Smoothietude Contest Finalists

To usher in my new book 365 Vegan Smoothies, last month I announced this contest. $2,000 in smoothie lover prizes sponsored by my friends at DOLE Bananas and DOLE Salads.

Today I announce the Smoothietude Contest finalists! But first, thank you to all the readers who took the time to send in an entry. They were ALL fun, creative, inspiring and smoothie-tastic. Thank you for sharing them with me. Check out these finalists..

Update. Remember the DOLE Show Me Your Salad-tude Contest I hosted a while back? Well here is the Healthy. Happy. Life. grand prize winner Corrine with Clinton Kelly in Napa Valley, enjoying her amazing grand prize! Winning happens!..

*photo courtesy of DOLE

(This was Corrine's entry...)

But now back to smoothies!

People Love Smoothies. I have learned that I am not the only one to have a special sort of enthusiasm for smoothies. Those frosty, cool, fruit-filled, colorful, tall glasses of blended bliss have a unique way of putting a big smile on a face. One sip and we are filled with wellness, energy & happiness from the inside out. I summed up all this smoothie love in one word: smoothietude. Yesterday I went through the over 60 Smoothietude Contest entries. Today I get to share the finalists!

Choosing the finalists: Did the entry make me smile? Have a great recipe or ingredient idea? Express a passion for smoothies? Have a creative twist or unique voice?

SMOOTHIETUDE CONTEST FINALISTS

FINALIST #1 - Jamie S. - tweeted

FINALIST #2 - Kristen - blogged

FINALIST #3 - Miriam - tweeted

FINALIST #4 - Nyki - Pin

FINALIST #5 - Maria - FB

FINALIST #6 - Alicia - Blogged

FINALIST #7 - Kimmy - blogged

FINALIST #8 - Helyn - blogged

FINALIST #9 - Amy - fb

FINALIST #10 - Kara - blogged

FINALIST #11 - Meghan - blogged

FINALIST #12 - Maria - tweet

FINALIST #13 - Manda - fb

FINALIST #14 - Shelby - pin

FINALIST #15 - Nyki - pin

*note you could enter up to 5 photos, so a few finalists have multiple entries

Meet The Judges: Gena and I! (pic via: The Seed)

Gena and I will choose the winners (8 entries from above will win prizes) - leave a comment to voice who you think should win! Prizes: (1 winner) Grand Prize Winner: Vitamix TurboBlend VS (or a culinary store gift card for $449.00 in value) + copy of 365 Vegan Smoothies + an HHL tee + featured in blogpost on HHL! -- (2 winners) First Prize Winners: $150 Smoothie Lover Kits -- (5 winners) Honorable Mentions: Signed copy of Kathy's 365 Vegan Smoothies Book

SPONSORS:

My Book. 365 Vegan Smoothies (in stores July 2nd - just in time for 4th of July heat!) Get sneak peek book pics.

Thank you to DOLE Bananas and DOLE Salads for sponsoring this contest and giveaway with $2,000 in smoothie lover prizes!

Want to enter another cool contest? Check out DOLE's Taste of Spain Contest. Want to win a $40,000 trip to Spain? (Ya, me too!!) Well you can enter to win that and a wide array of other prizes on Dole's Taste of Spain page.

Finally, just as a bonus treat, here is a simple smoothie recipe from my book. This recipe uses delicious bananas and sweet summer strawberries..