Alisa Fleming, www.GoDairyFree.org ~ The voting has begun for the VegNews 2008 VeggieAwards and there are so many reasons to get over there and vote. For starters, it is a chace to cast your ballot for your favorite people, places, and products.  The nominees are scattered among a wide range of categories, including "Favorite Non-Dairy Ice Cream," "Favorite Cookbook Author," and "Favorite Vegan Blog."  The winners will be announced in the November+December "Best of Vegetarian" holiday edition of VegNews. But if that isn't enough to motivate you, then perhaps a prize drawing is.  Yes, just for voting, you will be entered into their Grand Prize Drawing for fabulous prizes including:

Grand Prize: NEW YORK CITY URBAN GETAWAY
One lucky winner and a guest are off to NYC for a fun-filled, once-in-a-lifetime fabulous veggie adventure. Included are two roundtrip tickets on JetBlue, restaurant excursions to Candle 79 and Blossom, lunch at Gobo with comic/VN columnist Dan Piraro, a MooShoes shopping spree, a cupcake break at BabyCakes NYC, and an unlimited subway pass. Get your votes in pronto for a chance to win this ultimate urban getaway!

First Prize: GLAM GIRL GOODIE BAG
What's better than an ultra-sophisticated leatherette handbag from Matt & Nat? The very same fabulous handbag filled with cruelty-free makeup from Urban Decay, of course! Strut around town in high style and have fun changing up your look with this utterly fashionable prize. You might want to offer some of the luxe cosmetics to your friends who will all be green with envy at the sight of you! (two winners)

Second Prize: MARSHMALLOW MADNESS GIFT PACK
Vegan bakery Sweet & Sara has custom-created this gift pack just for the 2008 Veggie Awards. Filled with an array of sumptuous treats like toasted coconut and vanilla marshmallows, peanut butter and oatmeal cookie s'mores, plus your very own personal s'mores kit complete with chocolate, graham crackers, and marshmallows. We regret that VegNews Magazine can't be held responsible for any ill-effects of consuming this prize. (three winners)

Plus, Weekly Giveaways! VEGAN COOKIE SMORGASBORD
Each week during the month-long voting period, we'll be giving away a Liz Lovely Cookie Gift Sampler to one lucky winner. Each box is filled with delectable organic cookies in flavors like peanut butter, ginger, mocha macadamia, and its signature chocolate-drizzled classic oatmeal. (four winners)

The Details: Ballots must include identifying information and be at least 50% complete to qualify for prize drawings. Write-in responses should be vegan. Entries must be received by August 31, 2008 at midnight. Nominees are based on the companies receiving the most votes in the 2007 Veggie Awards, but we encourage you to submit write-in votes.

Happy voting!