s renewal rate to reveal more radiant skin. Timeless gently speeds the rate of skin’s natural exfoliation, while also delivering moisture and vitamins. Perfect for preventing and reversing the early signs of aging."

 Traditional Alpha-Hydroxy Acids and Chemical Peels work, but they can irritate the skin! Nicole Miller offers a breakthrough alternative.  With the patented AHCare, Timeless will deliver the benefits of traditional AHA's, with little to no irritation!  Timeless also has supplement strength Vitamin C and provitamin A, deeply penetrating the skin's top layer to make it look smooth and firm.  It also has an antioxidant blend of cranberry extract, green tea and Vitamin E to further protect and fight free radical damage!

AH Care, a naturally sourced AHA,  works because it breaks the bonds between old and young skin cells, helping dead skin cells slough off faster, revealing a more healthy and beautiful complexion!  The active ingredients are released slowly to lessen the chance of skin irritation.  Wrinkles and lines soften and age spots fade, as smoother, younger-looking skin appears.

Get It:
Nicole Miller is made and manufactured here in the US by Melaleuca, The Wellness Company.  You can order it by calling 1-800-282-3000 and giving this id# 8014717669.  They offer a Preferred Customer Program with many lucrative incentives.  Check it out here and enter the password - Melaleuca - for more info!

Win It:
One lucky person will receive a 1 oz. vial of Timeless by Nicole Miller (retail value - $33.50), delivered by US mail with delivery confirmation! Open to US Only, Please complete the mandy (mandatory entry) and any of the following entries for extra chances to win!  Please make your e-mail address available so I can contact you if you win!!!
 Mandy:
Tell one way you take care of your skin that helps you!  Simple, huh?  Be honest, if you don't do anything, just say that!  I promise, I won't judge!
Extras:

• Subscribe to AGalNeeds....RSS Feed (on right sidebar) using Google or another method that you prefer!  Also let me know if you already do in a comment!

• Follow me on Twitter!

• Follow AGalNeeds...On Google Friend! 

• Tweet daily for an extra entry every day! Leave me your twitter status in your comment! You can copy and paste this:  AGalNeeds..Timeless by Nicole Miller! http://bit.ly/ayLn5K 5/14 Win it and see what it does for your skin! 5/14/10

• Blog, Facebook or Stumble about this giveaway and leave the post link! 3 extra entries (Leave 1 comment per entry) You may do all three if you'd like!

This giveaway will end on 5/14/10 at 12:00 am MST.  I am excited that one of you will get this wonderful gift!  Winner will be chosen with Random.org and will be notified by e-mail.  I received no compensation of any kind for this giveaway and the opinions expressed are mine!

My Review of Electronic 8-Cup Dry Rice Cooker & Food Steamer

Originally submitted at CSN Stores

Features:

• Makes up to 16 cups of cooked rice
• Easy to clean, nonstick, removable inner pot
• Improved steam vent and water reservoir
• Safety cool-touch exterior

1-touch, easy operation with automatic keep-warm function

Electronic 8-Cup Dry Rice Cooker & Food Steamer

This Rice Cooker Is Great

By daisydoo  on 4/25/2010

4out of 5

Pros: Moist Rice, Non-Stick, High Heat Tolerance
Describe Yourself: Casual Cook

I use it everyday! I love to make rice pudding and I love rice more than potatoes. My husband grew up on rice and our old rice cooker was starting to show wear. This rice cooker is great!

The Aroma Rice Cooker and Food Steamer!

Tags: Reviews, Rice Cooker, CSN Stores

(legalese)

Just a Little Rest!

It's been a long week and I'm a little tired!  The Census is well underway and as usual, everything should have been done yesterday, so while last month there were a lot of days where there was no work (and no pay), now, it's all the work you need and more!  Yesterday I was in charge of an operation that involved doing an entire mobile home court in a town about 35 miles from me.  There was only 1 person who showed up to help me, a sweet lady of about 60 years old.  But we did OK, getting count of about 145 people.  After that I was up until 1:30 am doing repetitive forms and back up at 6:00 to finish by the deadline.  The sad thing is that a good amount of the respondents had already done their census forms (or said they did) and sent them in, but we still had to do it, just to make sure.  Yes, there were also a lot who hadn't done it!

I ran into a lot of Spanish speakers and since I don't speak Spanish, I basically handed them a Spanish form and pointed to the items that needed to be filled in.  They got the point and most were very nice about it.  There was just the one Smart Alec who said he didn't have to.  (Did you know it's the law, you are required by law to fill out the census!)  I said, "Actually, yeah it's the law." He said, "Why are jew lying to me?"  "Sir, I'm not lying! Please call my boss if you have questions!" (I flashed my badge with phone numbers). Luckily, there were no more comments from him after that.

I had a really scary moment when I walked into a fenced yard, knocked on the door and a very irate golden lab came charging out of a dog door!  I wasn't too worried at first because Golden Labs are usually nice, aren't they?  But this one apparently sensed my surprise and alarm and started snarling, barking and growling.  I was not about to test him and proceeded to get the gate open as quickly as I could.  Unfortunately, it was a trick latch and my fumbling fingers couldn't seem to open it.  I prayed that I could get this gate open because the dog was upon me and my hind-quarters were very unprotected and exposed to sharp teeth. But I couldn't get the thing open.  I had trapped myself in the lair of a howling monster - my imminent demise was certain!  Fortunately the neighbors across the street saw my plight and started calling said monster off.  The woman actually came over, yelling Spanish at the dog and even though he was still barking, it distracted him enough and gave me time to figure out the ridiculously complicated latch and hurriedly make my exit.  Needless to say, I was very grateful to that very kind woman for saving my buttocks from being punctured! So yeah, I'm a little gassed! Nothing that a great weekend can't cure though!

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Tropical Traditions Coconut Peanut Butter Giveaway! NOW CLOSED

I'm excited that I can team up with Tropical Traditions again and this time with another one of their absolutely amazing natural organic products!  

I was able to try their yummy Organic Coconut Peanut Butter!  Oh my, what a treat!  The coconut was not overwhelming at all, but rather subtle!  It had a distinct natural sweetness to it that could actually be compared to a light honey-like taste.  I think it tastes absolutely amazing, not to mention that there are no waxes, trans fats or rancid peanuts! 

"Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Peanut Butter is made from organic peanuts and organic coconut. Two ingredients: nothing else! No fillers, no binders, no sweeteners, and no preservatives. The peanuts are 100% organic Valencia peanuts grown organically by family farmers in New Mexico and Texas. Grown in the dry climate of the southwestern United States, these peanuts are certified organic and free from aflatoxins. The dried coconut is certified organic coconut meat from the Philippines from coconuts that are grown with no fertilizers or pesticides. This premium dried coconut contains no additives or preservatives, and is not sweetened. Unlike most dried coconut on the market, our dried coconut products are not treated with sulfites to keep them white. Together, these premium organic roasted peanuts and the premium organic dried coconut are ground together to make a delicious and nutritious spread!"

I was very surprised to learn that Tropical Traditions has more than one kind of peanut butter!  They have the most varied list of  gourmet, organic peanut butters that I have ever seen!  Have you ever thought of different kinds of peanut butter?  I hadn't until I saw their extensive list!  They have 11 different flavors of peanut butter!  I would love to try all of these flavors!  Now that I've tried and love the Coconut Peanut Butter, what else would be good?  The possibilities are endless!

Get it:  You can buy directly from Tropical Traditions website.  There is a great sale for their Virgin Coconut Oil! Buy one and get the 2nd free!  And you can get their organic lip moisturizers for the same deal - buy one and get the 2nd free!
Tropical Traditions also has a Referral Program, so if you place an order with them as a first-time customer, you can select “Referred by a friend” and in the box that says “How did you hear of us?” enter this sponsor ID # - 5954910. You will receive a complimentary copy of the book Virgin Coconut Oil: How it has changed people’s lives and how it can change yours! by Brian and Marianita Shilhavy with your first order! This book is filled with testimonies and research showing how healthy coconut oil is, and it also includes over 85 recipes showing how one can incorporate coconut into their diet!

Win it: For your own jar of Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Peanut Butter, please complete the mandy (mandatory entry) and any of the following entries for extra chances to win!  Please make your e-mail address available so I can contact you if you win!!!


Mandy: Visit Tropical Traditions and tell me another kind of peanut butter that you'd like to try! 


Optional Additional entries: 

• Become a Facebook Fan of Tropical Traditions! Come back and leave your follower first name and last initial!

• Subscribe to AGalNeeds....RSS Feed (on right sidebar) using Google or another method that you prefer!

• Follow Tropical Traditions on Twitter.  Leave your follow name in a comment

• Follow me on Twitter

• Follow this blog on Google Friend Connect!

• Tweet daily for an extra entry every day! Leave me your twitter status in your comment! You can copy and paste this: "AGalNeeds...a jar of organic coconut peanut butter from @TropTraditions http://helena-agalneedsatleast2blogs.blogspot.com/ 4/29/10.

• Blog, Facebook or Stumble about this giveaway and leave the post link! 3 extra entries (Leave 1 comment per entry) You may do all three if you'd like!

This giveaway will end on 4/29/10 at 12:00 am MST.  I am excited that one of you will get this wonderful gift! Thanks to Tropical Tradition for their help and generosity. Winner will be chosen with Random.org and will be notified by e-mail.  Contest is open to both US and Canada.  However, Tropical Traditions is not responsible for customs or duties that Canada may charge if you decide to participate in this Tropical Traditions sponsored blog giveaway! The opinions expressed in this blog are mine and were not influenced in any way by Tropical Traditions or any other outside party.
 _____________________________________________________
The winner was #8, picked by Random.org number generator!  Congratulations!