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 tweeted your contest! Thanks for the chance to win the blender (much needed if I am the lucky one!!!)
I re-pinned your cinnamon granola recipe on PInterest! :)
Gongratulations on 4 years! I would have told my younger self to eat less junk food and to be less hard on myself.
My mom always said jokingly, “Don’t do anything you wouldn’t want to see your name in the paper for”. I always appreciated her humor in parenting.
I would tell younger me to love myself!!
My advice to myself would be to learn how to cook! (I didn’t know how to cook until the day I got married – never even cooked up a piece of chicken).
Thankfully I’ve learned a lot since and am appreciative of this blog that has added delightful recipes to my repertoire.
https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/263959395505946624
I would tell myself what a lot of other people have already said: never give up on a dream if it’s even remotely in your power to pursue it, because if you never try you’ll never know how anything may have turned out.
Also… TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES! Someday you’ll ultimately be glad you did. :)
My gosh, those little spooky milkshakes are adorable, haha!
I would advise my younger self to follow her dreams by not spending all her hard earned minimum wage money on clothes and things that don’t matter to impress people who for the most part are no longer in her life, instead squirrel it away to travel and volunteer all over the world – what I wish I had done right out of high school!
Advice to myself: slow down and savor life.
I’d tell my younger self to be a little more confident and sassier. You can do it, kid!
Congrats on the four years, Ange! Your blog has never failed to brighten my day and your delicious recipes continue to fulfill my lactose-intolerant fiancee.
One piece of advice I would give my younger self is – The best is yet to come. Many people think life ends after high school or university, but that’s when life really starts and you become the person you were really meant to be. Hang on to this idea and enjoy the ride.
To the 16-yr-old Mandy: Celebrate each moment, for truly it is all we ever have. Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow exists only in our minds. Be here, now. And please, drive with two hands on the wheel.
I just repined your amazing baked stuffed apple oatmeal! Thank you for all your awesome recipes and sticking with it, something I have not quite grasped yet!
I have tweeted the post. :)
I was also one of the (almost!) 400 people who have so far tweeted this giveaway. My twitter is @shebakeshere
I would tell my younger self to just relax and open your heart!
Congrats on 4 years. I would tell myself to save,save,save.
I would tell my 16-year old self that she was pretty awesome but that other people were too and she should be less judgmental. Also, to wear less black.
I would tell my younger self that friends will come and go but your family will always be there