diy placemat pillows

my kids destroy my pillows. i've washed my decorative pillows so many times that they have completely lost their original color. the edges are frayed and they are definitely in need of a proper burial. i have a hard time, however, purchasing expensive pillow shams or new decorative pillows knowing that my life is currently filled with five young kids in the house.

i spend a lot of time wandering the aisles of target...usually just as a way to kill some time and get the kids out of the house (and get a starbucks while i'm at it.) during one of these trips, i happened by the table linen section of target and noticed a place mat that i really liked. it matched my living room colors perfectly and would go fine in my kitchen as well but place mats are not practical for my kitchen. after i looked further, i noticed the place mat had a back lining and i figured it could be made into a pillow with very little work whatsoever. so, in about 30 minutes, it went from a $4.00 place mat to a $6.00 pillow ($2.00 for the batting inside). now that's an investment i can handle.

here's how to do it:

find a place mat you like. it is easiest if it has a backing already sewn in.

you'll also need some type of batting. i found this for $2.00 at hobby lobby.

rip out a section of the seam. make the hole big enough to easily stuff in the batting.

stuff the pillow with the "fiberfill" 

once the "pillow" is completely filled, use matching thread to re-stitch up the opening. i also tied the thread i had pulled out to make my opening to make sure the pillow stayed closed. 

that's it! quick, easy and super cheap. if the kids ruin it, i'm only out six dollars. that i can handle. 

friday fun finds: diy end of the year teacher gifts

school is almost out for summer and that means it is time to come up with a fun, creative way to say "thank you" to the teacher in your child's life. we searched and searched and found some super cute and easy diy ideas to use at gifts. aren't teachers the best?!  which one is your favorite?

spiffy scissors from crap i've made

teacher love from lisa storms

sharpies and smarties from little pumpkin grace

beach towel, magazine & sunscreen from sweetheart moments

crayon monogram from well, how nice

creative juices from tatertots and jello

thank you for helping me grow from giggles galore 

summer in a basket from dandee

pencil cup from everyday me

thanks a latte from nothing but country

teacher supply cake from lady create-a-lot

side note: i am personally a firm believer that every teacher deserves some type of gift card as a thank you. (i am sure that every teacher has received their fair share of smelly lotions, coffee mugs, and classroom supplies). take the time to add a gift card (no matter how small) to your gift and i *know* your teacher will appreciate it. some ideas include: starbucks, target, costco, a local bookstore, department store, mall or teacher supply store).

have shoes, will travel

yesterday morning after getting my oldest two kids out the door at the crazy early hour of 7:15 to start their school day, i brought my one year old back into bed with me and we watched the morning news together. due to his little summer cold, he remarkably sat still with me for about 20 minutes of chill time before deciding he'd had enough of the cuddles.

at this point, i said to him, "want to get dressed and go bye-bye?" of course, our big outing for the day was yet another trip to my second home, target, to pick up some more cold medicine. still, any time away from the house is exciting for him and target gives away free cookies in their bakery section...it really is a win-win.

so, he excitedly gave me a nod (he's the fourth born...talking isn't a priority with him) and headed into my closet to get this process started. apparently he has already realized that i'm the weakest link when it comes to the getting ready process. he came back with shoes...only shoes. at first i was pretty impressed as it was a matching pair. then i had to laugh. seriously, son? how often do i wear four inch animal print heels?

i'll admit, during the summer, i'm in flip flops. the floor of my closet is normally strewn with various shades and types of virtually the same shoe. flips in every possible color. i think i've forgotten how to balance in anything with over an inch of a heel. so how my son found that one pair of sassy heels among dozens of flip-flops, i'll never know. either way, it appears i have a son with expensive taste and a preference for women in heels. i'm pretty sure that could be a dangerous combination.

regardless, i gave him a hug, said thank you, and switched the heels out for some turquoise flip flops. sorry to disappoint you, son, but those shoes are reserved for the rare moments when i find someone else to change your diapers, wipe your nose, and clean up all the food you magically throw on the floor during each meal. sassy heels are sacred. i'll save them for another day. better luck to you in about 20 something years from now.

cheating on my boyfriend

i'm not normally a walmart shopper. it is not because i have anything against the store, i'm just pretty faithful to my boyfriend, target. i always feel like i'm cheating on him if i step foot into the endless aisles of his competitor. in addition to that, my boyfriend is a super target, complete with starbucks and a complete grocery store. really, why would i go anywhere else?

still, there are days when i do venture into giant walmart store with its rollbacks and discounted prices. there is something to be said for the place. truly, where else in the world can you buy live crickets, ammunition, spray paint, potting soil, tampons, cream cheese, fake flowers, and kitchen table all in one place while getting your nails done, having lunch and cashing a check? there's just nowhere like it. plus, there is the added bonus of the cardio workout i get walking from one end of the store to the other. it really is a win-win.

so, against my boyfriend, target's wishes, i occasionally enter through the doors, carefully sanitize my cart and congratulate myself on my savvy shopping. it was after one of my trips that i was introduced to "the people of walmart" pictures on the internet. if you haven't seen any yet, don't worry, you'll get your fill before the day is over. at first i couldn't believe that the pictures were real. then i started to keep my eyes open as i wandered through the vast aisles and began to realize that the photos told a true and grim story. not only that, to my horror, i was now one of the people of walmart.

don't get me wrong, i'm not like any of the people in the pictures but i do have to say that my own standards for personal appearance are much lower when entering the mega-store. i'm not going to show up in pajamas or my halloween costume but showering and applying make-up are sadly optional when shopping there. perhaps it's because, no matter how bad i look, i still look pretty darn good walking in that store. if nothing else, it's a huge self-esteem booster to walk proudly through the store. so, in the spirit of making everyone feel better about themselves, here are "the people of walmart." this group did an amazing job of putting the pictures to song and i find it all the more entertaining. if this doesn't make you feel amazingly hot and put together, i don't know what will.