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.
trust and love yourself no matter what life throws at you. you are worthy and valuable!
Dear 18 year old Sarah,
Be concerned about your health now. It will make your twenties less stressful. You will feel better if you eat better.
Retweeted the contest on my Twitter account soulmarket!
Note to my younger self: Don’t get so caught up in the small stuff; don’t obsess over every little detail. Things aren’t always going to work out the way you’d planned, but that isn’t always a bad thing. The people around you–people who love you–are there looking out for you, so keep them in mind, don’t be afraid, and don’t take them for granted. Have faith in yourself and in them. ♥
I would advise my 16 year old self to start saving money now! High school kids with all that extra spending money to burn…no rent, no utilities, no bills in general…I could have had a sweet nest egg by now!
Dear Younger Barb,
Do not start drinking soda. It is so bad for you!
Love,
Older Barb
Dear younger me,
You’re incredible. You don’t even know how amazing you really are. Stop comparing yourselves to others. Just don’t do it. Love yourself. Be kind to yourself. Be open minded. Listen. You’re beautiful inside and out and deserve the absolute best things in life. Stay humble, question things, but never question your own self-worth. Because you are so worth it. Every little bit.
Love always,
You
Lots of recipes posted on pinterest :)
Dear Younger Megan,
Find Oh She Glows sooner—You will eat better!
Older Megan
I had to comment on this…made me laugh!! Thank you for trying out the recipes!
I would tell myself to not spend so much time studying for perfect grades. Grades are just numbers. Get out and do things with people. Relationships are more important and last longer too.
Dear younger self,
Spend more time with your family. You’ll miss them more and more after you don’t live together in the same house.
Officially tweeted.
Congrats Angela !! if i could give any advice to my 16 year old..i would tell myself to be less of an introvert!! give the people around you a chance and get to know them more !! You wont regret it!!
Dear Maria,
I love you! Always Live a beautiful life! It doesn’t matter if the blue clouds are grey, it’s okay, it’s beautiful day for you to live. just know that everything will always be okay. Play, have fun, laugh, love, live, learn, always. Sometimes You may feel like you’re high, like you’re low, like you don’t like it here, or like you’re no one. No worries, Maria, darling – YOU are enough!
Dear younger version of me:
You know how you always worry about what those popular girls think of you? Well, fear not: you exude more self-confidence, beauty, and kind-heartedness than all of them combined. And just wait until you find out who you marry!
Enjoy the ride, me.
I Tweeted (yes, that’s a word!) @mariacornucopia :D
I would tell my younger self not to be so hard on myself! The time goes by so quickly, so just be sure and enjoy life as much as possible :)
stop procrastinating
take better care of yourself
Start eating healthy and devloping healthy habits now – you really will fall in love with running, and it’s nowhere near as hard as you think it is!!
Candice, take more risks. Just do it. You are creative and artistic and that is something to run with, not store away.
Advice I would give my younger self, be very careful in the sun.