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 myself to play more and take advantage of being a kid :)
My advice to my younger self? You are worth it!!!!!
I’m actually still pretty young (20) but if I had any advice to give to my former, slightly younger self, it would be not to let anyone tell me I can’t do something, including myself. It’s really easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you aren’t good enough for something and it just keeps you from following your dreams. Even at my age there are things I’ve given up or wish that I pursued and didn’t because I didn’t think I could or somebody told me I couldn’t. It’s a lot harder to go back to the mindset that you can do anything after you continually beat yourself up and telling yourself you can’t.
I’d tell myself to do what makes my heart sing and not worry about what anyone else thinks of me. :)
I also tweeted this giveaway! Yay for technology #TweetTweet
I would tell my younger self to not waste a second waiting for someone to tell you what you should do or can do or deserve to do because you’ll spend your whole life waiting and miss your opportunity to just DO :)
Note to Younger Self:
Remember when you were 26 and your apartment was broken into, a week later Mr. Perfect dumped you, and then a week after that your BFF and cousin died in a car accident?
Of course you remember that.
DUH.
Remember how all of your friends said you should have seen somebody (a shrink)?
Well, YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN SOMEBODY.
Geez.
Learn from it.
I pinterested the carrot soup.
As I am super interested in making it. And there are only so many recipes I can save on blogreader….
Don’t worry about being so responsible so young!
Don’t put your dreams on the back burner for a guy.
No matter what you do…it’s going to be good enough.
I would tell my younger self not to worry what others think of you and just have fun! They either don’t care, or wish they could join you!
Advice to my younger self…don’t be scared of change. Embrace it and look to all the new things that you get to experience!!
tweet tweet! https://twitter.com/bustathought/status/264214661434601472
Live in the moment and stop worrying about tomorrow
Dear Chia,
Just enjoy yourself. Stop worrying about what other people think- really, their opinions are not that important. Live in the moment! I mean, don’t be irresponsible… but you can’t move forward without going through the present. Just be that smart and savvy girl that you know you are ;-)
Love,
Chia
To my younger self:
Love all the parts of your self; they are what make you who you are. There is no one on this planet exactly like you. You are a piece to a much larger puzzle. Your presence is as much of a value as anyone else. Enjoy the journey and paint the picture of you life with your own favorite colors. Have fun and just be you, you are perfect as is. <3
Advice to my younger self: you’re good enough, smart enough, talented enough, beautiful enough. Took me years to figure that out. :)
I would tell my 16 year-old-self to eat! The number on the scale was only a numerical representation of your relationship with gravity, nothing else. I wish I had known that! I’m glad I do now, and get to enjoy all of this beautiful vegan food :)
Pinned your Whole Foods Inspired Layered Salad w/Orange Ginger Dressing here: http://pinterest.com/pin/265360603015416352/