Why I'm Considering Homeschooling

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to knock working parents. I know that people have to work and others simply choose to work, either is a personal choice. I think that parents should be given permission to think about what works best for their family and not worry about what others may think. 

I'm choosing to live intentionally and would like to share with others what that looks like from my perspective.  Living intentionally means to make thought out, educated, vetted decisions about parenting, rather than following the crowd. 
Now onto the main event. 

Yes, I know. E is only 1 year old. But I've read a lot about the importance of preschool on future educational excellence. Pretty much, research shows that children who attend preschool/pre-k/head-start seem to excel more than those kids who did not attend preschool. So, this in turn leads me to asking the questions, "Who do I want teaching my child?" and "Where do I want her to receive her education?"

After much thought and consideration, I am seriously considering home education. I honestly NEVER thought of homeschooling as a viable option until recently. I have quite a few friends who are teachers, including Hollie one of my fellow bloggers. She is an English teacher. I've heard from some of them how hard they work to provide their students with a quality education. I've also heard them explain the ridiculous bureaucracy that good teachers experience while trying to challenge students and involve parents....But I'll leave that for Hollie to possibly address in the future. (wink!)

Here are the reasons why I didn't consider homeschooling as an option in the past:

1. I've met my fair share of let's just say it, weird, quirky, antisocial home schooled kids. My siblings and I were even forced to hang out with some one summer to help them improve their social skills and it was down right torturous.

2. I am not a teacher. I clearly understand that teachers spend years studying their specific field and how to express what they know to young minds. I (obviously) have not; and so what makes me think that I can therefore educate my child better than an educator? 

And that's about it. Those have been my main reasons for not supporting homeschooling.

But here are the reasons I am now considering homeschooling, and they far outweigh my reasons to not:

1. I would like to be an integral part (not in control) of my child's education. I do not think that PTSO boards and parent teacher conferences offer enough opportunity for this.

2. Kids get lost in the crowd. Teachers end up having to teach to the majority. So if you have a child who is able to excel in a subject, but the teacher doesn't notice for any number of reasons, you can very easily end up with a bored student who hates school or gets into trouble. If you have a child that is struggling in an area and never gets noticed you can have a similar outcome. I was one of those underperforming students in math and it was never addressed. I didn't realize until college that I actually really enjoyed math.

3. Classrooms are getting large. It's a fact and the alternative option is a private school, which typically have smaller class sizes.

4. Private schools are expensive and not always a better education.

5. Not all teachers like or want to be teachers. And it negatively affects that teacher's pupils FOREVER.

6. These days the grade your child receives is not always the grade they have earned. This mainly is true in underperforming students. Hollie may be best at explaining this. It is getting harder for teachers to honestly grade students' academic performance.

7. I would like my family's values represented on a daily basis to my child through her education. I do not think a Christian school is the answer. (I won't get into it now)

8. I want to recognize the areas where my child excels and challenge them to achieve their highest potential in that field. I do not believe that schools possess the ability to recognize or address this. After your kids get home at 3pm or you get off of work it's almost impossible to squeeze in extra child specific activities. .

7. I don't want to be apart of the suburban rat race.

5 am- wake up
5:30 quick breakfast
6am- catch the bus
6:30- off to work
kid is at school all day
kid goes to practice or after school care
4pm- kid lets self into house (when old enough)-surfs the internet, social media, porn. Hangs out with friends, wasting time.
5pm- parents come home, cook dinner, do homework, try and get to a bible study at church
8pm- bath time, squeeze in a "devotional" that obviously does not have time for many questions of deep discussion with your kids.
9pm- kids in bed (if they go/fight them to sleep)
10pm- hopefully parents get their own time.
11pm- parents go to bed, unless you are a hard charger and likes to stay up to 1am trying to be productive and catch up on life (ie...plan a vacation, surf internet, talk with "friends/family)
...do it all over again tomorrow. I have a strong conviction against living a life like this.

We are given one life to live and I want to live it to the fullest. I want to show my kids that life can be enjoyable, freeing, and always a time of teaching. Contrary to popular belief, the classroom is not the only place of learning. The home is the first and foremost important teaching tool. And when we live lives like the one I detailed above, there is little time for us as parents to teach, instill, and reward the values we find important. In the scenario above your child's teacher and classmates literally see your child more than you.

This can be a positive or negative mark.

 As parents we have the opportunity to teach our kids all the time; but if we are tired, overworked, and living someone else's life, not the one we (personally) are meant to live we cannot experience life in it's fullness. By "living someones else's life", I mean, that we have not actually evaluated and been intentional in the decisions we make for our family. I have to say that I think most of the time parents simply move to a nice neighborhood where they find work and enroll their child in their designated school. They briefly consider what the education will be like, but not what will happen if a teacher teaches things that violate the ideals you teach at home, what will happen if your child begins to struggle in subject... Everything is mainly reactive, and not proactive.  Though I am currently talking about education, this reactive behavior is evident in other areas of our lives. A way to combat this is by being intentional.

I am NOT saying that homeschooling will address and fix tiredness or being overworked. It will allow you to determine how you spend your years with your child and the impressions you make on them that will form their character and eventually the adult they become.

I want to throw this little tidbit of info out there. I remember the first time I really got to know a homeschooling mom. Prior to this I had only "known of" homeschooling parents. And I realized that my friend would only actively be teaching her kids for a few hours a day. I thought it strange at first and asked her how it was possible for them to get all their lessons completed in just a few hours a day. She explained to me that in traditional schools much of the kids' time is spent calming, corralling, and shuffling students. When you teach a few kids at home you can get straight to the lesson, break for a short time and get back to the lesson. I have to say that I had never heard this before and it took me a while to process it. And when I did, my socks were blown off. I never realized it, but it's true. Much time at school is spent lining up, getting students into the classroom and calmed down, etc....These processes are a normal part of adult life and can provide as a teaching opportunity, but I think they are easily taught outside of the traditional classroom.

Again, these are my opinions and not meant to convict parents who do not agree. I understand that these are points that I feel are accurate and others may see this topic a completely different way. 

 If I were to homeschool: I would need to be intentional with my time. I would need to plan and continually evaluate how it is working for my child and also for me. I know that many homeschool parents become burned out and overwhelmed. I don't know if homeschooling is something I would do for my child's entire school years; but it is something I am considering for the first year or so of elementary school. We will be living overseas and so it's the perfect opportunity for us.

Do you have strong feelings about your child's education? I would love to hear about them.

Do you feel this way?

-Anjelica

Actually "Clean" Taco Soup

I married a man who could eat anything with taco or enchilada in the name…daily. A while ago when discussing our desire to eat only food that God made, Donna (Mindful), convinced me that I needed to ditch the cans as well even if they only have one ingredient listed on the label. There’s still sodium, BPA, etc. hidden in there, and (I mean, it happens occasionally [insert wink here]) she had a pretty good argument. So then, she taught me the MOST AMAZING way to tackle dried beans…CROCKPOT! Hellooooo!! I love me some crockpot, and I never do the soaking thing. So, very quickly, because this is not the focus, this is the easy peezy way this goes down.

1.       Pour the bag of dried beans of your choice into a dutch oven/deep pot on the stove along with a little salt, a little pepper, and a couple bay leaves covering them completely with water.

2.       Technically, you should boil them about 10 minutes, but I’m not one to wait around for boiling. I cover the pot and set the timer for 20 minutes. It works every time.

3.       Pour everything, water, beans, and all into a crockpot.

4.       Let it sit on high for 3 hours or low for 6-8.

5.       When time is over, drain the beans in a big colander. If you’re using some then, take what you need. If you’re planning on freezing (that’s totally what I do), then forget about them for a while. Let them cool down to room temperature.

6.       Either use or divide however you wish (I usually get 3-4 servings from one 16 oz bag) and freeze.

Okay! I typically do this a couple times a week. I like to always have chickpeas, black beans, kidney beans, etc. in the freezer at any given time. We’re not vegetarian, but we don’t eat much meat. Freezer foods are often fine when you’re looking for chemical free foods. It’s the best way to preserve and keep the goodness.

My family and I are no longer nomadic, which is AMAZING. So, I am loving all of the affordable, healthy options all over the place that I can use in my very own kitchen. When I realized all of the online taco soup recipes are filled with cans, I thought I’d add this beauty that I made last week to the cyber world. Change ingredients based on what you like in your taco soup, but here’s the real deal using some of my favorites.

You need:

A few potatoes, chopped

2-3 chicken breasts

1 serving of cooked dried black beans (I used about half a bag because we had company)

1 bag of organic frozen corn

3 stalks of celery, chopped

4 peeled carrots, chopped (For the record, I’m not a fan of baby carrots…God did not make them that way, just sayin’)

1 onion, diced

1 pepper diced

3 tomatoes, chopped

Some tomato sauce (The best way to go no canned here is to use the pouches or paper containers)

Some of your favorite salsa

About 3 teaspoons of Better Than Boullan

About 2 tablespoons of your favorite no chemical taco seasoning (I used Penzy’s Chicken Taco because it’s in my pantry now, and it’s glorious.)

All you do:

Toss everything into either a crockpot or a dutch oven. If you choose crockpot, cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8. If you choose a dutch oven, bring it to a boil and let it cook until the potatoes are soft and the chicken is done. Then serve with cheese, sour cream, chips, and guacamole if that’s what your taste buds are yelling out. 

YUM!! Enjoy!! 

-Hollie

Days For Girls Organization

 

Drinks before dinner the night of the White Party

Hey everyone, Donna here.  Sorry I have been MIA for a couple of weeks.  I have been super busy with a number of things lately, and I will probably continue to be that way for a couple more weeks.  Hubby and I went on a nice short little vacation last week to one of our neighboring islands, the Dominican Republic.  We stayed in an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana and gorged ourselves on food and sunshine.  It was a lovely little detour from reality.  Now I am back, but only for a couple of days before I am off to St. Louis to watch Cardinals baseball visit with friends and family for two weeks.  Maybe I'll have time to get some more work done on our 100+ year old house while I'm there.  In fact, that would probably make a great blog post, so stay tuned.  

Anyway, I wanted to take some time to tell you about one of the other things that has been keeping me so busy, an organization called Days for Girls.  I first heard about this organization when Miss Passionate, Miss Content, and I were out thrift store shopping many months ago.  Anjelica (Passionate) pointed out a flyer from the Puerto Rico Chapter of the organization and I filed it away as something to look into later.  Well, quite a bit later, Hollie (Content) moved away and I found myself looking for something to occupy my time again.  Suddenly, I remembered that I had taken a picture of the flyer in order to translate it from Spanish and get more information.  It didn't take long for me to search out their website and start reading.  I think that I was up until 3 am reading through every single piece of information that they had.  

I proceeded to contact the Puerto Rico chapter to see about organizing an event closer to where I live. Ultimately, this led me to start a team at my church and I began organizing presentations, donation sheets, and an actual sewing event.  Since Anjelica had offered to help me get this group going before she moves away, I had to move fast.  I made flyers, wrote up informational pamphlets, and much more.  With Anjelica's help, and the help of another friend of ours, we got together to learn to learn to sew the kits.  It took us awhile, but we figured out all of the components and were ready to show others how to do it.  We got donations from people at church and went shopping for everything we needed.  Finally, the day of the event came and it was a great success.  The women who volunteered were an amazing help and we got some great work done.  Unfortunately we did have some kinks to work through so we didn't get as much done as we would have liked.  However, we have a great start for the next event and I am humbled by the generosity of the women and families at our little Puerto Rican church.

Hopefully by now you are all wondering what this fantastic organization is all about.  If not, I hope you'll keep reading anyway because it addresses such a simple and important key to social change.  Ladies, please imagine if you will, not having access to any kind of feminine hygiene products during your menstrual cycle. No pads, tampons, sponges, cups, nothing!  I've got to tell you, I can't imagine this at all.  Girls and women all over the world are forced to hide in their rooms and miss school and work once a month every single month because of this issue.  According to research, girls "miss up to 8 months of school in just 3 years" simply from lack of access.  In order to try to combat this issue, girls will try to use all sorts of dangerous, unsanitary alternatives, such as rocks, mattress stuffing, and many other things, simply to stay in school. Obviously, these girls often end up with serious infections, leading to a host of easily preventable problems. Often, these girls are sexually exploited in exchange for hygiene.  You can read some of their stories here. This organization, with help from people all over the world, is helping to break the cycle of poverty for these women and girls, by giving them months of education back with some simple tools that allow them to stay in school.         

Days for Girls helps in many ways.  The most obvious being the sewing and distribution of homemade, reusable, sustainable feminine hygiene kits to girls all over the world.  The kits include two moisture barrier shields, eight removable trifold pads, a pair of panties, a washcloth, two ziplock bags for soaking and cleaning, an instruction sheet, a small bar of soap, and a drawstring bag to carry it all in.  These kits are made to last 3 or more years with proper care, and feedback has shown this to be the case.  Days for Girls partners with mission groups, and others to distribute their kits, but they also do so much more.  They have begun training women in countries where their kits are needed to make them themselves.  This is the ultimate in sustainability.  If women learn how to sew their own kits, they will never be without.  Obviously, education is a huge issue that this organization has had to take on as well.  They educate girls in need about hygiene, but they also educate the public about this issue in general.  Education is almost always the key to reducing stigma as well.      

Shields, liners, washcloths, panties, and drawstring bags

So now you are all wondering what you could possibly do to help.  For starters, I urge you to take a look at the Days for Girls website and decide what the best option is for you.  But if you want me to give you some simple options to help, I will.  Find a local team or chapter here and donate your time or materials.  If you don't see a team or chapter near you (as Missouri is severely lacking), start one at your church, your work, or do a fundraiser.  Or, if that is too much of a commitment, just donate fabric and other materials. Trust me, this stuff adds up.  If you know of a group getting ready for a mission trip, put them in touch with Days for Girls for training and opportunities to help.  If knitting is more your style, make some washcloths out of high quality cotton materials to donate.  There are hundreds of ways to get involved and to help, and many of them don't even involve much time or effort.  Below is a list of materials needed to make the kits and here is some info on who to send it to.  If you still feel like you need more information or help, I am just an email or a comment away.

Days for Girls Materials Needed:
PUL fabric (polyurethane laminate fabric, used for making cloth diapers, is waterproof and breathable)
100%  cotton fabric (see guidelines below)
Cotton flannel
Colorful thread
1/2 in. or 5/8 in. twill tape or ribbon
Pins (for sewing)
Snaps
Medium safety pins
Washcloths (keep in mind fabric guidelines below for prints). Can be store bought or crocheted/knitted
Panties: girls size 10-16, women's size 5-6 (keep in mind fabric guidelines below for prints)
Travel sized bars of soap
Ziplock double zipper gallon size freezer bags
You may also donate money either for shipments or for materials.

Guidelines for proper selection of fabric:
Use 100% woven cotton fabric similar to quilter's cotton
Pick colorful fabrics, preferably botanicals, geometrics and batiks
Fabrics should be medium to dark in color to disguise stains
Some prints are offensive or illegal in some communities.  No people, animals, bugs, reptiles, figures, camouflage, guns, knives, culture specific themes, girly-glam.

I hope that this information will inspire you to get out and help others, even if it is not through this organization.  If you have any questions, please leave a comment below or email me.

Donna  

Soapwalla Deodorant Cream Product Review

I discovered Soapwalla Kitchen a little over 3 years ago. Soapwalla is a Brooklyn based company that concocts vegan and organic skincare products; including aluminum free deodorant, pregnant belly oil, and face serum. Rachel Winard is the magnificent chef behind all the sensational products and won me over with their deodorant cream.

For a little backstory. I am a one of those "sweaty gals." I sweat A LOT, and to top it off I live in the Caribbean where it is always in the 80's or above. I'm someone who has to watch which color shirts I wear to avoid the dreaded sweaty pit and back marks. I also have to always remember deodorant. I know there are those who can say (in a high-pitched ditsy voice) "Oops, I forgot deodorant today...oh well!"and no one would ever smell the difference. I am not one of those lucky ladies. I repeat, I am not one of those lucky ladies. If I ever even thought about forgetting deodorant I would stink to high heaven. But I am also a naturalista mama, and refused to wear traditional deodorant while pregnant and am trying not to while breastfeeding as well. My goal for many years has been to never return to traditional deodorant, but I refuse to go around stinky and offensive. (I don't judge those who choose otherwise. It's just not my style...I've tried it.)

So, for many years I looked for a natural deodorant that kept me smelling fresh (not dry). I've tried all the major brands you find at the grocery or drug store. All have left me smelling like a deli sandwich, as my mom would say, after just a few hours. While reading an article in a magazine a few years ago I came across a review of Soapwalla's Deodorant Cream. The author explained that she was just like me; an easy sweat-er, wanting a natural deodorant option, and had tried all of the major store brands with no luck. She then announced with much joy and excitement that she found the answer with Rachel Winard's, Soapwalla Deodorant Cream from the Soapwalla Kitchen. I was a little hesitant at first when she detailed the application process; it had to be applied with your finger and rubbed in. I had never heard of something like this and was not really familiar with getting so up close with my armpit. But wanting to be a naturalista adventure seeker, I tried it. I found their Etsy store, made my purchase, and gave it a go. I have to be honest at first the smell was a bit overwhelming to me. I hadn't dove into the world of essential oils yet. I was only familiar with artificial "powder"and "cucumber & melon" scents commonly found in traditional deodorants. But now having used the deodorant (and essential oils) for many years I feel that the scent is very pleasant and natural. Don't worry, if you loathe the patouli (spelling?) hippy smell this deodorant is not like that. The major notes I smell are lavender and peppermint. Mmmmm, right!

Soapwalla lists all their products' ingredients on their website and packaging, which I love. You can read them ALL. No funky abbreviations, terms, or numbers listed. For the deodorant, the first couple of ingredients include Certified Organic Jojoba oil, Certified Organic Rosehip seed oil, and (Certified Organic and Food Grade) Vegan Kosher glycerin. (So no petroleum products here.) It does not contain aluminum zirconium; therefore it is not an antiperspirant. (Take a look at their site and understand why.)

The cost of one 2 oz. container is $14, so much more than your average deodorant, but it lasts me about a 8 months with daily use. The package says to apply to your entire armpit, but I only apply it to about a 2" wide circle in the center of my underarm and it works great. Your typical drug store deodorant probably runs around $2-$5 depending on the brand and lasts 2 months max, so this to me seems like a way better deal. Not to mention it is organic and vegan.  I have yet to try their other products, but believe when I do I won't be disappointed.


Have you had many of my same experiences with sweating and deodorants? Tell me your solution. Also, if you decide to try Soapwalla's Deodorant Cream let me know how it worked for you.

-Anjelica

Oceans

First, have a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy9nwe9_xzw

"Oceans" by Hillsong

It’s kind of long because when you’re in it, you’re never really ready for it to be over. At different times in my life the last several months different parts of the lyrics have had deeper meaning than others. Right now it’s: “Your grace abounds in deepest waters; Your sovereign hand will be my guide. Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me, You've never failed and You won't start now.” Let me tell you, the God I serve never fails. And I praise Him that He won’t start now. Thanks, Lord.

I’ve had a sort of hiatus this month, and, for that, I apologize. I apologize to the beautiful women I blog with for breaking the commitment I made to them, and I apologize for not living up to the commitment that I made to myself. My family and I have been fairly nomadic…we spent some time in Houston, some time in Dallas, some time in Shreveport, and a lot of time apart trying to find an affordable and safe place to live where my husband began working. It was a rollercoaster ride of doubt, thanksgiving, fear, and intense worship.

A curve ball I believe God has loved to use over the years (that I rarely share about) is my mom. Years ago she was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, and, for almost the entire time we have been in the states since Puerto Rico (about two months), she’s been in and out of major episodes. With no desire to use a better term, that sucks. It really, really does. Here I am, finally in the same place as her for certain stretches of time; I can only visit her between 6:00pm-6:45pm, she can’t see my son at all, and she is beyond frustrated. I could write a book on only the things I’ve learned from and experienced with my mom, but that’s probably never going to happen. I only share this now because it’s also been a part of the funk I’ve found myself falling in and out of for several weeks. They’ve been challenging. I know I’m a baby sometimes, but I’m an honest one. I don’t like only seeing my husband once a week because he’s working away, I don’t like having all of my stuff in boxes and living out of luggage, I don’t like eating out so much my Mint.com account sends me an “unusual spending on food and dining” notice, and I don’t like that I am in the same city as my mom and still feel just as helpless as when I lived on an island. You see what I mean? In the spirit of transparency, that’s the low part of the rollercoaster. And to think my lovely blogging partners thought the adjective “content” described me…

That’s where a little bit of Scripture and some good music comes into play. We serve such a creative God. “[His] grace abounds in deepest waters; [His] sovereign hand will be my guide. Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me, [He’s] never failed and [He] won’t start now.” Amen? Let me just share all of the blessings of his hand that have come from this time of uncertainty. First of all, I believe with all of my heart that God wants us in places of uncertainty. Comfort is dangerous; that’s where Satan really gets us. Second, I may not have been with my husband very often, have my clothes in closets, or be cooking in my own kitchen; however, my family has been able to be SO blessed by the kindness of others. You know, Jesus never really had his own home during his ministry. He depended on his friends. In any moment of ungratefulness, I have been socked in the stomach by humility when I consider the people our great God has put in our lives. I thank everyone in Houston that gave us a bed to sleep on, everyone in Dallas that insisted on feeding us, and everyone in Shreveport that reminded us there’s no place like home. Who needs any of the things I complain about not having when you are surrounded by the true church? No one. That’s the real answer… whether you like or not.

As far as my mom…I think back to times I felt such immense guilt that I could be mourning the loss of my “healthy” mom when some of my friends have had to attend their mothers’ funerals. How dare I? My mom and I may have switched roles some years ago, but that doesn’t take away the fact that she is still here. The experiences with her and around her have (and continue to) teach me strength, love, and respect in ways no other relationship ever will. If I truly pray, “spirit lead me where my trust is without borders…” I have to be ready, right? Let me tell you, I never will totally be. And if you’ve known me personally ever, you know that I’m not lying about the ups and downs; nevertheless, “My faith WILL be made stronger in the presence of my Savior.” Friends, there is NO doubt about that. There is also absolutely no doubt about God’s faithfulness. He has never failed, and He WILL NOT start now.

God bless.

-Hollie

How to Make a Throw Pillow

DIY Throw Pillows

Hey there everyone. Sorry I've been slacking lately. Man, things have gotten busy busy busy. Hubby has been out of town this past week and is actually only coming home for one night before he's off again next week. I've been trying to get a women's sewing group together at my church for a nonprofit organization called Days for Girls. We will be making reusable feminine hygiene products for impoverished girls all over the world. I highly recommend you look up the organization here. Hopefully I'll be able to post more about that sometime soon.

This has nothing to do with the tutorial, but this is one of the things taking up my time lately.

For now, I am still slacking in terms of this blog, but I have been making these throw pillows to sell at a friend's tropical themed art studio in Rincon. I absolutely have got to get a little bit of income coming in to support all of my little addictions hobbies. Anyway, the reason I say I am still slacking is that this is really more of a non tutorial as it is literally about as basic as sewing can get except for the slip stitch, which is not difficult at all and is also optional. This is my first sewing tutorial though, so please bear with me.

One finished product

Throw Pillow

Materials needed:

One yard of fabric per two pillows (you will have some excess fabric.)
Coordinating thread
Pillow stuffing
Sewing machine
Scissors
Measuring tape
Pins
Sewing needle

1. Determine what size you want your pillows to be.  I make pretty standard 15 x 15 inch pillows here.

The cut squares

2. Cut out two 16 x 16 in squares of fabric per pillow.

3. Lay squares of fabric with right sides together (meaning, the pretty sides are on the inside) and pin.  Make sure to double check the print direction if necessary.

Pinned right sides together

 4. Sew around all but about 3 or 4 inches (to flip) of the square using a 1/4 inch seam allowance (or whatever you are comfortable with).  Make sure to back stitch at the beginning and end.

Sewing around the perimeter

Backstitching at the opening

5. Iron and press the seams open, clip the corners, and turn right side out making sure to poke out the corners.

Corners clipped

Ironing everything nice and flat

Flip the pillow right side out.  Can you tell I kept forgetting to take pictures as I went?

6. Stuff the pillows as much as you like.  Be sure to get it in the corners too.

Stuff with fluff (yeah, I just said that)

Almost done

Ready to be closed up

7. Slip stitch the opening closed or do a top stitch with your sewing machine if you don't want to do that much work by hand.  I don't like the look of top stitching on throw pillows (weird I know) so I do things the hard way.  This is the tutorial I used to learn to slip stitch, although I don't sew the opening closed and then rip it out later.  It would probably help, I'm just a lazy seamstress.

Slip stitching the opening closed.

8. Place pillows on couches/beds and sit back and admire your work.

I hope you enjoyed this easy throw pillow tutorial, and I hope it saves you lots and lots of money on interior decorating.  Have you ever made your own pillows?

Donna