Athletica $50 Gift Card Giveaway!

Congratulations to Random.org selection #25!  DuMei said:

follow athletica via twitter @dmetd42 #2 dumei42 gmail com

June 17, 2010 3:20 PM 

She has been notified and will respond back within 48 hours to claim her win!  If not, there will be another drawing and another winner will be selected!

 

In case you were wondering, to get the most out of a workout, you absolutely must have need the proper sports apparel!  For example, you don't wear jeans to go bike riding(on long bike rides, you'd get chaffed), you don't wear shorts to go skiing (although there are always the smart-A exceptions) and you don't wear ski boots to dance!  

Athletica.net has the right sports apparel for yoga, dance, running, weight lifting, cardio workouts, cycling, aerobics and more!  They outfit both men and women in most sizes! The shipping is free for many orders and the clothing is both super comfortable and very stylish!  You can buy online in the comfort of your own home! Sound intriguing yet?  Wait until you visit their site!  I love their clothing.  I'm sure you will too! 

Me popping some Yoga poses in my Athletica.net Combed Cotton Cami and Jazz Pant


Right now, Athletica.net has some great sale bargains on Women's  fitness capris, Women's Tanks and T's, Men's Fitness Pants and Women's combed cotton basics, to name just a few!  


Also, have you heard of the new Bamboo fabric? Athletica has it and it will really enhance those hot, summer workouts by its natural wicking ability.  Read about what it can do for you in Athletica's blog!


Athletica.net would like to have one of my readers, including those from Canada, to see for themselves what a great company this is!  Here's what they want you to have!  A $50 Gift Card towards whatever you'd like!  Stupendous!  Here's how you can do that!  First fill out a comment for the Mandatory entry and fill out as many comments for extra entries after that as you would like!  It's easy. 

MANDY:  Visit Athletica.net and tell me something that you'd like from there!


Extra entries: (Please leave the number of comments it says for each entry with your e-mail included!)

+2 Follow 'AGalNeeds...' publicly with Google Friend!
+2 Subscribe to my RSS Feed!
+2 Follow Athletica on Twitter!
+3 Read my review, comment on it and come back and tell me you did!
+1 Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this:  #WIN @Melahelen $50 from @Athleticaweb! http://bit.ly/bQj1h5 7/7/10 #Giveaway Hot yoga, aerobic, dance, biking and running apparel!
(Can be done daily for an extra entry every day!)
+3 Grab my AGalNeeds...button and post it on your blog!  Leave me the link!
+2 Enter any other of my giveaways that are going simultaneously with this one!
+1 Enter another of my giveaways!


Well, there you have it!  Thanks so much for entering and I hope YOU win!  Winner will be selected with Random.org at 11:59 pm, 07/07/10 and notified by e-mail.  Winner will have 48 hours to respond, after which time I reserve the right to choose another winner!  I was provided with the clothing pictured in this post for this review and giveawy!
Disclosure:  I received product in exchange for an honest review! 

Sportswear! This Company Definitely Has It!

 Have you been looking for practical, comfortable, dependable, stylish sportswear?  Then Athletica.net is the right place to go!  I ran into this good company a few weeks back and got it confused with another company with a very similar name.  I know, sometimes I amaze myself with how I'm even functioning at any kind of level!  I finally have it figured out.  Athletica.net has everything to do with great sportswear for your body!  


I was excited to get a yoga outfit, the combed cotton cami and the combed cotton basic jazz pant. I ordered it in medium and I absolutely love it!  But even more interesting is my husband really loves it.  There's kind of a story here.  When I first received it in the mail, I immediately went and tried the items on, as I do whenever I receive something to wear via the mail.  (I love clothes!  I'm glad our society doesn't, as a rule, run around in the nude because then we wouldn't get to wear fun clothes!) 

I have learned to respect the practice of Yoga, but it's been awhile since I've done a really serious practice. (Maybe because I've been sitting on my arse blogging lately?) I know that my practice is not as intense as it used to be, simply because I can't do what I did before...  But Yoga is an amazing thing.  You can pretty much start wherever you are and just build from there.  Never be in competition with anyone but yourself!  
So these new yoga clothes were going to be my motivation to jump back into it and start getting my yoga back! I tried on the yoga outfit and wowsie!  I really thought I was a medium, but it just fit so tight, like a glove.  It wasn't really uncomfortable, but it showed every bulge I had.  I really must have put it on this winter but apparently was in so much denial.  I was in a foul mood after that.  

My husband came home, knocked on the locked door, I opened it, still in my yoga apparel. Now, he's a wise man.  He knew not to say one word, positive or negative. Whenever I come home from the hair salon or am in a new outfit, he knows that I am probably just getting used to how it looks and sometimes I may like it, but other times, I may be hating it.  So he's learned it's just best to wait a few hours or even until the next day to voice his opinion.  It's better for me (and him) that way!   

I was obviously not in a great mood, so he just let it go.  
The next day, however, he told me what he thought.  He LOVED it and he thought I looked "hot" standing there when I opened the door in it.  Who knew?  I certainly didn't!  Hot was and is not the first word that comes to mind when I see myself in that outfit! 

But I started to take a new look at the outfit. Hmmmm....yes, it did show all my bulges, but it also showed off some curvature too.  Maybe that was what he was talking about! 
Needless to say, today I took it out again, and this time did a whole hour long workout in it!  It was great!  I've almost got my yoga game back! 
Anyway, get ready because I will be having a giveaway from this great company, and will give you the scoop on it!  I MAY even give you a picture, if I'm brave enough.  Just know, my hubby was a real cutie and although the yoga outfit is great, sometimes it takes a great husband to make you feel your best!

My CSN Giveaway! $40 Gift Card

Congratulations to #205, Kristine!  Her entry was:
I haven't quite figured Network Blogs out, but I think I am following you there!  (For the record, I checked and she is following me!) Yay!  You have been notified and hopefully you will respond within 48 hours! 
Today is the big day to roll out my CSN Giveaway!  I'm sure you have seen quite a bit here and there about CSN and its many positive renderings! So let me tell you what I would get if I, personally, won $40 to CSN right now!  The summer months are upon us and I've got a couple of simple summer needs - because after all 'A Gal Needs' quite a few things and among them is...

Rachael Ray's 'Bubble & Brown' 2-piece stoneware baker set, so I can entertain my guests in style because I want to cook a lot this summer!  This is on sale for $39.95! (shipping not included). My favorite color is the yellow set!


Oh, but the Cuisinart Round Classic Waffle Maker looks so great!  And it is only $29.95! (Shipping not included).  

Here is something I could see in my garden!  A hummingbird sundial! This is only $33.12 with FREE shipping!

Those are just a couple of things I would eye if I had a gift card to shop at CSN!  What do you need?


To WIN a $40 Gift Card to CSN Stores, just do this mandatory entry and any other extra entries you think you'd like to do!  


MANDY:  Find one thing at CSNStores.com that you absolutely NEED this summer!  Come back and tell me in a comment!


Extra entries:
 (+1 daily) Follow me on Twitter and tweet this~#Win a $40 shopping trip to @CSNStores! http://bit.ly/dlxTQc 6/28/10! #Giveaway Very Cool!


(+5) Blog about this giveaway!  Link it back to this post and leave me the link!


(+3) Follow on Networked blogs! (On my right sidebar)


(+3) Grab my button and put it on your blog!  Leave me the link where you did that!


(+2) Friend me on Facebook! (We'll hang out!)

(+2) Tell me about something you want to do this summer!


Thanks, everyone, for entering and best of luck!  Thanks to Ashley at CSN for this generous giveaway! This giveaway will end on 6/28/10 at 11:59 pm MST.  The winner will be chosen with random.org and notified by e-mail.  I will also post the winner after the contest closes on this post, so check back! 
Disclosure:  I received no compensation or product for this giveaway!  

CSN Store Review and Upcomoing Giveaway Announcement!

I really enjoy shopping online, for just about everything.  Even if I end up traveling to the store, I use the internet to research my product of interest to become more educated on what is available out there and at what prices.  CSN is a great resource to do that research because they have such a huge selection of brand names at such competitive prices that you really can't go wrong.  For instance, if I was in the market for, say, bathroom vanities, I could go to CSN's main website, click on the button to view all of their stores, and on that page refer to Home Improvement. There I would find the selection for Bathroom Furniture.  From there I would find an instruction link called Vanities 101.  This is a valuable resource that talks about the purpose and function of different kinds of vanities, how to choose a vanity that fits your space, mirror info, do-it-yourself info, links to many name brands specializing in vanities and many other helpful tips on how to choose the right vanity for you! Or if you just want to go the simple route, just type 'Bathroom Vanities' into the search box and you will be connected to 19,845 different styles and brands of bathroom vanities!  Just one example of how CSN can help us everyday!  It's not just a lot of online stores (over 200, as a matter of fact), it's also a great resource for information! 

So I'm excited to announce my upcoming giveaway for a CSN gift card.  It will be for $40 and there are so many things you can get with that.  Also, there are items that are labeled 'no shipping', which is nice because you can use the whole $40 for the product!  Another great resource is the e-mail notification service when a product is out of stock.  Simply click 'Notify Me' and you can be notified by e-mail when that item is back in stock!  So join me this week, when I open up my CSN giveaway and hopefully you'll get to experience first hand, like I have, what CSN has to offer!

Misikko 1" Corioliss Classic Giveaway!

So I'm loving my new Hana Professional 1" Flat Iron (Pink Edition)!  I used it for the second time today and I could really get addicted to this!  All things in moderation though, right?
To read more about my first experience with my own flat iron, read my review!

 
Another wonderful Misikko Flat Iron is the Corioliss Classic 1" Flat Iron!  It is among the 10 top rated and top selling flat irons at Misikko as best basic, and includes a free heat proof pouch to carry it in!  Naturally you have the Misikko guarantee which states, 
  

Misikko guarantees the authenticity of each and every item we offer.  Misikko.com is dedicated to only the highest quality beauty products at the most competitive prices. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to present our guaranteed authentic high quality product line to you.

I am really excited to announce that Misikko would like one of you to have the Corioliss Classic for your own!  Not only that, but included in the mix will be a free bottle of Hana Shineshield, the famous heat protectant with jojoba oil that will make your hair gleam. 
 Read what one customer had to say about Shineshield:

I really never thought product made as big a difference until I tried Shine Shield. I've always had nice irons like the fhi, jrs, and hana but I always used the cheap drugstore iron sprays and wondered why my hair never had the shine to it that I get from the salon. This is seriously the best thirty bucks I have ever spent on my hair and I've gotten my mom, my sisters and everyone to try it!

Here is all you need to do to be entered into this generous giveaway by Misikko:


MANDY:  Visit Misikko and mention in a comment about one special that they are having right now!


Additional Entries - (The number of extra entries allowed for each item is listed in parenthesis. Please leave a comment for each entry--that way it increases your chances to win!):


(+1) Follow Misikko on Twitter!  Leave your Twitter name in the comment!
(+1 daily) Tweet about this giveaway!  Leave your tweet status each time you tweet in a comment.
(+5) Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this giveaway post!
(+3) Sign up for the Misikko newsletter!
(+2) Follow me on Google Friend Connect!
(+2) Follow me on Twitter!
(+2) Have you tried a flat iron before? If so, what is your experience?  If not, why not?
(+3) Read my Misikko Review and make a comment over there and tell me that you did here!
(+3) Grab my AGalNeeds....Button and put it on your blog!  Leave me your link!


 This giveaway is open to US and Canada and will run through June 21, 2010, 11:59 PM MST and the winner will be chosen with Random.org then notified with e-mail, so please make sure that your e-mail is readily available either on your profile or in your comments!  Thanks to YOU for entering and special thanks to John at Misikko for this GREAT giveaway!

Misikko Hana Professional Flat Iron Pink Edition Review

When I received the Misikko package in the mail, I stared at it and it stared back at me.  It went on like this for a week before I finally opened it.  My experience with flat irons is a mixed reviews one. While I have never owned one for myself, I have gone and had my hair done where they have been used. Sometimes I liked it and other times I felt like my hair got overdone.  I finally got to the point where it was going to be me using one myself or not at all, because I didn't like the way my hair looked about half of the time. I guess I'm getting pickier in my over-35ishness. So when this chance came, I was a little bit nervous.  After all, who am I to think I could do my own hair better than a trained beautician?

Finally, I opened the box and it was so beautifully packaged that I was immediately won over! What company sends you scented roses included in the packaging?  There was also a free heat proof mat for my flat iron and a heat proof sleeve for transporting purposes!  But that's not all, I received a 2 oz. size sample of Hana Shine Shield with jojoba oil and panthenol for leave-in style protection and  shine, a booklet with instructions and information about my flat iron and a small satin bag with hand sanitizer and nail grooming accessories.  Wow!  Now that's what I call Customer Service.  I'd like to say thank you right now for all of that.  Now I feel bad for not opening the package for so long!

Next came the time to do my hair myself.  I have thick, wavy hair that has gotten dry recently.  It's a real pain to keep it up and I find myself looking at women who look like they have naturally healthy hair and wonder if they can just roll out of bed with it looking wonderful, like that.  Or do they use flat irons?  Not sure.  But that is the kind of look I'd like, at least occasionally.  Like I said, I'm picky about my hair.  I don't like my hair to be totally straight in front.  But the back can be as straight as it can be and I won't mind.  So how did my hair turn out the first time I used the Hana Professional 1" Flat Iron?  I was VERY encouraged.  The back of my hair was straight but I didn't straighten the front all the way, just enough to tame it down. I liked how it made my hair look healthier and shinier!

All in all, I was very pleased and excited about my first try with the Hana 1" Flat Iron (Pink Edition) and I'd just like to thank Misikko for the chance to see for myself what a great quality flat iron can do!  Incidentally, this particular flat iron is rated Best Flat Iron and is on sale for $118.98 with free shipping!  Knowing now what I know, I feel it's one of the best beauty investments you can make!  Also, on their website is a number for free individual styling and hair advice from a professional! In addition, Missiko has a full range of professional hair dryers!  I feel that this is the route to go when selecting a new hair implement because of the customer service, the great prices and the high quality of the products!  So I've got my eye on the T3 Tourmaline Evolution Dryer and the FHI Heat Digital 1 " Curling Iron for my next hair conquests!

A Crazy Story From Time Spent With The U.S. Census

Do you ever ask someone a question that seems to break open a floodgate of information that you really didn't intend on getting, but you get it anyway?  A simple 'How Are You?' can trigger a load of information that may be better left on a counselor's couch than the two minutes you have available at the moment to listen.  Somehow the person is just bursting to tell somebody, right then and there. And you happen to be the lucky person who gets to be the listening ear, whether you want to be or not. That is the time when one needs to gauge the importance of listening to a fellow human being in need of venting or the need to continue on your own course of scheduled work, which is always SO important, because you own that piece of time, to do with whatever you may and it will never return to you again.

This is what happened to me just the other day when I was on the job working for the Census.  My job is to follow up with those folks who either didn't get their Census 2010 forms filled out and returned or they didn't get them for one reason or the other.  Most of the time, things go really smoothly.  I just need a count of who lived in the home on April 1st of 2010, the names if they have them, the dates of birth and race.  That's it. 

So, the other day (meaning sometime during the past two months) I knocked on a door and a kid answers (I say kid loosely, he was probably 22 - 23 years of age).  He was really polite and told me that he'd be happy to answer the Census questions except for the fact that he had to rush to court.  "I've GOT to make this". he said.  "I'll be in a world of hurt if I don't."  I wished him good luck and went on my way.

I found him home about a week later and he was in a more relaxed way and we proceeded to complete the census questionnaire both seated cross-legged on the front lawn.  I casually asked him how his court date went and that's when the floodgates came open.

He told me a 30 minute story that was amazing. A short, watered down version goes like this: "My sister and "this guy" had been dating for awhile, when she decided to call it off.  She, in the meantime, had decided to go on a mission for her church and was a virgin, saving herself for her marriage.  She went back to "this guy's" house to retrieve some items she had left there.  When she went into the house, he apprehended her and proceeded to assault her and rape her.  I happened to come up to the house because I was going to pick her up.  I heard her screaming before I got to the door and when I burst into the house, I saw "this guy" in the act of raping my sister.  I did what anyone with any love or loyalty for their family would do, I took a baseball bat and beat him to a bloody pulp.By the time I was through with him, he was lucky to be alive.  I told the cops what had happened and they told me they would do the same thing, if it had been them.  But when I got to the police station, it was a different story. I was treated badly, put in jail, left there for 2 weeks before being allowed to leave with bail, and was told I would most probably serve a minimum 10-year sentence in prison for 1st degree assault, a felony."  My eyes lit up and I gleefully exclaimed, because I'm bright like that, "So, THAT is where you were going in such a hurry when I came last time!"  "Yes, that's right", he patiently acknowledged.  By this time, I wasn't in as much of a hurry as I thought I was a few minutes before.

"So what happened in court?" 

"Well, they were ready to throw the book at me and send me to prison for 10 years or more.  The prosecuting attorney was demanding justice for what I had done, regardless of who "this guy" had hurt and who I was defending.  Things looked pretty bleak.  But then the defending attorney found some blatant discrepancies in the testimonies of the officers who were the first ones at the scene.  At first they said one thing about my statements and then they retracted that and said something else.  Because of that one thing, my defending attorney was able to get a jury to look at that and they found me 'Not Guilty' and I was dismissed of all charges. But even if I was found guilty and put in prison for years, I would still do the same thing.  Nobody is going to do that to my sister and not hear from me.  It turns out "this guy" was a married man and she didn't even know."

"I'm very glad that you're not in prison!" I said.  And thanks for sticking up for your sister and yet not killing that guy!  And most of all, thanks for helping me to help you get counted in Census 2010!  Have a great day!" 

As I drove away, I thought, "It's what anyone would do--listen to a fellow citizen!"  I'm glad I took the time to listen. he needed it, but more than that, I needed it. And it gave me some definite things to think about.

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CLOSED - Tropical Traditions Antioxidant Omega 3 Greens Review And Giveaway!

The winner of this giveaway was "For Their Future" who said:

Shared this giveaway on facebook! http://www.facebook.com/hannahmommy#!/hannahmommy?v=wall&story_fbid=125128447512359&ref=mf

I know that eating at least 6 fruits and vegetables is really important.  But a lot of days I see that this daily requirement isn't quite fulfilled for myself or my family.  One of the best ways to make up for this lack is through a green drink.  Depending upon the brand and method of manufacturing, these drinks can be fabulous for you. But there are drawbacks for me.  For one, the taste leaves a lot to be desired.  For the most part, the drinks taste like grass.  Grass doesn't have the best flavor on the planet!  I actually have several green drink containers hanging around my house that I have never finished because I didn't feel like buckling down and drinking them because of the taste.  Another drawback, as I mentioned, is the method of manufacturing the green drink.  If all the nutrients are destroyed in the manufacturing process because of heat, you end up with little or no nutrition.  Another concern is the quality of the food before the process even begins.  Are there heavy fertilizers in the soil it grew in?I believe I've found the perfect answer to all of my concerns in Tropical Traditions Antioxidant Omega 3 Greens Drink! For starters, the taste is great!  I ordered the berry flavor (they also have mint flavor) and it tastes like a fruit drink!  I can put it in my fruit smoothies and it tastes super good!  I can drink it plain without holding my nose to get it down, which is what I used to do with any green drink I might have tried.

It is also the highest quality blend of greens and whole food that provide a wonderful addition to my diet.  It contains:

2600 mg of certified organic flax per serving, which is very rich in Omega 3 in the most absorbable, cold-processed form!

Concentrate of Ionic Trace minerals in a form that my body recognizes and absorbs!  

Spirulina, which is the highest form of protein in any natural food!

Chlorella, which has an incredibly wide array of vitamins and minerals, which occur naturally!

Apple Fiber Pectin, a superb form of fiber, which is great for my digestive health.

A proprietary enzyme blend, which helps my body break down the foods I take into my body so I won't have to use my own anabolic enzymes used for my critical life functions and which I only have so many for that purpose, so I don't want to waste them on digesting my food if I can help it.

It also contains:  lecithin and licorice root extract, both great for immune system, nerve and adrenal gland function.  

I am very very excited about this find and I hope that you will visit Tropical Traditions and read more about their Antioxidant Omega 3 Greens! 

 

Of course you may purchase this and it will be well worth the price of $44.00. Tropical Traditions also has a Referral Program, so if you place an order with them as a first-time customer, please 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: Tropical Traditions is pleased to award one person with their own cannister of Antioxidant Omega 3 Greens!  Complete the first MANDY Entry and as many other entries as you care to after that!  Leave a comment for each extra entry that you complete!  Open to US and Canada, although 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!

Mandy:  Visit Tropical Traditions on FACEBOOK, like (friend) them, and then tell them you're here from AGalNeeds... ! Leave me your FB friend first name and last initial in the comment! (Ex: Helena.L)

Other Entries:

• Follow Tropical Traditions on Twitter and tweet this---Improve your health daily! Enter to #Win this Tropical Traditions #Giveaway~http://bit.ly/atHvD0 ($44) Antioxidant Omega 3 Greens! 6/9/10  Can be tweeted twice daily for one entry each! Leave your tweet status!

• Follow me on Google Friend Connect!  Let me know if you already do!

• Grab my AGalNeeds...button on the right sidebar and post it on your blog main page!  (3 entries)

• Visit Tropical Traditions and tell me of a product that you would be interested in trying! (2 entries)

• Enter any of my other giveaways!  Tell me which ones! (2 entries each one)

• Blog, Stumble or Facebook about this giveaway and tell me where you did by leaving me the link!  (5 entries each method)

• Subscribe to my RSS Feed in a Reader of your choice.  (3 entries)

• Follow me on Twitter! (3 entries)

This giveaway will close on 6/9/10 at 11:59 pm MST!  Thanks for participating and thanks to Tropical Traditions for the chance to review and host this giveaway!  The opinions in this blog are mine and are honest and candid.  I was provided a product to sample and review!  Winners are chosen with Random.org!  The winner will be announced at the end of the giveaway here on this post!  Check back to see who won! 

Synergy Kombucha - The Natural Energy Drink

Kombucha is an ancient Chinese drink making a renewed appearance as a healthy drink that has many benefits!  Many people make it at home from a sort of starter called a mushroom, mother, or scoby. It is widely available in Health Food Stores and the raw, organic sections of grocery stores. 

The scientific and pharmaceutical communities have not been overly enthusiastic about conducting controlled studies on Kombucha because, for one reason, of a fear that it won't be profitable for them, since it can be produced relatively inexpensively and cannot be patented. However, there have been extensive testimonials and informal studies done, as well as a few promising preliminary scientific studies. An early 1996 survey conducted by Colleen Allen and written by Ariana Estelle Ph.D, resulted in a variety of health benefit claims from over 600 people who used it worldwide.  Among the claims were an 81% feeling of general well being, 30% success with weight loss, 82% resistance to colds and flues. These are just a few of the health claims made by these varied users.  Now in 2010, there are over 3 million people who are benefiting from the goodness of Kombucha!

I believe that if you give Kombucha a try, you'll love it!  That's why I am excited to introduce you to Millenium Products' 'Synergy' Raw & Organic Kombucha!  Not long ago, I did a Review on Kombucha, where I tried it for the first time.  I now drink Kombucha on a regular basis, as a drink of choice!  The taste has grown on me as well as some beneficial effects I've noticed!  I definitely have more energy and clarity of thought. It may be a little early to tell about some of the other effects I am experiencing.  But the taste has definitely grown on me.  It is naturally effervescent but not carbonated, so I feel like I'm drinking a soft drink, but not getting all of the negative effects that carbonated drinks have. I really like the Synergy drinks because they are raw and organic, 95% pure Kombucha with 5% real fruit juice added to give variety.  I love some of the flavors they have.  I'm drinking the Divine Grape on ice as I post this giveaway!

GET IT:  Find out where you can get Synergy Raw & Organic Kombucha by going to their website and finding your state.  They provide a list of all the stores in your state where Synergy Kombucha is available.

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!