Pillows!!

I may have posted that we got some new furniture earlier in the month.  New sofas in the front living room, and also in the family room.  The ones in the living room came with throw pillows that I liked, and really went with our decor.  However, the ones in the family room came with pillows that looked like they fell from spaceships.  UGLY.  So, I wanted to cover them, and all my other throw pillows for that room, but I don't have a sewing machine.

My friend, Shawna told me that her mom had made throw pillows for her patio furniture out of cloth napkins.  This is brilliant, you see, because two cloth napkins cover the standard throw pillow PERFECTLY and require NO cutting or sewing as they already have nice, neat hems!  Love it!!

Hence, I went to Target and picked up a couple different set of napkins.  They don't exactly match one another but I was going for more of an eclectic vibe anyway.  They also did not have a huge selection so I will probably go out again this weekend to see if I can find any others I like more.  However, it was SUCH an easy process that I will probably just make extras so I can switch them up at random.  It is the perfect way to change up your decor in a very economical way.

Process:

• Find some cloth napkins you like
• Purchase some fabric glue (make sure it is machine washable)
• Purchase some straight pins
• Run a ribbon of glue down one inside edge of one napkin
• Place another napkin inside down on top of that napkin and carefully press the seams together.
• Go around two more sides of the napkins this same way.
• Leave the 4th end open so you can slide an old throw pillow or pillow form inside
• I used velcro for the 4th side so I can easily change these out as necessary.
• Pin around the glued edges to hold in place while it dries
• Once dry, put your pillow or pillow form in, remove the pins, and enjoy!!

Here are some pics of the finished products:

Resolutions?

I really don't like the word resolutions.  They always seem to just fade into the background.  However, since it IS a new year, I am definitely setting some goals. 

1.) Get more creative in the kitchen.   I am AWESOME at following a recipe, but I think I have more in me than that.  I made up a recipe last night and it was fabulous.  Want to be able to toss aside cook books and let my own brain do the creating.  I realize that sometimes this will yield a collosal failure, but at least I am reaching out!! 

2.) Expand my commuity service.  I LOVE the volunteer work that I do.  It is the most fullfilling work I have ever done in my life.  I just want to expand on that.  Join committees, be part of the planning, perhaps get more directly involved with additional non-profits.  There is so much NEED out there.  It's time to do as much as we can for others.

3.) Read more and write more.  My brain loves to be used.  Must make sure to challenge it as much as possible.

:)

Happy New Year!

Seems like a year since I have blogged anything.  I know it is very OLD fashioned, but I have actually been journaling----ON PAPER.  Yes, I said it.  Pen, paper, cute little notebook=Journal.  It feels good to WRITE your thoughts.  Technology makes everything colder.  Cold plastic keys, bright screen, perfectly formed letters.  That isn't really a journal in my eyes.  I love the warmth of paper, and the hap hazard penmanship that speeds up as my thoughts do.  It's really soothing.

However, life has been buzzing right along.  The Holidays were just wonderful.  The kids are so engrossed in the magic of it all.  I loved watching Lily put so much thought into what Santa should be eating or drinking " this isn't very healthy for him." she said.  Made me proud!! 

There is so much that has been happening, so here is the picture version:

Made snowman pops for the kids' Christmas festivities at school.  These were a tremendous hit!!  I was very proud:

The kids really, really had a special Christmas:

I made Christmas breakfast, as I always do--however, I made enough for 10 people, and it was just the 4 of us!!  Fun though.  Lily and Jason are toasting the day!

Jason and I got a couple awesome gifts this year.  For starters, we got new furniture!!  This excited me deep in mysoul.  We are grownups!  Merry Christmas to US!! No more hand me down furniture covered by slipcovers.  It's almost like getting a new house!  So fun!

We also got to go to the Packer game on New Years Day.  WOW.  Seriously the best game we have ever been to.  SO. MUCH. FUN.  Amazing.  Lambeau is the best.

Gosh, I so love this man.  My cup runneth over....and over. 

:)