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! via @phlyersphan
Dear 16 year-old-me,
You will regret all that beef and body image stress! Life gets better!
From,
Yourself!
Go Blendtec! Going to go pin a recipe as we speak!
Dear younger self: there will be other guys. Don’t stay with a jerk just because you think you aren’t pretty or cool enough. Someone better is out there and will like you no matter what. And spend more time with your girlfriends…they are more valuable than you think.
My advice for my younger self would be this: “kristina, you are loveable and beautiful no matter what your weight is. You can’t define yourself by how other people look or seem. Cut yourself some slack!”
I tweeted about the giveaway!
I would tell teenage myself that food is not a cure for emotional or physical pain and that using food that way would only lead me down a long path no one wants to be on.
I tweeted about the giveaway and followed you on twitter. I love your Twix and Rolo recipes!!! Too. Good.
I would say to my younger self “Trust Yourself” you know what you like to do, follow that path no matter what it takes, don’t make choices based on what you think others would want you do, or not make choices because you think you are not smart enough, you are smart enough if it is what you want to do. Trust Yourself!
I tweeted! Also, I would tell my younger self to stop worrying about what you can’t control and just enjoy life.
I would tell myself to say yes more!
I would tell younger self to adopt a dog ASAP! They will change your life!
I would tell my younger self “Don’t sweat the small stuff… and its ALL small stuff!”
Oh a blender. My blender busted eons ago. I am in desperate need of a new one. That one is really nice looking.
What would I say to my younger self? Oh my, so much. Don’t worry about tomorrow. Do everything you want to do in life and let God handle everything for you. Life goes by way to quickly. Live to make a difference in other people’s lives and take every day slow and enjoy it all!!!
I would tell my younger self that I am smarter, braver and better than I give myself credit for-and to never be ashamed of the difficult times in my childhood. It was never my fault and the scars I bear will help make me into who I will become. I would also start meditating sooner
I would tell myself that you definitely do not know everything, despite how much you think you know. Oh, and to not do so many stupid things that looking back I would be sick knowing my kids were doing them!
I would remind myself that there’s never a point where you finally figure every little thing out, but that it’s okay!
What I would tell my younger self (The Dating Years): Don’t worry that you’re not going to find anyone to love and who loves you just as you are – even though you will go vegetarian, then vegan about 8 years into your marriage and completely throw him for a loop. (Yes – you will go vegan – hard to believe as you’re downing that slice of pepperoni pizza, but you will and there will be plenty of things to eat.) Just because you aren’t dating anyone yet, it’s not because you are a loser – you just have to be patient and wait for a while – he is out there, and he is TOTALLY worth the wait!
I would tell my younger self not to change a thing…the choice you made back then turned me into the person I am today.
I would tell myself to follow my own path in life, not someone else’s :)
I would tell myself not to care so much about what everyone thinks and to live life for yourself!