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 pinned your summer roll recipe! http://pinterest.com/pin/55591376621840048/
I pined one of your recipes!
I would tell myself not to worry so much about everything, that it doesn’t matter what others think of me, and that I am stronger, smarter, and more able than I imagine.
I also re-pinned (no twitter account) your lentil loaf hopefully for this thanksgiving!
If I could go back in time to the beginning of hogh school era, I would advise myself to have to confidence! I have never had much courage when I was younger to solve a problem on the board or the sing solo part in a play or ask the really handsome guy at school for a dance. I wish I could give myself more of a confidence boost!
When I have my younger one I will bring her to prepare and make a meal with the blender!
I would tell my younger self not to worry so much.. “worry is interest paid on a debt not taken”. Oh, and eat Paleo :)
Dear Younger Self —
Own who you are. Own what you love. Don’t waste time and energy making people like you —- it doesn’t work.
xoxo
To my teenage self: Exercise is worth it. It doesn’t make you uncool to try hard in gym class. Also, get those brows waxed!
I have just tweeted this amazing gift
this experience/instance/fight/friendship/hardship may not matter in 5 or ten years, but the fact that it happened will make you who you are in 5 or ten years.
.. this would apply to so many things, weather positive or negative, that are such a big deal to our yourselves in our younger world that we make very big deals about, that do not really matter – but the fact they happened and how we handle with them, leave an imprint in us, contributing to the person we are today.
I would tell my younger self: Always be yourself and never let others judge you. Most importantly: Stay true to your principles!
Thanks for the giveaway and your wonderful blog!! Congrats on 4 years of blogging, you’re a rockstar!!!
Advice: Stop worrying about what other people think (unless you are interviewing). You are cool just the way you are :)
Take the time to exercise!! Trying to start a regular routine in your 40’s SUCKS!!
This is an awesome giveaway, I’ve been saving up for a Blendtec for a long time! Advice to my younger self would go something like this: “you don’t know everything, dude. And be a little nicer to the parents, it’s not like they’re out to get you. Well maybe, but they definitely love you.” :)
My advice to my younger self:
Stick to your hobbies. You enjoy writing, photography, art, working out; Don’t stop enjoying these things just because your time is limited. You once considered yourself a good artist and writer.
Now, in 2012, I say, “I’m not that great at either.”
Enjoy the skin you live in and treat it well. Indulge yourself in the small pleasures you enjoy so much, and take the time to do so. It refreshes your introvert self.
I suppose this is advice my current self should soak up too.
Great giveaway! :)
Self, if you only knew how great your family was. Treasure it, for one day you will lose family members and there’s no way to get back that time. Spend as much time with your grandma and Aunt as you can. They adore you more than you know, and you will soon regret not asking about every detail of their life. It’s cool to spend time bonding with family. You have much to learn from them and not enough time to do so.
To my younger self: contrary to your current beliefs, you’re not best when you go it alone. It actually tends to bum you out pretty darn bad. Go see your friends. Oh, and also – Mom’s gonna be ok.
When you look back you will always see that you were perfect, you stressed about your looks/body for nothing. So, where you are at now is exactly the same, you are perfect and when you look back on yourself now, you will see that, so why not be happy with yourself now!
I would tell my younger self that No man will make you happy. True happiness comes from within – you have to love yourself and find your own happiness. Only then will you be content in a relationship.