FlipFlop Wine's #FlippinGoodDeeds Blogger Challenge Wrap Up - Is it the end of the line for us?

So here we are, coming to the end of the Flippin' Good Deeds Challenge.

It seems like just yesterday that ADHicken (Clue into Cleveland) and I announced our involvement and launched the challenge to our friends, family, blogs and community.

We have tweeted and wrote posts begging for shoes.  We shared the growing number of shoes that we were accumulating in pictures and in video.  And, we had a small party to end it all at Mullen's on Madison.

Speaking of the party ... It was great!  Special thanks to Heather Adams, Scentsy Independent Consultant and The Cuyahoga Group for their donations to our raffle and, of course, to the wonderful Mike Mercer for letting us gather at Mullen's.

Top right:  Amanda and her Husband, Directly below them: me and my Husband, Top right: Me and Chrissy from MyGotFam.  Bottom left:  Amanda and Julie from WearingMascara.  Bottom right: various awesome friends who brought shoes.

I would post a picture or two of all the boxes and boxes and boxes of shoes that were packed up and shipped to the Soles4Souls warehouse. But, I was up against a deadline and the UPS gal was taking eight fairly heavy boxes away.  (Our second shipment of shoes, by the way.)  I needed to be sure they were ready to go so - I forgot to document the occasion.

I did, however, reach out to the brilliant Chrissy (yes, the same as above from MyGotFam) who happens to be an amazing graphic designer and asked her to recreate the scene for me to share.

Here I am, sorting, counting,  tying laces, rubber banding and pairing shoes together from seven very full bags that were donated by those who work in the Penton Media Building as well as many boxes and bags from the office we work and the party, of course!   I also happened to collect dozens of shoes from my super amazing PSR class as well as other classroom.
 

Jennifer Aniston is playing me in this reenactment

So many, many shoes were collected!

Here is Amanda (played by Courteney Cox) bringing even more shoes!

And the grand total of shoes collected for the Flippin' Good Deeds Challenge sponsored by FlipFlop Wines is.... 

wait. for. it...

473 shoes that have been shipped off to Soles4Souls.

That came to 14 boxes ranging in weight from 8 pounds to 30 pounds of every type of shoe imaginable from new shoes to dirty old shoes and from baby shoes to very high, very pink pumps.


I bet you are wondering if we won?  Or, if not won, at least made the top 5?  Is this the true end to the blogger challenge...

You will have to hop over to Clue into Cleveland to find out.

Word(less) Wednesday: Shoe Count (so far) for Soles4Souls #FlippinGoodDeeds Challenge

This is not a Wordless Wednesday post, not at all, but a multimedia post to show how many shoes we have collected so far!  We are actually still counting the shoes!   Check out the video after the jump - all 38 seconds and please forgive the way I sound, I have a cold.

If you happen to live in North East Ohio - join us, Amanda from Clue into Cleveland and I, for the #FlippinGoodDeeds Party at Mullen's on Madison November 5, 2011!  We will even be raffling off prizes!

• Gift basket from Scentsy thanks to Heather Adams, Scentsy Independent Consultant, ($60 value)
• Coffee Gift Basket from The Cuyahoga Group
• FlipFlop Wine gift basket with a $25 Sears Gift Card!

Hope to see you there and stay tuned for the final shoe count!

#FlippinGoodDeeds Party at Mullen's on Madison November 5, 2011

It's official, the date is set and the location is secured!  

Join Amanda from Clue into Cleveland and myself because...

We are having a party!  

And, not just any party but a party at Mullen's on Madison in Lakewood, Ohio!

Mullen's is a quaint and classy little bar in my hometown and is the perfect setting for a night out with friends (especially if they are bringing shoes for Soles4Souls).

Best part - $2 house wine and domestic draft! 

Well, okay not the best part, the best part would be the all the shoes we will collect for Soles4Souls! 

So, if you are in the North East Ohio area and are free November 5, please join us for cheap drinks and great company and if you happen to have a donation that would be great, too!

RSVP here.

Send Us Your Shoes! #FlippinGoodDeeds Soles4Souls Challenge - Cleveland Style!

Yep, that is it.  The two boxes of shoes that I mentioned (plus the shoes in the back of the closet) when I announced last week that Amanda at Clue into Cleveland and I will be collecting shoes for the Flippin' Good Deeds blogger challenge for Soles4Souls.

Can you believe it?  TWO boxes!  Oh, shoes - how I have loved you!  Baby shoes, flat shoes, tennis shoes, Husband's shoes... but, now you will get to go to new homes.  Not only that but you, dear shoes, will be helping to cover the feet of men, women and children in need.  You could go to one of 125 countries that Soles4Souls distributes shoes to including (but not limited to): Honduras, Guatemala, Haiti, Peru, Nepal and right here in the U.S.  It is so easy to give hope, simply by giving a pair of shoes.

This is the official post begging asking for your donations. 

It does not have to be just shoes, either, we will gladly accept cash. 

So, dear reader, if you do not live in the North East Ohio area but want to help the Cleveland girls win the Flippin' Good Deeds blogger challenge for Soles4Souls then go pack up your shoes, download the Blogger Donation Form and ship off your, tax deductible, shoes to a Soles4Souls warehouse.  Don't forget to include our blogger ID #024.  Since, I may be dyeing my hair blue, I won't offer you some crazy stunt for participating but you will have my undyeing gratitude and a space on my blog to promote your blog or business.

If you do happen to live in NE Ohio the drop off box is located in the lobby of the Penton Media Building, 1300 East 9th St., Downtown Cleveland, Ohio.

Stay tuned for updates, hopefully pictures and a party!  Well, maybe, not a raging party as in old school style but one that us responsible girls have... with wine!

I would not have done this without my pal at Clue into Cleveland so go check out her post! And, follow her as well as Flip Flop Wines and Soles4Souls to keep up with the latest info!

Follow @adhicken
Follow @flipflopwines
Follow @soles4souls

And tweet, tweet, tweet for us!
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I Flipped for FlipFlop's White Wines

Disclosure: I received sample bottles of FlipFlop Wines to try but I was not paid for the post. The opinions in this post are 100% my own.

I am not a fan of white wine.

It really does nothing for me. 

There is one brand that I really enjoy but I think it is because of the blend of three whites that hooked me on it.

That was until I was sent FlipFlop wines to try.  I admit, I was skeptical.  In fact, I tried the red first and only recently opened the whites and I am more of a fan of white wine then I was a week ago.


I opened the Washington Riesling, at the suggestion of my contact there, because the Husband likes a sweet wine.  The Husband was not around to try it because he has to actually show up for work and I have evenings free to lounge around in my PJs, sipping wine and dining on sushi... sorry, I was daydreaming.

In reality, the Husband has to get up way early in the morning to be able to join me in actually enjoying a glass so he has opted to wait... I on the other hand, am a more seasoned wine connoisseur *giggles at self* and you can just call me oenophile.

In case, you are wondering... I am not sitting her with a jelly jar, full of this stuff while writing.  I did that, while eating a wonderfully broiled steak and beautifully baked potato.  I must say... they paired pretty well together even though it is not a traditional pairing.  I like the fruity taste of the Riesling with the savory steak.  I would however enjoy it more with a BBQ pulled pork or even a good stir fry (as the bottle says I would but would pick it anyway).

The Riesling was clean and crisp and was not overwhelmingly, sweet but still sweeter then I prefer in a wine.


My favorite of the two whites though is the California Pinot Grigio.  I could actually taste the pear in the finish of the wine and I had eaten it with pizza.  Can't help it... dig the pizza and wine combo because I am classy like that.

In all seriousness, I also paired it with baked chicken topped with salsa and served with a side of broccoli and it was seriously yummy!   Who knew plain old broccoli would taste so good!

I would love to try it with a chicken sausage and mango salsa wrap with sweet potato fries... I will let you know how that goes!

This has a bright, clean taste that is smooth and just perfect for me in a white wine.

Obviously, if I had to chose between the two - hands down would be the Pinot Grigio but of the three FlipFlop wines I had to tried I am really loving the Pinot Noir still.  Call me crazy but I prefer my wine red.


You can buy FlipFlop wines online here or (hopefully) at your local store.  And if you did not read my last post - they are cheap but not cheap.

Cheers!

To Each, Their Own... FlipFlop Wine has Sole

Disclosure:  I received a sample bottle of FlipFlop Wines' Pinot Noir to try but I was not paid for the post.  The opinions in the post are my own.

Not to long I got an email saying something about trying a new wine...

My response was, in a nut shell, it would be very mean (on many levels) to tease me about sending me wine to try if you did not mean it and low and behold - Mr. FedEx delivered me a lovely box with sample written across the top and sides. I held my breath as I opened it and there, in all their glory, was three lovely wines screaming to be tried. I am actually, still, working my way through the first bottle from the box... FlipFlop's Pinot Noir.