Placemat to Pillow HOW TO

Thanksgiving is just a few days away crazy and so I thought I would share with you a little Thanksgiving craft I did this year. I was walking around my local Bed, Bath, and Beyond and found these cute Turkey placemats for $4.99. You can purchase the placemat here (Unfortunately they are now out of stock). You can purchase any placemat that has two layers of fabric that could be unpicked and stuffed. This only took me about 20 minutes and cost me $4.99 for each pillow (I already had the stuffing).

Materials: 

• Placemat(s)
• Poly Stuffing
• Seam Ripper (or small scissors)
• Sewing Machine (or needle and thread)

1. Choose your placemat that has two layers of fabric sewn together.

2. Unpick the seam about the length of your hand anywhere on the placemat with a seam ripper (or small scissors). I unpicked at the bottom of the placemat so it would be less noticeable where I resewed.

3. Stuff the placemat with any polyester stuffing. I used Joann's Fabric Stuffing.

4. Next, pin the ripped seam (or two sides of fabric) together.

5. Carefully sew the seam shut again. Press the stuffed pillow down so that you can get the fabric underneath the sewing machine. This was the hardest part.

 

6. You're done and NO ONE will ever notice that they were placemats! Yes, I succeeded.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our GG

Sadly, early yesterday morning Matson's grandma passed away. She was such a fun, energetic grandma who everyone calls GG. GG stands for Gorgeous Grandma. She really is the best grandma who spoiled us every time we went up to their home in Brigham City. She made us all kinds of yummy food like her delicious pancakes, noodles, and potato salad. She always wore her cute curlers at night, served others, worked hard, and she always noticed and complimented me and others. One of Matson's favorite things that she did was she could make Matson's grandpa cry by just looking at him a certain way.

Grandpa and GG

Grandpa, GG, and their kids (my mother in law is centered)

GG is on the left with us on our wedding day!

GG would hate me for this but I just love her curlers!! So cute.
This night was this past summer when Matson and
I stayed up until 1am talking with her.

We love you, GG! She will be terribly missed by us and the rest of our family. We are sad that our own future children will not be able to know her here on Earth but we know that through the Atonement of Christ that we will see her again and be able to enjoy her yummy potato salad soon! And for now we will continue to remember her and sleep under her huge quilt every single night that she gave us for our wedding.

All Things Thrifty

I have never been much of a thrift shopper. I would walk into the D.I. as a kid and instantly tell my mother I had to go sit in the car because the smell was horrible...let's just say I was a little bit of a drama queen. So thrift shopping was never my thing...until recently. I can't go by without stopping in. I think to myself, "OHHhhhh what if they have something so vintage-y or a super cute top?"

Anyway I scored recently from the D.I. and Savers and seriously not one of the items was more than $6.99! I love me some good deals for some stuff I really like!

// J. Brand Skinny Jeans - $6.99 //

// Vintage Pyrex Casserole Dish - $4.99 //

// Mirror/Frame - $6.99 //

I am actually going to convert this to a tray for our ottoman by redoing it and staining it.

// Oxblood Blouse - $5.00 //

You know you love my profesh mirror picture.

Top: Thrifted / Pants: Joe's / Necklace: Banana Republic / Boots: Steve Madden 

If you ever have some good Thrift Finds, I'd love to hear about them! And where from so I can go search. 

The Annual Donut Party

Every year my family has a Halloween Donut Party. We invite the neighborhood, family, and friends and just chit chat and big out. The donuts are the best and homemade by all of us. It is quite the process but sooooo worth it. Here are a few snapshots from our Halloween Donut Party for 2012.

Matson took a nap with Rookie (our little dressed up Tootsie Roll)
while we labored in the kitchen. Psshhh..LAZY.

// Some Decor //

// The Donuts //

The flavors: cinnamon sugar, maple, and glazed. 

My personal favorite. The Maple!

My friend A* was a baller and took over cooking.

As always the donut party was a family hit even though we all left with a huge stench of FRIED FOOD. I hate that smell bytheway. YUCK. I think I washed my hair like 5 times and it still smelled the day after. DOUBLE YUCK.

Halloween 2012

I spent my Halloween Day at the elementary school I have been in for the last week. I will be there a couple more weeks for my major. It has been such a great experience already and Halloween was much more exciting and fun celebrating it in elementary school again. We had a marshmallow fight, played Halloween bingo, frosted cookies, played ghost bowling (toilet paper as the pins), did multiple halloween crafts and all learning was Halloween themed.

Candy Corn Craft

After school, Matson and I quickly got changed into our Halloween costume. It was seriously the easiest Halloween costume we have done yet. We both wore suits, Romney buttons, he wore a mask, and I wore a wig (same wig as the time when I was Heidi Klum). Super easy. Especially the suit I had just gotten from my Grandma for my birthday...it was a little big but the red was perfect!

Mitt and Ann Romney

And I will let you know...a lot of people greeted me by saying, "Look! It's the first lady." Not quite...but that's cool! Matson loved his costume. Many people just wanted pictures with us - "We gotta get a shot with the Romneys" - so Matson felt like a celebrity.

Just cruising around with Mitt for the night.

The people I nanny for have a Halloween party every year and since I haven't seen them for a week (due to working in a school for my major) we decided to go. All the little kids and cousins at the party did not like Matson's mask at all. Little A* in her sweet little voice kept saying to Matson, "I don't like your mask." Matson would ask her if she was going to vote for him and she would reply, "Nope." Too cute.

Buzz Lightyear was still not into Matson's mask.

We then went to our church's little trunk or treat party. All the kids there would walk up to our car, look at Matson's costume, and immediately start slowly walking backwards. They did not like his mask. I agree with them...it's a little creepy. One of the little boys in my primary class came to our trunk to trick or treat and I said, "Hi bud!! Do you know who I am?" He had no idea and as soon as I took my wig off he said, "Hi teacher!" Apparently blonde hair makes me look like a whole new person.

At the trunk or treat with one of my primary kids. He wouldn't smile.
Halloween is suppose to be serious or scary?

We ended our night by visiting our families and enjoying some treats. I got some good playing time in with out little nephew. He was dressed up as a little shark.

Matson's brother was a secret service guy so we had to snap a shot with him.

Matson and our little Halloweened out nephew.

Past Halloween Posts:
Halloween 2010
Halloween 2011

Fall Snack // Dried Pears

One of my favorite things about fall is dried pears. I have always loved them and I do not like store bought ones, which is why I must dry my own pears every fall. It is so simple and the yummiest snack. Dried pears are much sweeter than apples (which is probably why I like them so ddaaang much).

Using a small paring knife (or whatever knife you prefer) you first cut the skin off your pears. Then slice the pears in thin 1cm thick slices. Place the slices on your dehydrator racks. Dry 6-8 hours or whatever your dehydrator's directions say for pears/fruit.

My Tips:

• Use as much of the pear as you can. I literally have the thinnest core of the pear left. Even the smallest pieces still dry to be yummy dried pears! 
• I cut and put my pears on the dehydrator right before bed, then I wake up and they are done. I then cut more in the morning and leave them there all day. Repeat.
• I bought my Nesco American Harvest Snackmaster Encore Dehydrator and Jerky Maker from Bed, Bath, and Beyond. 

Haunting Dance Moves

We went to our annual Thriller Dance Show put on by Odyssey Dance Company, with Matson's sister and her hubby along with some of their fun friends. I love Thriller and it really brings out the halloween spirit in me. We really enjoy it. Definitely take advantage of the buy one ticket, get one free (for all students--don't forget your ID cards).

Dinner at the Pie

Read about our Thriller date last year here.

Facing My Fears at Six Flags

Our last day in California was all about Six Flags Magic Mountain which is known for all its coasters. This does not mix well with me. I am much more of a Disney person, I love Screamin' over California at California Adventure, but a ride where you feel like your body has no control is no bueno. I am so afraid of roller coasters.

Most people who have a fear do not like to touch those fears with a ten foot pole. When was the last time you saw someone with a fear of spiders put a tarantula on their hand and be totally ok with it? I am the exact same way, so when we all discussed Six Flags I thought, "Oh H to the L no! I will not be going on any of those roller coasters. I'll just watch and take pictures like a little mommy." We arrived right when it opened and it was not busy at all. We walked right onto our first ride Tatsu. (Tip: We got to the park right when it opened on a Friday in October and were done with ALL the rides by 4pm, which was when it started to get busy due to people getting off work and school). We got on. I sat between my brother and Matson. They both told me this was probably the scariest ride besides X2 the mother of all roller coasters and I literally could not believe I was strapping myself into this mess. WHAT AM I DOING!?

We started climbing up, we got going and I won't lie, I am putting this all out here for you people -  instantly there were tears falling down my cheek. Who am I? A 2 year old little girl? I felt like an idiot for it but more than anything I was scared out of my pants so I didn't really care that I was crying. My hair was flying around, small tears were raining off my face and all while the two beside me were screaming out of excitement. I closed my eyes and waited for the dumb coaster to be done.

However, halfway through the ride I opened my eyes a little bit and my tears had flown away a loop ago. It wasn't half bad! I walked off not feeling totally great, but it wasn't completely horrible. I faced my fear and I would say I conquered it. I went on all the roller coasters all right after each other since there were no lines. I was nervous but I just did them. Since we were going and going and going on these with no wait, I really started feeling sick after Goliath (probably our 10th or more coaster), which I blacked out on.

I only have this one really bad lighted picture off my brother's phone of N* and I from Six Flags because I didn't want to bring a bag on all the coasters and worry about my phone flying out of my pocket.

I ended my day of coasters after going on the first loop roller coaster in America, Revolution. That one was just old-fashion shaky that more played with my bladder than my excitement. I waited while they went on X2 a couple of times. Then everyone was feeling sick and a little tired due to the constant roller coastering I know it's not a word, so we bounced after going on all the rides.

Ride Ratings:
Most Unsafe: Colossus - They run it backwards during the Halloween season. We sat in the back, so we couldn't see anyone else behind us and seriously I thought we were going to fall off the track. It was intense going backgrounds on this huge wooden roller coaster and not knowing what was coming.
Least Scariest Yet Still Thrilling (At least for the roller coaster handicapped): BATMAN The Ride
Highest Thrill: Tatsu - I didn't go on X2 though. You ride laying down pretty much - like flying.
Most Likely to Get You Sick: Goliath - Due to the G-Forces I seriously saw multiple big black dots.
Craziest: The Green Lantern - This is a vertical roller coaster. A very cool concept that I had never even seen and it was very intense. Go look it up on YouTube or something.