There are two hats in the closet. One says to the other, "You can stay here, I'm going on a head." *ba-dum-tshh* OK, so maybe that's not the best joke you've heard today. But the winning entries in our malc&andi giveaway are the best tips you'll hear! Take a look. (No more hat jokes, I promise).

malc&andi are a forward thinking fashion label that believes fashion should be fun and adventurous, but also as good for your soul as it is for your body. That's why they donate 5% of all their sales to animal charities. It's also why they very kindly agreed to give away two styling new snapbacks to Unleashed members.

All you had to do to win one was give a tip on how people can help animals beat the heat this summer. There were some outstanding entries - including one that rhymed, one about snakes, and a few about guinea pigs and chickens! The one thing they all had in common though, was how good they were. Judge for yourself here.

But just like a tandem-bike race - there can be only two winners. And here they are:

Congrats horsepowerrrr and *Steph*!

If you didn't win this time around, don't stress. The next Unleashed giveaway starts in a couple of days ... and it's a BIG one. Check back soon to find out more ;)

Wow, another month down! It's gonna be Xmas before you know it. But there's always time to go back through all the comments Unleashed members have posted on the blogs and highlight the best ones. Find out who posted the Top Comment for the month and what it was they had to say!

It was extra good fun reading all the comments from last month, because there were so many different topics covered. The month started with the Veg Week Challenge, and was followed by massive protests around the country against live exports. The latest Unleashed comp was launched, and then the biggest campaign ever attempted by Animals Australia was unveiled - a plan to end factory farming!

But there's more! The month ended with champion iron woman Hayley Bateup bringing a drowned dog back to life, showing those who participated in a rodeo in Queensland what a real hero looks like.

Phew! See what I mean by a lot going on??

But enough of my whinging, you probably just want to know who posted the Top Comment this month. So here goes:

Buddha Baby put into words what thousands of people around Australia would have been feeling early in the month. As thousands of Aussie sheep were being brutally killed in Pakistan, Australians of all ages and backgrounds took to the streets to demand an end to live exports. Buddha Baby was one of them, and here is what she wrote:

"I was really proud to have been a part of this. I took my 2 young daughters to the rally in Brisbane and it was great. Animals Australia did a great job. Keep up the good work. With persistence we will win this battle."

I couldn't agree more! Congrats Buddha Baby for showing your support for animals and also for winning this month's Top Comment prize.

So, onto November. More campaigns, more ways you can help, and more prizes up for grabs. All you have to do for your chance to win is get posting on the blogs. Couldn't be easier, really. Good luck!

Oh, and the prize for November is a complete set of Unleashed cause bands. There's four of them so you can wear two on each wrist ... or one on each wrist if you're lucky enough to have four hands. Imagine how fast you could type!!

* We love it when you comment on blogs! We love it even more when your comments are thoughtful, inspiring, or make us laugh!! So just to be clear, this is not about who posts the most comments. It's about who posts what we think is the top comment for the month. You might only post one comment this month. But if it's a cracker, then you could be walking away with the complete set of causebands to show for it.

Spring has definitely sprung, and summer is just around the corner. Mr. Sun is spending more time in the sky, so what better opportunity to give away some cool new malc&andi hats! Read on to find out how you can win in our latest competition!

There's a lot to like about summer. Inflatable pool parties, taking the dog to the beach, even backyard cricket against your bro or sis (I always used to thrash my brother. Hah - take that, James!!) The thing you'll like best about this coming summer though will be one of these exclusive malc&andi snapbacks. Mmm, snapbacks - so hot right now!

These Wild Caps feature fun and quirky animal designs and are for those who are prepared to make a statement. Check out the pics then take a look at the full range.

I've seen some cool hats in my time, but these would have to be right up there. Plus, did you know that malc&andi donate money from every sale they make to animal charities?? That's gotta be worth a "like" on their Facebook page, hint hint ;)

If you wanna get one of these hats in time for summer, here's how you can win. Just tell us:

What's one tip you can give to help animals beat the heat this summer??

(e.g. "My tip to help animals beat the heat this summer would be to never, ever leave dogs in the car!!" If you need any more help, you can steal find ideas here.)

Easy as that! Post your tip in the comments below, and keep it less than 30 words. You can only enter once, and can only give one tip! The two best entries will each score the hat of their choice. Winners will be chosen on the 16/11/12, so get your thinking caps on!

Aaaalright - the best comments on the blogs for the month of September have been decided upon. There were heaps of excellent comments provided last month which made deciding on a winner really tricky. And even worse - I went to all the effort of making fake accounts for myself so I could win the prize, and still my comments weren't the best! Read on to find out who can take bragging rights for Top Comment last month.

Our first runner-up is Kelsey1. She came close for promising to show heroic Hero Pig in action. An excellent idea for letting people know how amazing pigs are.

SaRa_aRaS fixed her dodgy Caps Lock button and poured out her true feelings for Gumby after he exposed the reality of factory farms.

But the big winner this month is ... ... Riss!! Riss was moved to comment after our world-exclusive interview with Levy the Lamb, and I'm sure her comment is one that you would have to agree with. For her efforts, Riss scores a complete Unleashed campaign sticker pack. Mmm...sticky.

So there you have it - just three of the best comments from last month. You can see how easy it is, so if you want to be in the running for October's prize all you have to do is post on the blogs. Heck, just mash your keyboard randomly with your hands, you never know - you might somehow create the most perfect comment the interweb has ever seen.

Oh, and the prize for October is a complete set of Unleashed's funky little badges. There's four in the set ... I'd suggest wearing them all at once.

* We love it when you comment on blogs! We love it even more when your comments are thoughtful, inspiring, or make us laugh!! So just to be clear, this is not about who posts the most comments. It's about who posts what we think is the top comment for the month. You might only post one comment this month. But if it's a cracker, then you could be walking away with the complete badge set to show for it.

Every month the best comment on the blogs is picked out and highlighted. It might be funny, it might be thought-provoking, it might be poorly spelt. It might even be something YOU wrote. Find out what August's top comment was here ...

August's Top Comment:
"This is so disturbing. I've been in shock. It's hard to find the words to really express the absolute horror that those beautiful pigs go through. There is around 12,000 signatures on the petition last time I checked which is incredible! Going to the rally on Saturday, really looking forward to it. Making vegan cupcakes to share afterwards." Lily Meave, on Unimaginable cruelty at NSW piggery.

That's what Unleashed member Lily Meave had to say after the hellish conditions at Wally's Piggery were exposed in August. For her passion and energy, she's won the Unleashed badges that were up for grabs in August for the best comment of the month.

The prize for this month (September) is a complete Unleashed campaign sticker pack. Get commenting to win!

The competition details ...
Have you ever found $20 in your pocket weeks after putting it in there? Feels pretty sweet doesn't it? Everybody loves scoring something for free, And we're making those dreams come true every month with our Top Comment Comp!

Here's how it works: Blogs get posted on Unleashed. You comment on blogs. At the end of each month, we'll pick the top comment posted that month. If one of your comments is the funniest, smartest, deepest for the month - then you win the prize. Boom. Easy as that.

The winner is announced at the end of each month, and all blog comments will be considered.* Good luck!!

Previous Top Comments
July
"When you really, truly consider the reality of eating meat, testicle pizza does not feel all that much more vulgar. I don't understand why most meat eaters have no qualms eating thighs, wings, breasts, connective tissue, blood vessels, flesh and blood, and yet are grossed out by eyes, tongues and testicles. It's all pretty gross to me." Sair Scare, on Food for Thought? (Gross-out warning!)

June
"It's these kinds of stories that ought to be making the news. Proving to the world that compassion and empathy are both attractive qualities accessible by all, as long as they are willing to open their eyes, if only for a moment, to the impact their choices and decisions have on other species." 4_da_animals1, on Lives Risked and life saved in rescue!

* We love it when you comment on blogs! We love it even more when your comments are thoughtful, inspiring, or make us laugh!! So just to be clear, this is not about who posts the most comments. It's about who posts what we think is the top comment for the month. You might only post one comment this month. But if it's a cracker, then you could be walking away with a hot new shirt to show for it.

The time has come to announce the winner of our recent giveaway - the very tres chic Lamb Bag from Malc & Andi. This handbag is completely cruelty-free and comes from a company that proudly donates part of its profits to animal charities - including Animals Australia.

Alright - so before the winner is announced, can I tell you that picking just one winner for this giveaway was reeeeally hard. The amount of entries received and the stories that people told are a good sign for animals all around the country. With Unleashed members out there lending a hand, animals have got some formidable allies! Now ... let's see who won the handbag!

This entry from Rabidewok was great: "I dressed up as an animal and danced in Rundle Mall with friends handing out leaflets about co-existing peacefully with all animals!" And this one from laraking was also pretty cool: "Any animal that comes my way I give a gentle smile, a snack, a drink, a pat, kind words - and I'm vegan." And there were heaps of other entries just as good!

But just like an arm-wrestle against your sister - there can be only one winner (I'm 3 from 5!). And in this case, it's SammyGee95!

"For the past few months I have been designing fliers and walking around my city putting them into every mail box I pass. They contain a bit of information about vegetarianism and veganism, but instead of being a sheet of boring facts, I have tried to make sure that the facts are relevant to the people in my city. I am doing this at my own expense (ink isn't cheap I tell you!) and I am giving people the chance to contact me if they want to know more. It is a really hard job because I am also working 7 days a week, but it is really important to me and I have had some emails from people telling me that they were shocked and interested by the information I provided. It is really good to know that I am opening the eyes of some people out there who have obviously not been exposed to the truth before.

I also made up some A4 posters on coloured paper, each with a fact on it about animal cruelty IN AUSTRALIA. I have handed these out in the mall and on street corners, despite being a really shy person, and I love the conversations I have gotten into with people about animals and their views.

I believe that if I can spread my knowledge to 100 people and just 1 of those people makes the choice to stop supporting animal cruelty through their diet, then I have done my job and it is totally worth it."

Remember - you don't need to be a superhero to help animals. Deciding what you're going to have for lunch might seem like a trivial matter to you, but it can seriously save lives. It's the same when you hit the shops. Attending a rally, writing letters, handing out leaflets, or volunteering at an animal shelter helps animals and can inspire others to do the same. And all these little things add up to make a big impact for animals. What are you planning to do this week to help animals?

Another month done, another bunch of excellent comments on the blogs! The blog that seemed to generate a fair bit of interest (and where the best comment for the month has been picked from) was about a testicle cookbook. Yes - a testicle cookbook. Read the full entry here ... if you have a strong stomach.

Most readers thought a testicle cookbook was a pretty nutty idea, and debaybay got the lols by pointing out "the looks you would get at the supermarket giving the checkout chick testicles."

The best comment of the month though, goes to The Sair Scare, who hit the nail square on the head:

"When you really, truly consider the reality of eating meat, testicle pizza does not feel all that much more vulgar. I don't understand why most meat eaters have no qualms eating thighs, wings, breasts, connective tissue, blood vessels, flesh and blood, and yet are grossed out by eyes, tongues and testicles. It's all pretty gross to me."

100%. Agreed. Well done Sair Scare - a complete set of cause bands is heading your way!

Remember, this is a regular giveaway so now we're looking for the best comment of August! The prize for this month is a complete Unleashed badge set! To win, all you have to do is tell us what you're thinking by commenting under the blogs.* Have fun!

* We love it when you comment on blogs! We love it even more when your comments are thoughtful, inspiring, or make us laugh!! So just to be clear, this is not about who posts the most comments. It's about who posts what we think is the top comment for the month. You might only post one comment this month. But if it's a cracker, then you could be walking away with the complete badge set to show for it.

Some things are never going to be fashionable. Fur springs to mind, as do meat-bikinis. However, if you want something that is super-stylish and guaranteed to be a killer present either for yourself (or someone you know, fellas *hint-hint* ), then you can't go past this amazing giveaway!

This may well be the most stylish contest ever run on Unleashed. NSW fashion label malc&andi already prove their generosity by donating 5% of their sales to animal protection organisations (including Animals Australia). Now they're giving you the chance to win one of their very cool, very stylish Lamb Bags. And before you ask - all malc&andi products are completely animal-friendly! Take a look at their website for the full range - there's bags, watches, belts, sunnies...

I'm not gonna pretend as though I'm a handbag connoisseur (I carry my stuff in a bindle), so I'll let the photos do the describing.

Getting your hands on the handbag is simple! Just tell us how you're lending a hand to animals. You could be out leafleting; spreading the word online, taking the pledge to not use products tested on animals ... there's a thousand ways you can be helping animals! If you want some ideas then you'll find 'em here! You can also read about Unleashed members getting really active for animals here.

So to recap:
1. malc&andi sell stylish (and animal-friendly) bags and accessories.
2. You can win one of their handbags.
3. Just tell us how you're helping animals!

Easy-peasy. Entries into the comments below. Comp closes August 17th! Good luck!

The first winner of our regular monthly giveaway has been announced! To refresh your memories: every month you've got the chance to win Unleashed merch simply by commenting on the blogs. How easy is that? And because Unleashed members are both intelligent AND compassionate, it was always going to be hard to pick the best comment for the month.

Here's some of the best for June:

kayne gave us "Omg some people are really wrong", referring to the bizarre ad made by fur breeders in Europe. Can't argue with that.

kat6 was happy to hear about changes to the law in Queensland, and also did her part to help dugongs and turtles: "Yay! A leap forward in the right direction! Fired an email off to the Minister for Agriculture, fingers crossed he can enforce a law to prevent turtles and dugongs being hunted altogether!"

But there can be only one winner, and last month it was 4_da_animals1 with her thoughts on the Norwegian teen heroes who rescued a lamb from drowning!

"It's these kinds of stories that ought to be making the news. Proving to the world that compassion and empathy are both attractive qualities accessible by all, as long as they are willing to open their eyes, if only for a moment, to the impact their choices and decisions have on other species."

Couldn't have said it better myself. Wait ... you're not gunning for my job are you??

Remember, this is a regular giveaway so now we're looking for the best comment of July! The prize for this month is a complete set of Unleashed causebands. They don't wipe sweat off your forehead but they do look pretty cool. To win, all you have to do is tell us what you're thinking by commenting under the blogs.* Have fun!

* We love it when you comment on blogs! We love it even more when your comments are thoughtful, inspiring, or make us laugh!! So just to be clear, this is not about who posts the most comments. It's about who posts what we think is the top comment for the month. You might only post one comment this month. But if it's a cracker, then you could be walking away with the causebands!

Socks are definitely the under-appreciated members of the fashion family. Tucked away at the back of the wardrobe most of the time; then when they are picked for a day out they're hidden in shoes and under pant legs where no-one can see them! Poor socks :( But, that's about to change for two lucky pairs of socks who have won brand new owners who I'm sure will wear them proudly for all to see! That's right, winners have been chosen in the Tofu Robot Socks Poetry Competition! Or as I call it - the 'ToRoSoPoCo'.

I have to tell you how impressed I was by the quality of entries. The rhymes were original and generally they even rhymed, which is always a good start! Obviously English teachers around Australia deserve a pay-rise (not you though Maths teachers - not until you make your subject interesting.)

There were dozens of quality entries, but only two pairs of socks to give away. If you missed out this time, then make sure you enter the Unleashed competition to win a pair of free Etiko sneakers.

Alright, so now the important part - the winning entries!

treehugga pointed to the health benefits of eating tofu with this effort:
I need some good protein that's cruelty free
Tofu is clearly the choice for me!

While Brodie put together a charming ode to the animals:
I love chicken and lamb and kangaroo
They all play in the paddock while I eat tofu!

Your socks (and probably an invite to appear on the next Hilltops' album) are on the way!

Have you ever found $20 in your pocket weeks after putting it in there? Feels pretty sweet doesn't it? Everybody loves scoring something for free. That's why I'm pleased to announce the beginning of Unleashed's regular giveaway competition! It's called the Top Comment Comp, and it begins ... now!

Here's how it works: Blogs get posted on Unleashed. You comment on blogs. At the end of each month, we'll pick the top comment posted that month. If one of your comments is the funniest, smartest, deepest for the month - then you win the prize. Boom. Easy as that.

The prize will change every month, and to get things rolling the prize for June is an Unleashed T-shirt. You choose which one you reckon would show off your sexy arms the best (it's gonna take more than a shirt to make my pasta arms look presentable), and we'll send it to you. Unleashed shirts are sweatshop free, and guaranteed to make you look (more!) attractive.* In these T's you'll be kicking ass for the animals in style.

Here's some of the shirts you could be choosing from.

Scope the full range here.

The winner will be announced at the end of the month, and all blog comments will be considered.** Good luck!!

* Well, it can't hurt anyway.

** We love it when you comment on blogs! We love it even more when your comments are thoughtful, inspiring, or make us laugh!! So just to be clear, this is not about who posts the most comments. It's about who posts what we think is the top comment for the month. You might only post one comment this month. But if it's a cracker, then you could be walking away with a hot new shirt to show for it.

Being kind to animals isn't a new invention. It's not like ipads or robots. When you speak up for animals, you're walking in the shoes of many amazing and inspiring people. Now, we've teamed up with VeganSneaker.com to give you a chance to step out in cruelty-free style like some of the greats, with these sweet Etiko kicks.

We've got two pairs of sneakers to give away to two lucky Unleashed members!

It may seem obvious, but I'll say it anyway, VeganSneaker.com specialise in selling vegan sneakers from Aussie company Etiko. Etiko's slogan is "Wear No Evil". This means no kids sweating in factories, no ripped off workers without toilet breaks, and no animal products in their shoes!

Some of the greatest minds the world has ever seen have stood up for animals. Albert Einstein for starters. When the German genius wasn't blowing minds with his theory of rela-la-tivi-li-ty (I can't even pronounce it) he was telling the world, "Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet".

And what about Gandhi, who said, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated". FYI, I bet Gandhi would have loved a pair of Etikos on his famous Salt March. Just sayin'.

There've been pollies, athletes and musos - all who have walked the walk when it comes to treating animals with respect. Jose Gonzalez, Missy Higgins and Jona Weinhofen just to name a few.

To get your hands on (and feet into) these vegan sneakers we want you to talk the talk. All you have to do is share your favourite quote about animals/activism in the comments. It can be inspiring, thoughtful, funny, anything! (If you don't know any quotes, then google is your friend.)

But wait! There's more! The two winners will also have their entries turned into hot new facebook covers, to help get the idea out there that everyone can treat animals with respect. So stop reading, and start writing! Entries into the comments by June 30th! Good luck!

Winter is approaching so unfortunately it's time to pack away the thongs (under the bed, never to be seen again) and get out the winter warmers. Just in time for the change of seasons is our latest giveaway!

Spicy Brown (the brains behind Tofu Robot) has come up with these cool toe socks designed for feet just like yours, and we've got two pairs up for grabs.

Wear them...

• ... to school!
• ... to slide on floors!
• ... to keep your tootsies warm!
• ... to tuck your pants into when you're riding your bike! OK, maybe not this one.

If you want to get your hands (and feet, I guess) on these bad boys, then you're going to have to get a little creative. I want you to get your Jay-Z (or Kanye) on and come up with a two-line poem about the wonders of tofu. Post your efforts into the comments below! The two best efforts will win the socks. Pretty simple really. Here's an example:

Roses are red, violets are blue
My stir-fry is pretty much just all fried tofu.

You probably can't do much worse than that so have a crack at it and you could be a winner! Rhymes need to be submitted by the 29th of May.

All this talk about stir fries has made me hungry. Time for lunch I think!

I figure that I'm gonna be pretty popular when I announce that we have chocolate for you! Well, ok not all of you! But 5 lucky peeps who can tell me what amazing dairy free delights they have discovered this year.

I can tell you what my favourite is right now -- Constant Cravings incredibly, immensely delicious and decadent Chocolate Truffles! We've got gift packs of 8 (…EIGHT!! I just dribbled on the keyboard…) Constant Craving truffles valued at $18 to win.

And victory will taste all the sweeter knowing that no cows (or calves!) were harmed in the making of those chocolicious treats!

In the pack are Scorched Almond, Coconut Rough, Apricot Dream and Coffee flavoured truffles. Now if any of you are worried about a little guilty pleasure, I am quite prepared to get on a flight to anywhere and help the winners polish off their prize. I'm considerate like that ;)

So, go on, tell me what your fave dairy-free snack is and make my tummy grumble even more. Good luck!

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November 2011: And the winners are Laratilly13, Lars, xAshlee, Arix and AubergineBean

Well done and thanks to everyone who entered, I may need to write another blog reporting on how delicious all these suggestions are!