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 have pinned quite a few of your recipes on pinterest!
http://pinterest.com/alannaburke/tried-true-recipes/
Follow the path you love to get to where you want to be. You only die once, but you live every day.
I LOVE this!
I would absolutely tell my young self to make sure I loved and accepted myself for who I am right now ,and for what others expected me to be.
I also tweeted a reply :)
I would advise my younger self to be more disciplined in saving…not just for the sake of having more money, but for the discipline of self-deprivation. I would also alert myself at a younger age to the ways our society brainwashes our thinking through marketing.
I would tell my younger self that most things you worry about don’t happen, so enjoy the present moment and stop living in the past and future. I would encourage myself to find the beauty in every situation, to laugh at the silly tests life throws us, to spread happy vibes and smiles to everyone you meet, to always treat others with respect, to take the time to really listen, to soak in every bit of wisdom and knowledge that has been passed along to me and to send love along each connection you make to others and the world around you.
I would tell myself to question things more and not be afraid to doubt.
I would tell myself to not be in such a rush and that growing up will happen fast enough as is. I would tell myself to enjoy my time on the swing set.
Advice to my younger self… GET OUTSIDE! If you sit at the computer for hours on end, you WILL meet creepy old men and you WILL develop some serious spinal issues. And then you’ll get sciatica and be sad every single day for years to come. So go run around, throw a ball, swim a lap, and get off your butt!
Tweeted! (@lemonslush)
Listen kid….
Try hard because it’s worth it. Besides, if you don’t learn how to apply yourself now, it’s going to be pretty tough to learn later in life. Follow your dreams. They are not unattainable.
Dear self: when “old” people joke about how their metabolism just goes to hell once they turn 30, it’s really true. So, while I’m all for appreciating the fact that you can enjoy the pizza and ice cream free-for-all while you’re young, how about giving your future self a break and ease up a bit so it’s not such a hard crash when we learn that exercise and healthy living really is necesary.
I would advise myself not to worry so much about what others think.
I would tell my younger self that things will get easier and with each struggle you go through it will only make you stronger!
Thank you for all your wonderful advise you post and for your wonderful blog, I read it daily! :)
“Younger self,” I would say, “work hard on the things that will serve you well all your life. Practice your violin more, read more, and always be kinder than necessary. Commit your way to the Lord…for the right reasons.”
I would say “Hey, 16 year old me! First things first… get off the scale, stop sucking in your tummy in front of the mirror, skip those 500 crunches you convinced yourself you had to do in order to have Britney Spears’ rock hard abs, and go enjoy dinner with your old geezer parents who love and support you no matter what, just the way you should love and support YOURSELF no matter what. You are and always have been and always WILL be a beautiful person, tummy rolls and all. Honor who you are and live compassionately, for yourself and others.”
advise to my younger self? Listen to your body, listen closely to your inner self. Don’t do what eveyone else expects from you, especially your boyfriend! Look around, there is a huge world out there, take advantage!
I would tell myself that I am loved, that I am a good person, and that some day I will believe in myself.
I would keep my pale self out of the sun!
I tweeted! :D