I Painted My Shoes

I love these shoes:

except for this:

I wore them once and the paint came off the toes... so I used a Sharpie to try and camouflage it.

Not so good :(

When I saw Sugar Bee's shoe project a while back

the wheels started turning.

I threw caution to the wind this week

and

PAINTED MY SHOES!

I used this liquid metallic paint by Modern Masters. 

I picked it up at a local paint store.  It is intended for walls.

This was after one coat.

After a few touch ups:

What do you think?

Wear them or toss them?

Linking up to: Under the Table and Dreaming
Sugar Bee's Take a Look Tuesday
Domestically Speaking's Power of Paint Party

Back to School: the substitute

picture courtesy of scienceblogs.com

I've been teaching for almost ten years

but
I haven't done a tonne of

substitute teaching.

For the last little bit, I've been almost full timing as a sub.
OK, sometimes my heart races a little bit  - but for the most part it has been great.

What I have discovered is that I really love the kids.
I thought that it would be hard getting to know the students
if I were only with them once in a while.
But it's working out that I am just getting to know
a whole lot more kids
than I would if I had a homeroom.

So I'm putting more of my creative energies into the classroom these days
but I'm still thinking about you my bloggy friends.

I've been hoping to get to a pair of shoes that I really love. 
Maybe I could give them a touch of  Sugar Bee. 

She modge podged shoes people!  And they are gorgeous!!!

I'll keep you posted when I get brave enough to jump in on the shoe project :)

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

I have been up to:

1. A lot of subbing :)  A new adventure every day.

2. Trying to keep up with all my daily duties.

3. Completing the application for a Master of Education program.

4. The 21 Day Organizing Challenge.

#3 went in the mail today.  Holy moly, I am really doing this.

I think I can I think I can I think I can.

Day 17 Foiled... Maybe 18 too

 So I haven't forgotten the challenge. 

But the mail centre and the keepsake/memento organization are just going to have to wait because

I have been busy wracking my brain

 and banging on these

in order to fill one of these.

I'll keep you posted.

In the meantime you can check out what all the other lemon ladies are accomplishing

at  A Bowl Full of Lemons.

Day 16: Getting the Twins out of the Fridge

I love twins. 

Dr. Pepper and I were hoping for twins.

BUT

not these kinds of twins:

No wonder the Fridge was so full.

But Toni at A Bowl Full of Lemons to the rescue.

Today's challenge is the fridge.

Here is what I started with:

I unloaded, deconstructed,

scrubbed and rebuilt the fridge.

I am checking Day 16 off my to do list

and linking up with all the other challengees

at A Bowl Full of Lemons.





Day 15: Medicine Storage

We store our meds

up high

so they are out of little hands' reach.

So, this is the system that I fine tuned this weekend when

Toni gave us the hint that meds would be coming up.

No before pics, but imagine the basket with A LOT of bottles and bandages etc

mish moshed together.

I wanted to keep the basket,

but I wanted to categorize into kids' meds, cold meds, bandages etc.

So,

I used Ziploc freezer bags to categorize

and now I have my medicine file folder style.

I am loving it.

Said Basket.

Notice Dr. Pepper in the background.  He's cooking supper.

I'm a blessed lady :)

Kids' Meds.

Yes, I am doing this while I am waiting for supper to be done.

Table is set :)

 Thermometer with accessories.

 Natural Remedies.

 Zippy medicine folders :)

Up Up and Away

on the top shelf of the pantry.

Day 15 Done.

I'm linking up at A Bowl Full of Lemons.

Thanks for looking.

Day 14: Under the Bathroom Sink

Yahoo, I got this one done on Saturday.  Here is proof:

Before:

This area was hard for me to keep tidy until I started using this plastic drawer set.  I keep all my extra supplies, toothbrushes, deodorant, razors in it.  I just tidied up the drawers a bit.

And here it is now. 

Day 14 Complete.

I'm linking up at A bowl full of lemons. 

I'm Catching Up: Day 13 & Day 1

Today's challenge is the medicine cabinet.

I don't have one

so I worked on this tray that I keep all my beauty potions in :)

I emptied it out, tossed a few things, wiped down the tray and bottles

and Voila:

OK, it's not stunning, but it's clean.

Since I missed the junk drawer challenge

I did penance today and

organized under the bathroom sink and the drawers.

Yikes, there was a lot of hair.  

But it's all organized and clean now. 

Phew. 

Fitting the organizing time into my schedule has been a challenge,

but I am really enjoying

grabbing my spices out of my organized spice cabinet

and towels out of my linen closet.

Now to tackle that pantry - yikes!

Happy weekend. 

I'm linking up @ A Bowl Full of Lemons.

Drumroll Please.....

All the entries are in

and we have randomly selected the winner.

Congratulations to

Rachellabella

for winning

em-belle-ish's

first giveaway.

I'll be e-mailing you Rachellabella with the details of how to redeem your prize.

Thank you to everyone who signed on as follower or left a comment.

Thank you CSN for sponsoring our first Giveaway.

All of you are so kind.

Happy Weekend Everyone!!!

Giveaway & 21 Day Challenge Day 12

CSN approached me

asking if I would be willing to host a giveaway

with one of their sites.  After a little research I found that CSN Stores have over 200 online stores where you can find everything from stylish  Modern Dining Room Furniture

to cute cookware to chic lighting pieces.  

I was impressed by the variety of stylish and interesting products that they offer. 

I love the retro school look of this dining set.

Can you imagine all the amazing tablescapes you could create with these?

I think this would make an eye catching centerpiece filled with oranges or pears.

And in keeping with today's theme for the 21 Day Challenge

I picked a stunning salt and pepper shaker set.

My boys would love these.  Check out where the pepper is coming out. 

LOL.

 Truly, CSN offers something for everyone. 

CSN is giving away a one-time use $25 gift certificate to use at one of their 200+ websites.

Giveaway Details:

*one entry for leaving a comment on this post

*one entry for being an em-belle-ish follower

*Please Note: this contest is only open to Canadian or USA residents 

*Winner will be selected randomly January 14th @ 8 PM Mountain Standard Time

Now on to the 21 Day Challenge: Spice Cabinet

Before:

After:

Day 12 Complete!

Linking to A Bowl Full of Lemons 21 Day Challenge.

21 Day Challenge: Freezer

Quick Snapshots of my Freezer Before:

OK... here are the before pictures.

It is totally unorganized.

Begone glow sticks, crumbs, and plastic wrap.

I threw out old blueberries and bananas and assorted outdated this and that. 

I wiped everything out.

Now: Meat & Leftover Dutch Meatball Soup Drawer.

Bread, pie crust, tater tots, Bacon bits, ice cream and Cool Whip. 

Really, that is a strange combination... oh well, we don't eat it at once.

It still doesn't look STUNNING, but it is ORGANIZED and CLEAN. 

Ice cubes will be added after the trays have been through the dishwasher.

Thanks Toni.  I'm linking up to the 21 Day Challenge here.

Tomorrow, I will be posting my very first giveaway.  I'm so excited!  I hope you can come back for a chance to win.

21 Day Challenge and Me.... sigh

In that Gung-Ho feeling

that January brings

I signed up for

this:

But,

I am soooooooo

falling behind.

{Insert mental image of me hanging head in shame}

So I'm running behind the wagon trying to jump back on.

Just wanted to let you know.

PS I have a my first giveaway coming up REALLY soon! 



Nothing says LOVE like ... & 21 Day Challenge Update

Dr. Pepper went out of his way to make my day special.

He baked a Chocolate Fudge Cake.

He flipped burgers in the flipping cold.

He helped the boys put sparklers and candles on the cake.

I'm feeling very loved today.

My boys have given me extra hugs and kisses. 

The youngest used his allowance to buy a special DVD for me.

My neighbor to the "south"

brought me a gift that says she knows me well

(bubble bath and a pedicure set)

I've had many personal, facebook, phone, and blogger birthday wishes.

So far, 36 has been awesome.

Thanks everyone!

PS. Here is my bootroom pic taken today to prove that it's still in order :)

I've got to play the "21 day challenge" fairly.