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 listen to my mom’s fashion advice. I realize now that he has an awesome sense of style. Looking back, mine hasn’t always been the best!
Hey young you, or rather me,
I hope you are enjoying life. Like really loving it.
Those times you think you won’t make it?
They will turn out, they always do.
So relax a bit, and take time to laugh.
Cherish every moment you have not being an adult.
Because life is awesome, and so are you.
Oh, and I tweeted!!
… and maybe pinterested.
I would convince my younger self not to worry about the little things so much, in 10 years they won’t matter! :-)
i would definetly tell my younger self not to pick up a cigarette to ‘ look cool at clubs’, such silly nonsense to try and fit in with the ‘cool kids’. thank goodness, this only lasted a year or two until i realized on my own how silly it was. If only i told this to my 18 yr old self, 12 years ago!!
I would tell my younger self to stand up for everyone and everything she believes in. It’s all to easy to go along with something, but standing firm in your own beliefs and values is ultimately worth far more, even if it’s far more difficult.
Dear one, endure this suffering gracefully – you will find truth in the future.
I would tell my younger self to just go for it and not worry what others might think…chances are people will be impressed more often than appalled.
I would tell myself to develop a better exercise routine.
Dear younger self: You are wonderful and special…no, really. At some point this will be challenged. Don’t buckle and don’t doubt yourself. Seek advice and ask for help openly. Reach out and help others. Create possibilities, and be open to ones you haven’t even imagined.
Annie, it turns out mom was right — the friends you have in high school most likely won’t be there as you get older and that’s okay. People come in and out of your life for various reasons. But if you’re lucky, which turns out you are, you’ll have one or two close friends from high school who will be there by your side for the rest of your life. You just need to make sure you put in effort to keep the friendship alive and thriving. As you get older you’re going to realize that when it comes to friends quality definitely outweighs quantity. Grow up beautiful, little one.
I would tell my younger self to always be a better friend, that friends and family only become more and more important as life becomes more busy. My husband and I have recently moved ‘back home’ after being away for 12 years only to find that we have completely lost touch with the people we grew up with and hope to build relationships with them again!
Oh and I tweeted!! I recently broke my blender (a cheapo) and have been hoping to buy a new and better one! This one looks great!
I would tell my younger self to enjoy college more. I was pretty introverted and definitely could have had a better time. I missed out on a lot of great friendships, I’m sure!
I would tell my younger self to enjoy being young. Travel, make lots of friends and most importantly have fun. Don’t grow up too fast. There is plently of time to be a grown-up but the teenage and yound adult days are limited.
I would tell my younger self not to take herself so seriously and to not worry so much.
I have pinned your recipes to pinterest too! I think about half my recipe board is from your site.
I would tell my younger self to lighten up and enjoy life more!
Cailean, never sacrifice your self worth for a boy. Boys are stupid until at least 25.
HA. Love this. So much.
I would tell myself(and do regularly tell my girls), don’t let the mean girls make the rules. Look around, because if they’re being mean to you…duh huh…they’re being mean to other girls too, and those other girls are worth getting to know. They are bright and beautiful people, inside AND out, and will wind up being friends you can call years later when you’re up at 2am with a screaming, colicky child who you could just throw out the window for 2 seconds of peace and quiet. Before you know it you’re laughing and knowing that time is precious so enjoy every moment you can with every person you love, and don’t let anyone rob you of that joy because you don’t fit their mold—and what a shallow little mold that turns out to be anyway :) Live to laugh and love!
I would tell my 16-year-old Jaclyn that she is perfect as is.