Busted Toms to Upcycled Toms Sandals

I love my Toms!  But like all other Toms.. the toes wore out on my favorite pair of Burlap loves.  I was devastated.. but then like the Phoenix rising from the ashes hope arose in this photo from Pinterest.

Now of course there was NO tutorial.... until now that is!

Here is mine!

Tools needed

Pencil

Knife (don't panic!)

Scissors

Hot Glue Gun

Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust (just kidding!)

Start with your busted Toms

Next trace the pattern that you would like your Toms to have on the top of the shoe.. I just followed that Natural flow of the shoe.

Now take a DEEP breath.. it's going to be OK.. and CUT! 

Use your knife to cut the lines and then use your scissors to cut the lines straight.

Start with the front around the toe area.

Peekaboo! 

Then cut your deep V's to the front.

Now onto the sides.. for the outside leave 1 bar

and for the inside none.

Then Hot glue the bottoms back into place..

so your shoes won't be talking to you..

Mine would say "Murderer.. you are a shoe Murderer!"

And wear them with pride that not only did you SAVE your shoes..

(Nice Tat!)

but you upcycled them into an even cooler pair that ALL of your friends will ENVY!

Now go get that Pedicure you've been wanting.. you deserve it since you just saved $50 by making yourself a new pair of shoes!
I am sharing with

Love,

Pinkapotamus

Under 300 Followers Blog Hop #10

Happy Thursday Pink Hippos!  Today's exciting edition of the Under 300 Followers Blog hop.. hosted by me..

Amie The Pink Hippo, Amanda and Lelanie starts with kind of a funny story that leads into our feature!  A few weeks ago I made this sweet first birthday crown for my neighbor's daughter.

.

Well at the party was a lovely lady, Denise who kept gushing about how adorable my crown was.  And as she is a SUPER proud Aunt she told me that her niece had a blog and that I should send her a picture of the crown.   So of course, being the super shy Me that I am.. I DID the next morning.. and that is how I met Courtney one of the bloggy moms at

Take it away Courtney!

We are two moms, Julie and Courtney who are close friends, who happen to be neighbors!  Between us we have four little kids, three and under, and spend our days chasing after them.

  We hope to share a little bit of our adventures in "mommy world"!

Now these modest ladies didn't share this with us.. but I will.. they are super organized and have some awesome ideas to share for each day of the week..

Monday Funday and Giveaway..
This week's giveaway is Earrings

For the Moms Tuesday where the ladies share fun Mommy ideas and advice

Where to Wednesdays where they share their field trip adventures

For the Kids Thursdays where they share their kids favorite things.. and of course Friday favorites where they share their favorite products!

You can also visit them on Facebook

Now let's get this party started!

Please, PLEase PLEASE don't link to a specific post but to your HOMEPAGE! If you want to share your cooking and crafting goodness.. stop on by HERE on Mondays and share with ME the Pink Hippo or on Saturdays and share with Lelanie @ http://www.to-sew-with-love.com/

We promise we are friendly bloggy ladies.. so if you have questions leave us a comment and we will be happy to answer! Let us know you follow and we will follow you back!

Grab a button,

<a rel="nofollow" href="javascript:bloghop()"><img src="http://i1220.photobucket.com/albums/dd447/citygirl101/under300followers.jpg" /></a>

follow along and if you want to really share add the hop to your blog by adding the code below to your blog post..

The MORE the Merrier!

Love,
Pinkapotamus & Friends

Peasant Pasta Salad

I HATE cooking in the summer so all of our summer meals consist of grilled meat and yummy side salads.  This is one of my favorite salad's modified to fit our summer meals! 

Ingredients

1/2 Cucumber

1/2 Package of Halved Cherry Tomatoes

1/2 cup Cured Olives (kalamata and sundried tomatoe stuffed green)

1 Red Onion

1 1/2 Lemons Squeezed

3/4 lb Penne Pasta

Healthy handfuls of chopped Parsley and Dill

1/2 cup Olive Oil

1/2 cup Feta Cheese crumbled

Salt and Pepper to taste

Start by mixing cucumber, tomatoes, olives, red onion, herbs, lemon juice and olive oil.

Add pasta while semi hot, then add feta cheese so that some of it melts into the salad.  Then season with salt and pepper to taste.

We served it with grilled chicken that was marinated in Lemon juice, canola oil, oregano and salt and pepper.   And of course a side of homemade hummus and pita chips.

So light and refreshing.. the perfect dinner for a hot summer night!

Enjoy!
I am sharing with

http://prettyshabbyuk.blogspot.com/


Love,

Pinkapotamus

600 Followers Giveaway Winners!

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner .. or in this case just lots of crafty loot that was up for grabs!  After a whopping 648 entries.. we have the winners!

First up the winner of a Gorgeous Necklace from the

Soda Pop Collection at Bluebird Cottage Designs

is ScrappyDiva Maryanne!

The winner of this adorable Felt Coin Purse and Storage Basket from Toastie Studio is

Clenna Lyons Emory

The winner of the Fantastic $10 gifte certificate to Scrappy Gifts

is Lelanie Denso!

The winner of this BEA-utiful Makeup Bag from Kate Pixley Designs

is Allison Oliver!

And the winner of my very own Handmade Felt Flower Crown from Pinkapotamus is

is Christa Krebs!

Winners you will be hearing from my lovely giveaway sponsors shortly! 
A BIG thanks to all who joined in and for helping me hit 700 followers.. another giveaway will be headed to a Pink Hippo Land near you!

Love,

Pinkapotamus

Pink Hippo Party #86

Happy Monday Pink Hippos!  Welcome to yet another exciting edition of the Pink Hippo Party!  This week for us has been CRAZY!  Trips to the lake with ALL of the grandparents (not together) rotating sleepovers for the kids, hiking in the environmental center and of course our first Book Club meeting for the summer! (And all of this with the hubs working super later overtime.. like til midnight every night.. ughh!) 

Here's my favorite photo for this week!

Now onto our FEATURES

Sorry for not commenting this week.. but like I said .. it was CRAZY.. I promise to be a BETTER blogger this week!

First up is Kerri @ http://shakentogether.blogspot.com created this adorable "Oh Happy Day" banner!

Makes me Happy just looking at it!

Next is Kayla @ http://anatomyofacraft.blogspot.com/  created this super Fun EAT sign for her kitchen!

Makes me hungry just looking at it!

Then we have Judy @  who created this beautifully patriotic 4th of July front porch!

I just adore her burlap pillow.. and guess what?  There's a tutorial!  Yay!

And last but certainly not Least is Ashley @ http://cherishedbliss.com/  who created this Sweet Pink Lemonade party for her daughter!

Go check out the Pink Lemonade Crown she made too!

Want to be featured next?  You know what to do.. link up, be a follower, grab a button and share some LOVE!

<a href="http://www.pinkapotamus.blogspot.com/"_blank"><img src="http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee431/amieirwin/Pink%20Hippo/PinkHippo005-2.jpg" border="0" alt="Pink Hippo Party" /></a>
P.S.  I am 2 followers away from 700.. anyone want to join in the fun?

Love,

Pinkapotamus

Dear Fridays Letters

Dear Followers,

I am trying something new.. it is called

and I may just be a little too Old for this party since it is mostly 20 something bloggers who participate (I am 33 in case you are wondering!?!).. but I am in my 20's in spirit and have decided this would be fun.

Oh and thanks for all of my new followers.. and my hardcore longterm Pink Hippos..  I love you all!

Dear children,

I am enjoying this beautiful summer at home with you..

I love watching you swim in the lake and improve your swimming, diving and tans everyday.  I will miss you terribly when the summer is over, however, I will enjoy the quiet nonfighting hours when you are at school. 

Stop growing up SOO fast~

Dear laundry,

This week I have kicked your A**!  Take that.. I will NOT be found facedown drowned in your stinkiness anytime this week.., However, next week may be a distinct possibility!

Dear Lake,

I love you.. you are my saving grace and escape for the summer.

  The place that I can enjoy my children's laughter, some cool refreshing water and an iced coffee on the beach without traveling 2 hours to the Jersey shore.   

Dear Lake,

I also hate dragging home your sand on little feet into my car and house and all of the excess laundry you create by being wet!

 P.S. please stop making green algae.. I don't really enjoy it.

Dear books,

I love you.  Thank you soo much for giving me escape from reality, a quick history lesson or just a good laugh when I need it! I am loving "A Thousand Splendid Suns" and Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter"

Dear Husband,

Thank you soo much for providing me with the means to be a stay at home mom, now stop bothering me about the little messes in the house.. our children are making memories and your wife is tired and bored with housework!

  Crafting and blogging are much more fun!

Dear Friday and Coffee,

You are the BEST!

Love,

Pinkapotamus