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.
Don’t worry about what others think-always do what’s right!
“Sometimes on the way to a dream you get lost and find a better one.” Don’t be so set in your ways that you can’t see what amazing opportunities are just waiting for you to grab.
Dear 8 year old me,
The best way to make friends is to let yourself be you. Yes, it sounds cheesy, and yes, everyone says it, but it’s true. You are a great person; be kind to yourself! Have confidence, and always smile. It’s worth it. :)
Tweeted!
I would tell my younger self to not take life so seriously – stress less, and just let things fall into place. Things usually work themselves out in the end!
I would tell myself to not do what the “cool kids” are doing and focus more on school!
I’d tell my 16 year old self to be less afraid of getting out there and trying something new. Ten years later at the age of 26, I’m finally dealing with the anxiety issues I’ve had for most of my life, and I’m enjoying my life so much more now, and I would have loved for my 16 year old self to know life without anxiety or irrational fears.
Sneaking food doesn’t mean you didn’t eat anything.
Dear Past Megan: please make some close friends and keep in touch. Thanks from Future Megan.
I would beg my 16 year old self to stop eating all that junk food.
Dear sixteen year old Caran,
Please do not buy into the lies about the American diet. Consuming animal products IS life threatening. Please do your future self and family a favor and change your lifestyle NOW before it is too late. Too many health issues run in our family to NOT take this seriously.
Sincerely
Your older, wiser and not as healthy as I could have been self
I would tell myself to take more pictures with my father. I never believed he would be gone one day and now that he is, I wish I had spent more time with him and taken more photos together. Cherish the time you have with your loved ones because they will not be here forever.
Tell your grandparents how ,much they mean to you.
I pinned your Cinnamon Bun Granola recipe.
To my 16 year old self, I would say stop worrying so much about what other people think and do what makes you happy :)
Pinned the twix bars, going to make them this weekend…yum!
I would tell myself that it does get better. That your are beautiful the way you are and even though the mean words hurt and the nasty things they do to make you feel so small and invaluable, it will make you stronger. Don’t let them define you. Define yourself. Be yourself. And you will love yourself. (besides, you won’t have to deal with 98% of them in the future and you can completely ignore their friend requests on FB ;) )
Tweet tweet tweet. https://twitter.com/themexigarian/status/264116469154082816
Everything happens for a reason, even if in the moment it is hard to figure out what the reason is.
I would also tell my younger self “write books about a Mary Sue character and a vampire that sparkles”. Cha-Ching! lol. (sorry, I couldn’t help myself)