Liliana and Luca were enthralled by the pink cake their mom, Nancy Frustaci, received as part of the 91原创 Advance Times 2019 Shopping Spree last Friday.

The four-year-old twins giggled as they poked tiny fingers into the sweet icing while their parents, Frustaci and Hans Nordby, loaded the shopping spree bounty into the family car. That鈥檚 when they started to find out some of the things the family received, including hard-to-find cookie cutters.

鈥淚 can make dinosaur cookies,鈥� squealed Luca.

鈥淭his is so cool,鈥� chimed in Liliana, who has a fondness for unicorns.

In a whirlwind trip accompanied by 91原创 Advance Times publisher Lisa Farquharson and sales manager Shaulene Burkett, Frustaci visited 10 local businesses, many of which decorated up for her spree visit and presented her with extra gifts in addition to the merchandise she chose as part of her $1,000 win.

Frustaci was shocked when she got the call that she had won.

鈥淚 was pretty floored. Pretty grateful though for sure,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t really helps out鈥� it鈥檚 been a little bit tight.鈥�

She does some stationary and web work at home as a stay-at-home mom. Nordby is an iron worker. They鈥檝e lived in Willoughby just over four years.

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鈥淚t was wonderful to see our winner engage with 10 different businesses 鈥� some she had frequented before and others she was visiting for the first time,鈥� Farquharson said.

Prior to setting out on Sept. 20, Frustaci did try to do some advance reconnaissance to learn about all the businesses had to offer, but as the mother of youngsters, she wasn鈥檛 able to get to each store.

鈥淭his is amazing, so much fun,鈥� Frustaci said.

It was a rare opportunity for her to pick out a few things for herself but with Christmas on the horizon, there was some planning for that as well.

鈥淗oliday season was thought of,鈥� she said.

Her selections were made with a mind to spending some time baking with the twins.

What surprised Frustaci about the day was the effort the merchants extended to make her feel welcome.

鈥淭his contest is all about shopping local and getting to know all the wonderful businesses and services throughout the 91原创 community,鈥� Farquharson said.