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’ve repinned MOST of your recipes!
Repinned on Pinterest too!
Great giveaway! I would tell my younger self not to stress out so much and compare myself with others. No one notices your faults nearly as much as you do!
I would tell my 16 year old self that you will not always be that naturally skinny andbe able to eat whatever you want without gaining weight. You should always stay active and eat right because as you get older it gets harder to find time to do the things that will keep you healthy. It will make the rest of your like so much easier to do what you can to stay at that healthy weight even if it takes a little more effort when you get older.
I’d tell my 16 year-old self to quit worrying about what other people thought, because she’s a pretty cool person (though she didn’t realize it at the time, which makes me sad every time I think about it). Play video games, listen to industrial music, just be herself!
I tweeted about your giveaway!! :) https://twitter.com/mrsortelle/status/263677541871677441
Save all the money you get for graduation. Save it. And don’t wear that lipstick. Yuck.
Also, tweeted!
Reprinted your no bake peppermint patty bars.
I tweeted! ;) https://twitter.com/xoxoxkoxoxox/status/263677951969742849
I would tell myself to enjoy the body that was given to me. As I look back on my younger years, I actually looked pretty good even though I constantly beat myself up. I always fed my mind with negative thoughts that I was too fat, my hair was too straight (just who invented perms?) and I was always dieting. It’s a continuing journey to accept the body that I’m living this life in but now I love it. Now there’s wrinkles all over to deal with but I see them as markers of a life well lived. I wouldn’t trade any of them for a younger self.
I would tell my younger self to not stress the little things, they don’t mean anything in the end.
Advice I would give to my 16 year old self – You may not believe it, but one day your mother will be one of your best friends :)
Also, pinned your roasted spaghetti squash recipe … it’s the first time I’ve ever had perfectly cooked spaghetti squash (it’s turned out so mushy in the past), and I’ve made it 3 times since. All my coworkers are jealous when I bring it for lunch, mixed with black beans, peppers, red onion, jalepeno, and chili powder! ;)
(Pin here: http://pinterest.com/pin/135248795031061480/)
I would tell my younger self to have the guts to go vegan at that age! It’s the greatest thing I’ve done, and it only takes a little courage to tell your parents that you are going to and that’s that.
I would tell myself to stay away from old men!!
Dear Michelle of last week,
Pay better attention to the directions when trying to make Angela’s delicious vegan chocolate chip cookies so that instead of just tasting delicious, they also look delicious.
I would tell myself that all the things I’ve worried about (being taller, cuter, having less acne, more friends, and a boyfriend) don’t matter at all. The only thing that matters is loving myself and then those who are supposed to love me will come to me.
my advice: relax, it’s all going to be OK and life is going by so fast so just don’t be so hard on yourself (and others) and quit working so hard and have some fun!
I repinned your chocolate zucchini muffins (which I’m going to mail to my friend at West Point).