You guys! $1200! Well, OK, $1,198 as of this writing, but that’s virtually $1200, just a measly $2 away. I set our initial goal for this year at $1,000, so we have surpassed that handsomely, and I am busting with pride, and we still have a week to go.

Last week we got matches from myself and from amazing reader Greg (thanks again, Greg!), and we learned that HP was fixing to chip in big, big bucks (and no whammies) to the Challenge participants. I haven’t heard yet when we’ll get our share of HP’s dough — I think it might take a few days; they are giving away $200,000 after all. But if you have donated already, stay tuned and when I hear more about details about the HP money and when we’ll be getting our gift cards, I’ll let you know.

If you haven’t donated already, you’ve still got time! The Social Media Challenge runs through the end of October, which is this Saturday. (Halloween on a Saturday, those are the best years ever.) Our fabulous Giving Page still has lots of worthy projects on it. And you’re still eligible to win prizes when you donate to one of those projects, and then forward me your email receipt (susie at maclife dot com). 

This week you could win a Brenthaven messenger bag that was custom-designed especially for me at this past January’s Macworld Expo. Brenthaven makes some nice bags — this one has about 15 pockets, a padded section for your 13- or 15-inch laptop, and includes the optional Bicycle Commuter Kit.

If you created this custom bag on Brenthaven.com it would cost you $139.90 before tax and shipping, and you wouldn’t even get one this cool. Why not? Well, the design I picked out at the Brenthaven booth on the Expo floor is just so limited-edition, they don’t sell it. It’s one of a kind. The nice lady had to ask her supervisor if they could even give it to me in the first place. Yeah, that’s just how I roll. Here’s a picture.

The outside is a lovely brown with a cool gold bird design. The bird’s red eye is embroidered.

And the inside of the flap is a khaki color with a repeating, geometric blossom design. The flap is even reversible!

The front flap is reversible, and if you hate the completely rad design that I picked out for this bag, you can always buy a spare flat right from Brenthaven, starting at $29.95. Between the original reversible flap and the new reversible flap, you’d be able to create four looks. Pretend I’m Tim Gunn for a second so I can tell you it’s "stunning."

Anyway, this bag is this week’s prize, and I’ll stuff it with magazines and software and other SECRET GOODIES OF MYSTERY before I send it to you, too. You’re welcome.

So please, please, please, before the deadline of 11:59pm Pacific time on this Saturday, October 31 (see offical rules on the FAQ), please donate $1 or more to any project on our Giving Page, and forward me your receipt and I’ll enter you in the contest. So far our donations have helped 1,192 kids, which is pretty amazing. I mean, that’s more people than went to my elementary, middle, and high schools combined. I applaud your generosity.

Let’s bring it down the stretch. Thanks to DonorsChoose, the lovely souls at Brenthaven, and of course to you.