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.
I would tell my 16 year old self to be fearless, travel and take lots of photos – and to be patient because things were definitely going to get interesting in her 20’s! I would also tell her that it might be an idea to stop eating wheat, eggs and dairy to avoid some nasty, bloaty health issues further on in life ;)
I wish I could tell my younger self not to stress so much about grades. That I would end up exactly where I should for college and career!
Dear 13 year old Ellie, yoga and laughter are better paths to happiness than excessive running and dieting will ever be. Eat (vegan) chocolate, satee your brussel sprouts in some olive oil, and let your hair down. Your future (living, non skelaton) self will thank you ;).
Love, 17-year-old Ellie
I would tell my 16 year old self not to worry too much. There is going to be a lot of fun, joy and plenty of heartache but you are going to end up exactly where you should be so take care of yourself and enjoy the ride!
woo woooo just Pinned,
“Red Lentil and Squash Curry Stew”
– I have a butternut squash sitting around that I need to cook up! With all this rain, some cozy soup is in order :)
Don’t take life so seriously. Let go!
I would tell myself to RELAX a bunch. You cannot plan everything and you cannot control the world. Things will happen randomly and sometimes without reason. Learn to breath and fight the anxious feeling you get when plans go awry. Stuff happens.
Dear Young Whitney,
Stop counting calories! Someday, when you’re much older, you’ll come to love food for what IS in it, not what it is lacking. It’s an energy source, a power house, a way to strengthen each step of your day! OhSheGlow’s attests to that, each morning that I pull it up.
Stay strong young one, but don’t cut the energy to your powerhouse any longer.
P.S. I would twitter or pintrest but I really only use the internet…I don’t even have a TV. THIS is my entertainment :)
Happy 4 Year Anniversary! I love your blog!
To my younger self I’d say…. Smile in pictures! Don’t be afraid of the camera!!!
Young Kathryn, everything will be alright. Don’t stress so much; enjoy each day for what it is.
I would tell my younger self to open up and share her feelings. Only later on did I realize other people were going through the same things as me. Had I admitted that I had struggles, instead of hiding behind being ‘perfect,’ I could have bonded with others and been able to support them, as well as receive support myself.
P.S. Your Twix bars were a hit with my coworkers!
Just found this blog a few weeks ago, loving it and definitely eating much better! Thanks so much!
I would advise my younger self to finish college – still trying to accomplish that! And to spend less time worrying about things out of my control, and more time just enjoying life!
I’d tell my 16 year old self that the world is a safe place, that’s it’s good to take risks, and that learning to fly takes practice.
To live in the present, not in the future! So many times I would think about the future and not enjoy where I was at the time. I think I would have enjoyed those moments much more! But…with a new blender…I can definitely enjoy the present and savor all my green monsters!!!
I would tell my younger self that through every difficult situation in life we grow. That growth may be painful but it can result in a beautified and more wise sense of character.
Thank you for all your blogs. They help me as I recover from my body image issues that I struggled with all through high school.
I would tell my younger self something I will remind my future self: do what you believe in. And start drinking green monsters wayy earlier!
I pinned your cinnamon bun granola recipe, can’t wait to try it!
Worry less about what others think of you, and learn to accept yourself, flaws and all. It’s what makes us better people, and also makes us more accepting of others.
I would tell my younger self that I am better than he let me think I was and to trust the voice inside my head that tells me what I and everyone else already knows.. yet for years I paint a different picture to the world. What is more important is caring for yourself, listening to yourself, knowing yourself. :)
my advice to myself would be to lean not on my own understanding, but on God’s