Giveaways Gone Wild II: Strawesome Straws and More, plus Chocolate-Mint Milkshake!
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!
[Summer has finally arrived, which means time for playing outdoors, fresh food, girls in bikinis. . . and giveaways! I've received several great products for review and giveaway the past few months, so I decided to catch up by offering a summer series--I'll be giving away something every week this month! Here's this week's "Giveaway Gone Wild."]
[Strawberry, kale, protein powder, chia and rice milk smoothie.]
It’s no secret that I love breakfast (I even wrote an entire ebook about the meal), and smoothies are one of my very favorite breakfasts–they’re a delicious, nutritious way to start the day that’s also quick and easy (and who among us doesn’t love quick and easy? At least, that’s what my old boyfriend, Rocker Guy–he of the black leather pants–used to tell me).
A few weeks ago, I was given the opportunity to receive a sample from Strawesome, “the original glass drinking straw.” The beauty of a glass straw, of course, is manifold: first, it’s totally eco-friendly; reusable, non-plastic (and, therefore, also completely free of BPA or other toxins that can be associated with plastic).
[My typical breakfast green smoothie]
Second, Strawesome straws are made of nonporous, ultra-strong glass (the same kind that’s used for Pyrex and space shuttles!), so there’s no worry about it chipping, breaking, or fracturing in the dishwasher (and totally dishwasher safe). And while it’s still glass (and therefore not indestructible), the folks at Strawesome offer a Lifetime Guarantee for each of their handmade straws–if you ever do notice chipping, cracking, or any other breakage, you can request a replacement straw for no charge. Nonporous glass also means that it’s chemically inert (that is, won’t trigger any kind of allergic reaction) and doesn’t absorb germs, bacteria, or other microorganisms that might live in the minute pores and scratches of a plastic straw.
Third, Strawesome straws are great for kids. Their colorful, fun styles and shapes are a perfect way to encourage otherwise reluctant little ones to sip on a fruity (or perhaps vegetabley?) drink. Children love the fact that they make drinking easier and that they can be taken along wherever they go.
[Now, isn't this a beautiful way to start your day?]
Finally, Strawesome straws are beautiful! Each Decorated straw is adorned with a handmade glass accent that’s as unique as your morning green smoothie (or whatever flavor you choose). And how great would it be to own a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork–that can also help you consume healthy beverages?
I made a few simple drinks with my straws and was delighted with both the size and decoration. Somehow, drinking through a straw makes every beverage look and taste that much better. In fact, it felt like a luxury to sip a thick, fruity smoothie through a lovely, sturdy, Strawesome straw.
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!
And now, Strawesome has offered to give away agreed to give a straw similar to mine (8-inch, straight straw) away to one lucky DDD reader (since no two are exactly alike, they can’t promise an identical straw).
Note: this giveaway is for Canadian residents only–apologies to all my international readers! (But there ARE a few other giveaways open to everyone at the moment–see below!)
Here’s how to enter this week’s giveaway: THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!
1. Go to the Strawesome page and tell me which straw you like best in a comment, below.
2. All the usual suspects: “Like” Strawesome on Facebook; follow them on twitter; subscribe to this blog; “Like” DDD on Facebook; follow me on twitter. For each entry, come back and tell me that you did so.
The giveaway will run until Friday, June 17th at midnight my time, after which I’ll randomly choose a winner. Be sure to come back next week to see if you won!
OTHER DDD-RELATED GIVEAWAYS & EVENTS CURRENTLY RUNNING:
- Iris over at The Daily Dietribe is offering a copy of my new ebook, Good Morning! Desserts without Gluten, Sugar, Eggs or Dairy (until June 28th). To read Iris’s lovely review and enter, click here.
- The Simply Bar is giving away a copy of my first cookbook, Sweet Freedom: Desserts You’ll Love without Wheat, Eggs, Dairy or Refined Sugar, until next week (about 30% of the recipes are gluten free; others use spelt flour). To enter, go to their Facebook page (scroll down to the entry that has the Sweet Freedom Cover image beside it).
- Sweet Freedom is on sale for the summer! I negotiated a one-time discount with my publisher and have 150 books to sell–at the lowest price, ever, for the book! You can also combine the hard copy with any one of my ebooks for further discounts. Details here.
- And for those of you in the Toronto area, I’ll be teaching an “Anti-Candida Feasting” cooking class at the Body-Mind Centre in Maple (Keele and Major Mackenzie) on Thursday, June 16th at 6:00-8:00. I’d love to see some of you there! (For full details or to register, click on the “News and Events” tab and scroll down).
[Quick Chocolate-Mint "Milkshake"]
Quick Chocolate-Mint “Milkshake”
suitable for ACD all stages
This is a quick and easy shake recipe that’s great to sip on while you read yor favorite magazine or watch your favorite TV show. The addition of tahini contributes a good hit of calcium (one tablespoon of tahini provides 6% of your daily requirement).
1 cup (240 ml) unsweetened rice, soy, almond or hemp milk
1-1/2 Tbsp (22.5 ml) raw cacao nibs (or use unsweetened carob chips for ACD Stage One)
20-40 fresh mint leaves, to your taste (will depend on the size of the leaves–I used 40 spearmint leaves)
10-15 drops plain or vanilla liquid stevia
1 heaping Tbsp (20 ml) tahini (sesame seed paste)
1 Tbsp (15 ml) chia seeds
Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender (such as a Vita-Mix) and blend until perfectly smooth. If using a conventional blender, grind the chia seeds in a coffee grinder to a fine powder before adding to the blender. Pour into a tall glass (ideally, with a Strawesome straw!) and sip away. Makes one large serving.
Last Year at this Time: A Glowing Recommendation: Angela’s Vegan Overnight Oats Parfait (ACD Stage 2 and beyond)
Two Years Ago: Blog Break
Three Years Ago: Graduation Party: A Sweet Ending and Nostalgia Meme (Recipe for Raw Milky Way Bars–ACD Maintenance only; gluten-free)
*So* wishing I lived in Canada right now so I could enter this giveaway! Guess I’ll just have to make your delicious looking smoothie to enjoy with a regular straw.
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Ricki Reply:
June 13th, 2011 at 4:53 pm
I’m so sorry about that, Hallie! But I have to go with the boundaries of the sponsoring company. But you can enter any one of the other giveaways listed at the bottom of the page!
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I like the Springy Bent Regular Straw. Whenever I buy straws, I always buy the bendy kind! I also love the idea of a reusable, glass straw. I am trying to replace every plastic food “device” I currently use with something glass. (I live in Invermere, B.C.)
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Oops, I forgot to mention that I “liked” Strawsome on Facebook.
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Oooh so pretty! I love the brilliant blue one, but really, they’re all great. How do you easily wash any smoothie particles out of them? Do you have pipe cleaners or something? (perhaps this is a silly question…)
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I “liked” Strawsome on Facebook.
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I’m following Strawsome on Twitter.
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I already like DDD on Facebook.
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Didn’t realize I wasn’t following DDD on Twitter! Now I am!
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I subscribe to DDD.
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i like bright blue extra skinny one!
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i’m a sucker for anything blue so my favorite is the brilliant blue regular straw
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This looks awesome. Never had tahini in my smoothie but this looks great, Ricki!
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I subscribe to DDD
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I follow DDD on FB.
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@Alta, we do have cleaning brushes for sale. But, rinsing thing with hot water right after use helps to clean them easily.
Daedra – Artist @ Strawesome
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Awesome giveaway! I’ve been wanting to try out some straws like this and this is the first only Canadian giveaway I’ve seen. Awesome! I love the kids sets or bendy straws on the site, I’m seriously considering those, but I wonder how they’d hold up with my kids. Maybe I should wait till they’re a bit older
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I subscribe to your site
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The Bumblebee Smoothie Straw is soooo adorable!
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My 6 yr old little boy picked the bumblebee as his favorite
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I just bought a bunch of these straws from Vegan Cuts. I can’t wait to give them a try.
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I like the Big Daddy See-thru Smoothie
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I like Strawesome on FB!
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I already follow you on Twitter
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I already like DDD on FB
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I already subscribe to this blog
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Ooh, I need to get Bright Blue Extra-Long Skinny Straw to fit my to-go smoothie container! I am gonna follow on Twitter!
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this milkshake looks soo good. i’m on a mint kick lately too
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That shake look so fabulous. I have lots of mint growing in my garden at home
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YAYAYYAYAY! FUNN!!!!!!
I adore all those lovely straws, but my favourite I think is the “Amber Eclipse” – so lovely!
Thanks, Ricki!
xo
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I “liked” Strawsome on Facebook!
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I am now following Strawsome on Twitter!
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I like you on Facebook!
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And last but not least, I follow you on Twitter.
Phew!
That was fun!
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I like the Brilliant Blue Smoothie straw, simple but pretty. I also follow you and Strawesome on twitter as @OutToLunchC
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Awesome giveaway, though I have some glass straws already, so don’t count me in. I just wanted to say that this is an exceptionally tasty looking smoothie recipe.
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I do/did all the things listed, but the Twitter link seemed like some random boy? Should be @BeStrawesome. So count me for all the entries!
I have a stainless steel straw I carry everywhere with me but I would love to have a gorgeous glass one to show off! I like the Springy Bent Regular Straw. Thanks!
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Ricki Reply:
June 14th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
Thanks for pointing out the error, Christy–corrected now!
And wow, how cool is a stainless steel straw??? 
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OMG these are awesome!!!! I just heard a piece on NPR about a 9yr old that has started a campaign to save the straws. He was so eloquent and articulate and shared some interesting, disheartening stats on how much waste there is just from straws!
So this is incredibly timely and awesome!
I love them all but if I had to decide on one – the Amber Eclipse would probably be the one
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I like Strawsome on FB!
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I like DDD on FB too! LOVE really! Going to make your raw lemon poppy seed bars again for company!
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Ricki Reply:
June 14th, 2011 at 3:23 pm
Thanks so much! Yay! So glad you like the bars and think they’re good enough to serve to company.
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I like the Pink Lemonade straw, it’s so cute and summery!
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I liked Strawesome on Facebook.
Cathy V
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I follow @BeStrawesome on Twitter.
Dbl_latte
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I subscribe to your blog.
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I like DDD on facebook.
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I follow @RickiHeller on Twitter.
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I liked both Strawesome and DDD on Facebook!
My fav straw is: Peachy Green Bent Smoothie Straw
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I like the bumblebee smoothie straw the best! Also, yay for a giveaway for Canadian readers!
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I have been on SUCH a mint kick. That sound like it would hit the spot!
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I know it is simple, but I really love the To-Go Green Extra-Long Skinny Straw! I have a tall glass waterbottle and this straw would be perfect!
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I like you on facebook
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I like Strawesome on facebook
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I subscribe to your blog
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I follow you on Twitter
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I follow Strawesome on Twitter
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Oh my gosh, I’d love the Glow In the Dark Straw – how cool is that??
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I liked your FB page
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I already subscribe to your blog
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I liked Strawesome on FB
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I already follow you on twitter
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I follow Strawesome on twitter. phew – think i covered all the bases!
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I love the Glow-in-the-Dark Smoothie Straw! Sounds mysterious! It would make a great night light when I have my breakfast smoothie at 5am.
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I adore all the straws and love using the one I all ready have by Strawesome. And I got it down to four, but if I had to really pick Springy Bent Regular Straw but it was a close tie with the Pink Lemonade Regular Straw.
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I follow your blog on google reader
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Twisted Sipster Straw!
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Okay, I like Strawesome on Facebook
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Following Strawesome on Twitter too
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And, I like you on Facebook – think I have done it all now, looking forward to sipping my smoothie
Thanks, fun promotion.
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They are all so nice!! I like the springy bent straw.
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[...] Chocolate Mint Milkshake from Diet, Dessert, and Dogs [...]
GLOW IN THE DARK smoothie straw!!
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How cute is the bumblebee one?!!
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I like the lady’s slipper straw!
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I like Strawsome on Facebook
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I follow @beStrawsome on Twitter!
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I know I’m too late for the giveaway, but I love these straws – thanks for sharing!
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I adore peppermint and I love me a good peppermint smoothie/shake. It’s things like this that are going to help me feel a little less deprived. I can’t wait to try it. Thank you for sharing
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Ricki Reply:
June 24th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
Nicole, have you tried the carob-coconut sweeties? Saved me for the first 2 months of the diet.
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Hi – do your dessert books have photos? also I’m in stage one of a candida program and am not allowed fruit for about 3 months. Do your books contain dessert recipes w/o fruit. Need to know before ordering. A sample or two of a recipe would be great.
Thanks.
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Ricki Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 2:18 pm
Hi Donna,
If you go to the ebook page for Desserts without Compromise, you’ll see a list of all the recipes as well as which ones have photos (most of them do). There are also live links to the recipes that have already appeared on the blog, so you can see those and decide if they’re suited to your version of the ACD. A couple do contain fruit, but most don’t. The Anti-Candida Feast ebook also offers four desserts without fruit as well. Hope this helps!
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