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.
tweeted with love!
I would tell my younger self to follow her dreams of becoming a pastry chef/chef even though it wasn’t “academic” enough for me at the time. 10 years later, it is still my dream, but now much harder to achieve with all of life’s other obstacles. To be young again and to think you knew everything!
Young Amber,
Give up meat and moisturize!!! (life changing!!) oh, and cut yourself some slack lady!!!
The end.
Dear younger, over-achieving, high school (and who am I kidding, before that too) age me,
Take a breather. You have your whole life to be serious and worry. You do extra credit not to make up for things, but to have a higher than possible grade. You stay up all night putting blood, sweat, and tears into projects. You will wear yourself out! Trust me, I know. Sports, school government, college level classes. If you can believe this, you’ll quit college when you discover your passion lies in the arts. Your dedication & tenacity will come in handy then. So save that energy, and skip class every once in a while. Make friends! Have fun. Really, have fun. Oh and don’t do that weird thing with your hair for prom.
Go blenders!!
I would tell myself to stick up for myself, even if it’s terrifying.
I would also remind myself that the world is a huge, exciting place and as a 16 year old, I do not know everything, and do not understand myself or other people yet :)
thanks for your amazing posts!
I would tell my younger self not to worry so much about the future because it will all work out. I would also tell her to stop with all the sweets/junk food because the sweet tooth still hasn’t gone away! Lastly, I’d tell her to respect herself and never change for anyone.
I would tell my younger self to love myself more and accept that everyone has flaws. Flaws are what make us unique and unique is beautiful. You are more than just what is on the outside.
I would remind myself to keep in touch with people from the past – and to rethink some of those snap decisions before following through!
I would tell myself not to worry so much- the things that you think are so monumental and life destroying at the moment will seem so insignificant when you look back on them.
I would tell myself that cheese-its are not a healthy snack choice! My mind was blown when I finally figured out that a plant-based diet was the best thing for my health and sanity. I wish I had known these things sooner!
I would advise myself not to be so shy and just put myself out there more. It doesn’t matter what others think of you as long as you are a good person and love yourself unconditionally.
YAY! I want a blender ;)
I would tell my 16-year-old self to chill out and go easier on my friends. We’re all trying to wade through life and making the best of it :)
Posted to twitter!
I would tell myself to focus less on what others think of me and more on what I think of myself!
I would tell my younger self to go vegan! It’s the one thing I wish I did years ago.
Thank you for the giveaway, Angela. I’ve tweeted it too!
If I could tell my 16 year old self anything, it would have be that you only live once so savour each and every moment and tell your loved ones daily just how much they mean to you.
This was all made apparent to me 8 years ago today and I live by these values every day that passes:
“Thinking today of my Dad…8 years ago today he was taken from us and not a single day goes by where I don’t think about him. I was up last night thinking of how he was never able to see me enter my twenties and all of the exciting events these years have brought to me, he was not around for his son’s wedding or to meet his grandchild, and he never had the opportunity to watch all of his children grow up into responsible and respectful adults. I know he is watching over us all, but his presence is sorely missed each and every passing day. Hold your loved ones close, unfortunately there will be a time when they are far beyond your reach. ♥”
My advice to a younger me would be to tell myself to never ever put anything on toast and then stick it back into the toaster.Why would I think it wouldn’t catch the toaster on fire?!?!
I would tell my self not to stress needlessly about things out of my control – still working on this though…
Don’t sweat the small stuff!
I would tell my younger self to trust myself. To trust that what I have to offer is valuable, I just have to believe it.