King 5 & Evening Magazine Best of Western Washington...The Winner for "Best Food Blog" 2013 is...

http://best.king5.com/best/food-blog/online-and-social-media/western-washington/slideshow

ME!! For the past 2 months I competed in King 5 & Evening Magazine's contest for "Best Food Blog" and I won!! I can't believe it and I'm still shocked.

Results were announced on November 8th and the whole day I was on pins and needles. Trying not to think about whether I won or not, I treated the day as normal. I went to class, had some lunch, volunteered at Swedish Medical Center, and was hoping the time would go by quickly until the results were announced at 8 PM that night.

This race was tight between the person in second and myself. I was expecting the best and prepared for the worst that day but I had a strange feeling in my gut. Was it good? Was it bad? I honestly didn't know and I just wanted it to be all over. When I got home, after waiting at least 15 minutes for the page to load due to site errors, I saw it. My face, "Winner", #1. "Whaaaa?!?!?! No way!!" I said to myself. I jumped, I ran and I screamed "Ahhhhh!!" like a little kid on Christmas morning. One of the best things I've ever felt in a long time.

Looking back on everything, when I started my blog 3 1/2 years ago, I never expected anything like this to happen. From hiding my love of food, cooking and baking from a majority of people in my life because of fear, to no longer being afraid of social norms in our society, it's amazing. If this competition showed me anything, it reinforces what I've said since the beginning. "Do what you love, no matter what it may be. Live your life the way you want to live it and don't let fear or the opinion of others drive you away from your passion."

I want to thank every single person that has supported me and my blog for the past 3 1/2 years and those that voted for me in this competition. Whether you are a friend, family member, supporter of my passion, lover of my blog, I wouldn't be here without any of you. No words can express how thankful I am for the support. It means the world to me that I won this competition and that this is just the beginning of what else may come my way. Food Network, here I come.

-Aaron John