2010-04-23

FAANtastic!

It's just been killing me.  For two weeks I've had the most amazing news, but have been waiting to post it here until the formal announcement.  Here it is:
"FAIRFAX, Va. (April 20, 2010) – Elizabeth Ilson of Tarpon Springs, Fla., beat out more than 260 other entries with her Double Chocolate Brownie Bites cookie to become the grand prize winner of the FAANtastic Divvies Cookie Contest, sponsored by the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) and Divvies, an allergy-friendly sweets and snacks company."
By the way, that's me!  (Can you believe it?)  I was thrilled when I found out I'd made the final five, but didn't think I'd win, especially once I saw that one of the other finalists was the amazing Meg of Speedbump Kitchen with her awesome Chocolate Cherry Chunk Cookies.  It turns out that another finalist is also an allergy mama food blogger.  Kelly of Generation Allergy made some fine looking Chocoholic Cookies.  I'm sure it's a coincidence that when asked for our best cookie recipes, we all reached for the chocolate!  (If anyone has a link to either of the other two finalists, please let me know.)

I'm so psyched, I don't even know where to start.  Divvies is actually going to produce the cookie for sale, with proceeds to benefit FAAN, and the important research they support.  We've won a trip for our whole family to one of the Great Wolf Lodge Resorts with their mind blowing indoor water parks.  The Kid is ecstatic that his cookie won us a vacation, and has insisted that we pore over every inch of their website.

When I entered the contest, reading the list of judges was kind of intimidating, but I loved that they had two kids on it, both Benjamin Sandler of Divvies and Grace Dodd, Senator Dodd of Connecticut's food allergic daughter.  I am completely geeked out, though, for culinary star and food allergy hero Ming Tsai!  (Is it wrong that I was more excited that he liked the cookie than that we'd won the trip?)


The Brownie Bites are scheduled to be rolled out by Divvies in time for this year's FAAN Walks.  If you are in the Tampa Bay area, I hope that you'll come out and walk with The Kid and me on Saturday, November 13th.  If not, please consider sponsoring our team!

So, thank you, thank you, thank you to both FAAN and Divvies, and I'm looking forward to seeing many of you at the walk in November!

13 comments:

Nowheymama said...

Wow! Congratulations!!!

Anonymous said...

Aaaak! This is so exciting, how on earth did you keep a secret? Thrilled for you.

Candice said...

Congratulations...that's awesome!!

Maggie said...

That is tremendously cool!!! Just so you know there is a Great Wolf Lodge up here in Traverse City.

Lori Sandler said...

Congratulations, Elizabeth! I'm so excited for you and the four finalists! We at Divvies can't wait to "roll out" your cookie! All the best to you and your family; and, have a blast at Great Wolf Lodge! Lori Sandler

Speedbump Kitchen said...

Congratulations again Libby! I agree, the Ming Thing is the coolest part! Folks from MI go to FL in the winter...maybe folks from FL should come to MI in the summer:)

danatan79 said...

LIBBY! im so proud of you! :D i knew youre amazing sweets and treats could win something lol. ill go to the walk! and enjoy your vacation! so awesome. :]

Alisa said...

Squeee! Congratulations Libby, that is so awesome! I'd probably be geeked out about Ming Tsai too :)

Generation Allergy said...

Libby! Congratulations! Will you be able to post your recipe? Sounds delicious, and yes I think we all are slightly interested in chocolate! - Heather

Libby said...

Thanks so much, guys!

Maggie & Meg, I would be tempted to go blog stalker on you and show up in MI, but I'm hoping I'll be able to go to the resort in WA, since I haven't seen my brother in Seattle for almost 3 years.

Kelly, I believe that the recipe belongs to Divvies now, plus I don't want to undercut the FAAN fundraiser, but I'll probably ask if I can post the recipe once the cookies are retired.

Dana, I can't wait to see you & the new baby, you awesome auntie!

To The Moon and Back said...

Wow Libby, congratulations! I can't wait until Divvies has these available. Another safe snack for our Emme:)

ZM said...

congratulations! That's wonderful...

Kathleen Suchora--Tampa, FL said...

Congratulations Libby! I tried to email you also but it came back to me. So excited to have a local as the winner, and I see you are already registered for our Tampa Walk. Thanks! Kathleen Suchora