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 younger self to have studied harder and developed more discipline in high school so I wouldn’t have had a harder time with it in college. Great giveaway!
Tweeted!
Wow…What would I tell my younger self? Not to marry him-he is Mr. Wrong wrapped up in your own need to rebel and grow? You ARE smart.. you CAN do statistics! Don’t wait until you are much older and divorced to finish school! Yes, life will be harder than you’d like sometimes… but you will be fine! and because of that, your kids will be fine!
hmmm- that is more than one thing.. sooo- I guess what I really needed to know, to internalize, and what I focus on teaching my seventeen and seven yr old is: Like yourself… Love yourself.. because if you do, you will take better care of yourself, growth will come, and that is not a selfish thing… after that- everything else just seems to fall into place!
pinning your kitkat recipe now….
I would tell myself to listen to mom and dad more! They really do know what they’re talking about! Congrats on 4 years! Here’s to many more!! Thanks!!
Jes, listen to what your gut is telling you no matter what!
Younger me, trust yourself. Don’t worry that you aren’t one of the “popular girls”. None of that is worth it. Don’t be so uptight all the time. Relax. Have fun. Enjoy life.
I just tweeted. :)
I would tell my high school self this: “Love yourself. I promise you so many other people already do.” and “No one is judging you harder than you are judging yourself. CHILL OUT.”
But mostly: “Easy Mac is NOT a food group.”
I”d love to have that FAAAAANCY blender!
I would tell myself that the approval of others is NOT the most important thing in the world!!
2 pieces of advice: First to my 12 year old self: be proud of your height and stand up straight! And to myself in my 20s travelling in South East Asia: applying sunscreen to your face in the morning isn’t going to cut it for the whole day. Reapply! Reapply!!!!!
The advice I would give my 16 year old self …
You are a beautiful, smart and a child of God. Stop trying to be a skinnier, more popular version of yourself. Embrace who you are and who you are being shaped to be. Also, stop waiting by Stephen’s locker! Not worth your time and not the man that will enrich your life (that is to come …)!
Don’t pick on you! You’re worthy of every bit of love you crave, and you’ll get it.
I would tell myself to never let anyone tell you that you can’t do anything you want!
I love reading your blog and all your recipes and you’ve inspired me to try a few things (with modifications). I nominated you for The Very Inspiring Blogger Award. http://onthevector.com/2012/11/01/whoomp-there-it-is-the-fine-print/
Keep up the fantastic reads!
Cathy
I pinned your kitkat recipe!
I would tell my 16-year-old self to enjoy being a kid as long as possible… when you’re younger you always want to be a grown-up, but it’s not all it’s cracked up to be!
Oh boy… to my 16 year old self I would say, “Stop worrying about doing everything ‘right’! Don’t be so afraid to screw up that you don’t do the things you are passionate about. It’s so much easier to get started now than it will be in 15 years. You have a lot to contribute to the world, so let’s do it!”
For the record, I’m super passionate about smoothies…. ;)
I wish I could tell myself that things always work out for the ebst – whatever that may be, so go with it!
Dear Katelyn,
I know you really like cardio, and you like to count calories. You think this makes you really skinny-pretty (pretty is a functional body!). Unfortunately, the frozen cookie dough you curb your hunger with has nothing in it your body can USE AS FUEL for all of that running and rollerblading you are putting it through. You may think fruits and vegetables are expensive, but please do not wait until you are 26, going on 27, to discover the farmer’s markets in your area. They have produce FAR cheaper than BiLo and Publix, and have way more benefits than the mass-produced produce does anyway! Be good to your body, include strength training and some Yoga into your weekly routines, and not only will you have a better body image, you will feel better physically AND mentally and look better naked. Oh, and get rid of that crappy 1st boyfriend you after the FIRST time he breaks up with you. There’s nothing to learn from him after that.
Sincerely,
Your Older Self
Hmmmm, what would I tell my younger self? Most likely I would say, “Just because that’s how other people eat, it doesn’t mean you have to!” Unfortunately, I don’t think my younger self would be in the position to recognize that now. I came to my veganism over years of trial and error eating. Now, I am in the best health and at the highest fitness level of my life. I would tell myself that it’s okay; that it will BE okay. I would tell myself to stop trying to please everyone and listen to what is in my own heart. I don’t expect to win this draw…but, being prompted to write this has made me realize just how far I have come and how content I am to be me right now. So thanks :)
I would tell my younger self to believe in myself and stop worrying what others will think! Live for yourself and stop pleasing evyone.