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 that the nice guys win in the end! my husband and I were friends for a year before I opened my eyes that he was the most amazing guy!
I would tell my 16 year old self to stick with vegetarianism.. and eat healthy! I went back at 25, but still. It would have been great to have those 9 years free of chicken tenders. :/
I would tell myself that Kent was right “Do your own thing, you’re good at it.” But not about the part that sex is what makes life beautiful. Just have faith in yourself, and do what you can to treat yourself right.
I would tell myself that you will regret things you never did a lot more than you regret doing anything. Basically, don’t get stuck in a rut. Sometimes doing what’s comfortable is easy but boring… even if it just turns into a good story.
Enjoy time with your family, take some cooking lessons from mom and break up with your high school boyfriend sooner rather than later!
Stick to your guns girlie… Don’t be so easily influenced by others, you don’t look ‘cooler’ doing stupid stuff, it just makes you look weak. Don’t be afraid to be yourself and don’t stoop down. Have some bloody respect for yourself! Open up! Oh and don’t forget you have to love yourself before you can love anyone else. <3
I would tell myself that no matter how horrible high school seems (applicable to any other period of time in life, I believe), that it will only be a blip of my history 8 years down the road. Perspective :).
Advice I would give to my younger self: You are a creative person who is most happy when you are doing something creative. Don’t put away your creative tools and let them sit on a shelf for years before you visit them again. Make art, write, take photos, this is what makes you feel most alive, and it is SO IMPORTANT for you to focus on the stuff that lights you up. You will never regret devoting time to your art, but you will regret that you put it away for so long.
That high school isn’t the most important thing ever!
Dear younger me,
Don’t be so afraid to make a decision in life. Any decision is better then making no decision at all because then you are making life happens FOR you, instead of doing nothing while life happens TO you. Don’t worry about the path not taken, let go of the fear of ‘what if’. Take a leap!! There are experiences to be had and lessons to be learned either way! Focus on, nurture and love the path taken- and all will be wonderful… TRUST in yourself and LET GO of the fears…
♥ Love ♥ Namaste ♥
Sincerely,
Adult Danna
Don’t cry over the past, it’s gone
Don’t stress about the future it’s hasn’t arrived yet
Live in the present and make it beautiful
I would tell my younger self not to care so much about what others think of yourself, because in the end it doesn’t matter what every single person thinks of you, but who you really care about.
I would tell myself not too worry, everything will work out. Oh, and I would love to advise myself not to buy a house at the peak of the real estate bubble. Ha! Live and learn.
I hated cats when I was younger but now fell in love with a rescue kitty we got last year.
dear 16 year old sara,
You don’t need to hide your boyfriend from Mom..she’s pretty good at giving advice on that kinda stuff! No need to feel awkward :)
Don’t give up your dreams for a man. You never know where the relationship is headed. You may only get one chance at that dream that you worked so hard for to let it slip away.
I tweeted
I would tell my 16-year old self to not grow up too fast! You’ll have the rest of your life to be an adult. :)
I would tell myself to care less about what other people think. The sooner you start making decisions to make YOU happy, you’re golden ;)
My advice to my younger self…..”don’t ever settle”!!!! Live YOUR life to the fullest then add to that life and enjoy!! Also love your body…..it is more beautiful than you think….you will look back at it with fondness!!!