Illinois State Fair #RedCupShowdown

I can't believe we made it to Seattle’s Best Red Cup Showdown! It was a BLAST!

The 13 contestants threw a lot at host Food Network's Jeff Mauro...and he handled it like a pro. Don't ask me to explain this picture...'cause I can't;) (Like you've never seen a leprechaun making yummy coffee drinks?)

Luckily, for those of us who drove down EARLY in the morning, the good folks from Seattle's Best had yummy mini treats for us:P

It was really fun seeing what kind of coffee drinks the contestants came up with. (Now...you know this one came from the leprechaun...right?)

People were really clever...adding everything from peaches, to zucchini, to lots...and lots of chocolate. (ain't nothing wrong with that!)

It didn't take long for judges Jeff Mauro, Nancy Sweet of the Illinois State Fair, and Sam Asay from Seattle’s Best Coffee to declare Anthony Karas the winner with his Café Mocha en Fuego submission. Now he will be off to the main competition in NY to go up against other state fair winners for a chance to win $10,000! Good luck Anthony...GO ILLINOIS!

Then I took my city kids around the fair to check out some animals. We enjoyed watching tubby time at the cattle barn.

Yes, the kiddos did talk me into going down the BIG SLIDE. Look at how scared The Little Man and I are! (Notice Miss Peach sulking on the stairs:( ) She  mustered up all her bravery and made it down the slide...but I don't think she's doing it again any time soon:O

The Seattle's Best Red Cup Showdown will be heading off to the Iowa State Fair next, so be sure to catch up with them if you can. If not, you can connect on Facebook, Twitter, or their website.

*Disclosure: I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Seattle’s Best Coffee #CBias #SocialFabric #RedCupShowdown