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 have told myself to be more social and to make more friends. For my younger self, this would have meant to be more confident about myself, and to approach people I would have been interested in becoming friends with. It would have meant branching out beyond the small group of friends I was glad to have. It’s easier to realize now that I’m out of college.
i’d tell my 16 year old self to be less serious and just take life as it comes. it doesn’t matter and you’ll get there eventually. be free and joyful!
Dear younger self,
You are beautiful. Inside and out. Don’t let anyone tell feel different. Especially a boy. You are smart, strong and amazing just the way you are. Please do not waste your time trying to be someone you’re not. Especially for a boy. Be yourself. Love yourself. Embrace yourself. Remember this always and you will go far.
And for the love of pete, do NOT get your nose pierced. Yes, it will look cute. But it will get infected and have to be taken out. All three times you get it pierced.
The end.
Love,
Your older, but not necessarily wiser, self
To me: mbrace what you have around you and to look within.
I Tweeted
I would tell my younger self to ask for help when I need it. Too many times I’ve kept it all in till the situation exploded in my face.
I would say that school isn’t only about school work – take the time to be curious! And worry less about what others may think about you.
My advice to myself would be: Love who you’ve been created to be. Don’t worry about impressing others with someone you aren’t. Have confidence and embrace your true self.
my advice to my younger self would be to take more risks and don’t worry about what other people think of them. I was way too responsible at 16
I re-pinned your lentil walnut apple loaf! I’ve read the raving reviews and can’t wait to make it as part of my Thanksgiving spread!
My advice to my younger self: Never say never. When I was younger, I was never going to get married.. and then I met him and married him this past summer. :)
Tweeted it!
tweet tweet tweet!
Dear younger self, Mom knows what she is talking about. Smile and be nice to everyone. Your soul mate is who you least expect. Be humble, honest and sincere.
I’d tell myself to quit school earlier. I know that’s a weird one, but I really hated school until university and I think I’d have ended up with better study skills had I stayed at home.
I would advise my younger self to seriously focus on what I want to pursue as a career…maybe then i wouldn’t be two years out of college and still trying to figure it out!
Dear younger Jonny, the beauty of life is yet to come. Happiness grows with maturity, but don’t ever lose your youth.
I also pinned “Sneaky Red Lentil “Hummus” & Kitchen Sink Veggie Wrap” on my wall cause it looks uh-MAZ-ing! Yum…
Less DRAMA. More fun. Laugh often. Forget the self-consciousness. Forget feeling less-than. Believe in yourself. Step up. Step forward. You can do so much more than you know – even if no one encourages or supports you. You are enough. Any one of us can change the world – you included!
Grow in kindness. Give more of yourself to your sister.
My advice would be to take more chances.