Happy Halloween!
Before I get to part 1 of the giveaway, I want to share a last-minute Halloween idea.
I present to you: Spooky Shakes…
They are more homely than scary, but let’s just go with it!
I spotted this on Martha and I thought it was a cute idea. To make: all you do is melt a tiny amount of chocolate (about 1-2 tbsp) and then paint chocolate ghost faces on the inside of the glass using the end of a popsicle stick. Easy.
Place the glasses in the freezer or fridge to set the chocolate. For the shake, I blended vegan vanilla ice cream (I love almond or coconut varieties), with a splash of almond milk and some ice, served with a cinnamon stick. You could even make a healthier shake by blending frozen bananas with almond milk. The chocolate faces stay intact thanks to the cold smoothies.
Now, for part 1 of the giveaway…
Today, I’m celebrating YOU – the kick-butt, Green Monster chuggin, recipe-lovin’ Oh She Glows community! On October 31, 2008, I started the blog on a complete whim, not thinking I would ever have the attention span to stick with it, but here I am 4 years later still smashing my head against the keyboard daily and chasing my dreams. I am so grateful for each and every one of you who read the blog each day and my hope is that you find as much inspiration here as I’ve found in all of you.
Now, to celebrate!
1) Blendtec Total Blender & Twister Jar
Blendtec has been gracious enough to donate one of their coveted Total Blender Classic Wildside machines (picture above) valued at $454.95 USD! Whoa baby. I’ve reviewed the Blendtec before on the blog and I can attest that it’s a great machine.
About the blender: “Total Blender Classic Series® is the all-in-one appliance that makes smoothies, fresh juice, ice cream, milkshakes, cappuccinos, margaritas, soups, sauces, bread dough, dressings, salsas, and more! It replaces up to 9 other appliances with one fast easy-to-use machine, at a fraction of the cost. This package includes the new precision tuned 4″ blade in the large nearly 3-quart total capacity BPA-free jar. The new large blade / large jar combination powers through tougher blending tasks and larger recipes with ease, and in less time.”
In addition to the blender, they are also giving away a Twister Jar (shown below) valued at $119.00 USD!
About the Twister Jar: “Blendtec’s newest innovation, the Twister Jar, is designed to blend your thickest recipes such as: Nut Butters, Hummus, Baby Food, Dips, Thick Shakes, Dressings and more! Best of all, it’s compatible with all Blendtec Home Blenders.”
Update: The giveaway winner is….
Thank you for sharing your touching (and often hilarious!) “lessons to my younger self” comments. If you are ever feeling down and need a pick me up, just read through the comments. It’s amazing to see how many of us have struggled with the same life lessons.
The lucky winner of the Blendtec machine is #3659 – Alicia Woulfe! Congrats! I will email you shortly to collect your mailing address. Thanks to everyone for participating!
How To Enter:
Giveway is now closed.
Repinned your homemade rolo knock offs!
I would tell my younger self to calm down–things will work themselves out if you let them.
I would tell myself to actually study hard and work hard in college :-)
I would tell my younger self to relax and soak it all in! High school drama may feel overwhelming in the moment but there’s so much to enjoy! I’d tell my 16 year old self to breathe, put another mix CD in the CD player of her car, and drive with the windows down a little bit longer – there won’t be unlimited opportunities to do that!
I would love to convince my former self to give people a chance before writing them off- whether I was judging them or deciding that I was not good enough for them…without their input.
I would tell myself to try and be more confident. Makes all the difference!
My advice would be to relax and not be so serious all the time. There will be plenty of time for being a responsible adult, enjoy being carefree and just having fun with your friends.
Tweeted it!
I tell younger me that it’s true: my mother always told me, “the tags on your clothes are inside, not outside.” In other words, whether or not you wear a size 2, or a 22, it doesn’t matter (and shouldn’t!!!) At 30 years old, I will gladly vouch for the fact that clothing size is one of the many things in life that are, indeed, insignificant in the bigger picture.
I would tell myself not to care about what other people think. No one really notices if I wear the same pair of pants two days in a row.
I would tell myself not to worry about everything that seems too big and too hard and too far away and impossible to attain because when you’re ready for it, it will be natural and easy, like you could always do it. Also – make every day great, you have more time than you think! Live it up :-)
I would advise my younger self that the dark lipstick she used to sport was a no no!
Dear Sixteen-year-old self: find confidence from within and not seek for confirmation that you are (nice, pretty, funny, smart) it in other people.
Dear 17-18 year old Anne,
I know you think moving away to the city will be easy and not cost all that much but prepare yourself because it will be costly and hard, just remember to give thanks to all the people that will help you along the way. Especially your sister who help and paid for more than you’ll realize for awhile.
Love always,
You.
I repinned a recipe!
I would tell my 16 year old self to study harder and party less; pick a useful college major that will give marketable skills; and don’t waste so much time on loser men.
I would tell my younger self that it doesn’t matter what others think, don’t spend time trying to impress people because the important people in your life don’t need to be impressed. Also I would add to myself that mom is always right, don’t even try to ask why, she just is!
Wow! What an amazing giveaway!
My piece of advice to my younger, teenage self would be: stop comparing yourself to others. Embrace yourself as you are. You were made this way and you are beautiful for who YOU are- on the inside and outside!!!!!
If I could talk to my younger self it would be to find out who I am more than try to fit to the mold of what my parents/society wanted me to be…. aka going to a college I wanted to go to freshman year except the ones my parents wanted me to go to. :)
I would tell my teenaged self to think really hard about what I actually like and want to do in life, as opposed to being worried about what other people may want me to do.