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.
Advice I would give my 16 year old self would be to be proud of who I am, not try to change to please others.
I re-pin your recipes almost daily. :)
I’d tell my younger self that Grandma is right – everything has a way of working out + just follow your heart. She’s so right!
The advice that I would give my younger self is:
Never come into agreement with the comments that you don’t have something powerful to share. You have a voice. Speak up and share your heart!
Quality over quantity. In every aspect of life – from friends to foods to words – from this moment forward.
I have heard alot from the wise ones before me and due to my Father being married 3 times and yes he drug me through all 3… :-) I heard more than my fair share. Life is simple really and the words are all the same..said in different ways. Listen to your elders, don’t talk back, don’t let anyone tell you you can’t and suck it up..are just a few and still good to this day!
Congrats on your Blogaversity and I look forward to the future with you.
Anna :-)
Great question! I would tell my younger self to just be yourself. I was so shy when I was younger, so afraid of what everyone else would think of me, that I wasn’t my true self and I probably missed out on some good opportunities. As I grew older into college and now into my career I see that being unique is often what makes you most interesting and most special to other people.
Best advice to give my younger self would have to be: keep creating and making art, through the good times and the bad. Creativity is one of the most important things the soul needs.
If I could tell my 16 year old self anything.. it would be that the grass is GREENER on the other side and not to worry so much. Life always has a way of working out even when it doesn’t appear that way. Oh and I would tell myself to eat a lot more veggies ;)
I would advice my younger self to not resist the lifestyle of raw veganism. As a middle teenager I struggled to even go vegetarian because of what my family would think. Soon after I studied mindfulness and compassion and soon without and fret, I was vegan and now completely raw vegan thanks to all the support from online sites like this!! Now I am inspired to start my own blog for raw veganism for mindfulness, compassion, and athletics.
Now, I can glow too =)
Namaste
I pinned your mac&cheese recipe the other day and just commented on it, but while I’m here, I might as well give some advice to my younger self. It certainly can’t hurt! :)
Dear 18-year-old Dalyce, you are not your circumstances. I know you feel alienated, isolated, and so painfully different from your peers, but honestly, everybody struggles. It may sound trite but you really are stronger and more well-rounded for all that you’ve been through. Please learn to love yourself, and eradicate shame from your mental processes entirely. True happiness can only be shame-free.
love, Dalyce
Spend less time concerned with your appearance.
I would tell myself to listen to my Mom more! She knows more than you think.
I tweeted!! Love your site and this blender!
It ain’t that deep. Live and speak your truth.
I shared on twitter!
16 year old me, you want to be your own person, so be it. You don’t have to follow your parents, follow your own heart and do what you know to be right.
I would tell myself that I will make mistakes, but to be gentle and forgive myself (and others). That I should assume goodwill towards myself and others, knowing that my life is filled with love. That it’s ok to say “no” when my boundaries are pushed, and ok to say “yes” to love and expansion (-:
I’d tell my future self that marrying an engineer really comes in handy:)
Advice for my younger self: Spend less time worrying about grades and money. Enjoy life a little more because YOLO!
I tweeted the giveaway! If ‘tweeted” wasn’t a word before, it is now! :)