Quick and easy pillow DIY

I've struggled with what kind of pillows to use on the sofa downstairs because the idea for the whole room is for it to resemble a sports bar.  All the decor is sports related in the room so we can't really throw in a pillow with an overly "homey" look to it.  Brad and I both love sports, especially the Razorbacks and the Chicago Bears.  Our love of those two teams has created somewhat of a challenge with decorating though.  Red, white, blue, and orange don't go together so well.  But we're not changing teams so I'm going to have to get creative. My friend Ashley was over a couple weeks ago and I asked her opinion on pillows and she suggested chevron.  I love chevron but don't really use it in my house because it's a little too bold.  It's also super trendy which I try to stay away from.  But I think it could work well in the basement.

I was in Hobby Lobby a couple weeks ago and found chevron pillow covers in the fabric area.  I didn't even know they had pillow covers in that area.

These were super cheap ($6.99) and they had several colors.  I think this is actually black but it looks dark gray to me. 

I liked the pillow just like it was but I had cut an image of Arkansas out for another project so I thought I'd cut the shape out of red felt to put on the pillow.  

The Mississippi River is no fun to cut out, by the way.

After I got the shape cut out, I wasn't sure how to attach it to the pillow.  I thought about trying to iron it on somehow but I'm not sure you can even iron felt and I guess I didn't feel like googling it to find out. I also thought about sewing it on but I didn't want to go to Wal Mart to buy red thread.   So I just back stitched it on there with some cross stitch thread I already had. I like how it turned out even though the stitches aren't even and the state is crooked.   But it cost me less than $7.50 since I already had the pillow insert, so I think I can live with the imperfection.

I'm considering doing one in the shape of Illinois for the Bears too.  But for now I'm still hung up on the colors not going together. 

Lunch Ladies

I got to have lunch in Batesville today with some ladies I haven't seen in years.  Ramona, Amy, Paige, and I all worked together about 14 years ago at a pediatric day clinic (Ramona and I went to high school together too) and Ramona had a whole box full of pictures from those days that were just too funny.  Amy was our boss and she really made work fun!!  

Me, Amy, Paige, Lila, and Ramona

Paige and I had most of our fun outside the clinic and Ramona and I were close friends in high school so we have lots of memories together, not just from our times at the clinic.

Seeing these three was long overdue. I'm amazed at how quickly time can pass before you even realize it. I don't think we'll wait so long to get together again.  

Jackson

I haven't really had my camera out lately but I stayed at Meredith's some during December so, of course I made sure I had it with me.  Jackson is THE perfect age right now!  He repeats everything and really shows off!  

Meredith hoped to get a photo for her Christmas card so she put him in these super adorable pajamas.  We got a lot of good ones but I'm not sure I liked the same ones she did.  :)

Like this one.  I love his face and that he's turned over because Meredith and I were laying on our stomach's trying to get a shot so I guess he thought that's what we were all supposed to do.  Cracked me up!!!! 

I'm going to be back at Meredith's this week and I can't wait to see him!

Davis family visit

Mike, Jenny, and the kids came up to see us on Saturday and they couldn't have picked a better day for a road trip.  We walked to the back of the property and took some pictures and explored a little.

My favorite family!

Spitting image of her mom.  In every way!

Parker is the perfect mix of his mom and dad.  He might be up to no good like his dad but his mom will make sure his hair is perfect while he's doing it.  HA!

I'm not sure what he's doing here but it cracks me up that Emilee just keeps smiling.

Parker is so sweet.  I love how he has his hand on Mike's shoulder.

This picture portrays their family best.  Mike's ready to go, Emilee's doing her best but about to give up, Parker's being sweet and ornery, and Jenny's looking perfect!

Neither Brad nor I wanted to move back home when we left LR but days like this one make me wish we were close enough to just run over to Mike and Jenny's and hang out like we did when we lived in Cave City.

Last night in Little Rock

I guess I've known all along that we wouldn't be in Little Rock forever.  Yet here I am, my last night here, and I haven't gotten used to the idea of leaving yet.  Luckily, preparing for a move is hectic and has kept my mind from dwelling on the upcoming change too much.

I'm from one of those small towns where everyone knows (or wants to know) your business.  I'm not sure I was ever comfortable with that but once I got out of it, I knew I never wanted to go back to it.  I LOVE the anonymity a town the size of Little Rock provides.  I love that no one cares about what I'm doing or not doing!

I made the mistake of going to Target tonight to grab a few things we needed to clean the house.  I almost starting tearing up back in the clearance garden section.  I wanted to linger but knew I didn't have time and that Brad would give me the look if I brought more stuff home that would have to be moved.  And then to make it worse, my favorite little guy (the super sweet older gentleman at the WLR Target) checked me out.

The movers took everything to Mountain Home tonight and will be at the house at 8:30 in the morning to unload.  We decided to stay in our LR house with no furniture because the MH house doesn't have water yet and we wouldn't have been able to stay in a hotel with Spatz.  So we're camping out on the floor!  The renters will move in to the LR house Wednesday and I'm oddly glad the house won't have to be empty for long.  I've loved our little house and would hate for much time to go by without anyone living in it.

I've never been happier than I have been the seven years we've lived here.  There are so many things here that I think just fit me.  The city is the perfect size to have a lot to offer and feel cozy at the same time.  There is so much we never made time to do or see, but that will give us an excuse to come back!  That, and the many friends we're leaving here.  And I'm going to continue using the same beautician, doctor, and dentist.  I joked with my hygienist that I needed her to recommend that I get my teeth cleaned every three months so I would have an excuse to come back more often!

I'm looking forward to settling in to our new house and I know that unpacking will keep my mind off of missing LR.  And before I know it, I'm sure I'll love my new home!

Emergency Medicine Residency Graduation

There were many times that I thought this day would never get here.  Brad graduated from residency Thursday night!! Medical school seemed to take forever but residency has flown by!  

  Brad and me.

(All of the pictures from my camera were just awful!!)

Bart and Brandi were able to make it and I know it meant a lot to Brad to have his brother there.  I think I'd be safe in saying no one is more proud of Brad than Bart!

Jason and Christy.

  They are moving to Birmingham and left right after graduation to drive there.  I hate that they're leaving but I hope it's just an excuse for us to go to Birmingham or Atlanta a couple times a year!

Richard and Beverly.

They are staying put in Bryant.  But they are moving to a new house (which I can't wait to see)!

Charell, me, Christy, and Beverly.  

I've enjoyed spending time with these three girls so much this year. Since meeting each other in October in San Francisco (Charell and I actually knew each other before since Brad and Zac were in Med. School together), we have scheduled lunch together at least once a month.  It's been nice to share such an exciting, and sometimes stressful, time in our lives with each other. 

This is how we normally look when we're together. These girls are so much fun!  I hope we can still get together often even though two of us will no longer be in Little Rock.  Charell and Beverly are both getting new houses that will have enough space for Christy and me to stay with them. Surely they'll let us!

Who knows.........  :)

Brad and Dr. Melton.  

They didn't actually give them their diploma but I would have thought this would have been a good time to do that.  Instead, this is a picture of Brad receiving his clock.

The whole class presenting a couple awards to their chairman.  This one was the Honey Badger award.  I guess it was an inside joke and I didn't ask.....

Richard, Skip, Zac, Brad, and Jason.

Brad loves these guys and is going to miss spending so much time with them.  He has been friends with Skip since the beginning of Med School.

Another shot of the guys, minus Skip, plus Wade.

I have to say that this night was a little bittersweet.  It's so exciting to move on to the next phase of this journey with Brad, but part of me wishes we had a little more time in Little Rock with our friends.  Luckily, we will be staying through July so we'll try to schedule as many things as we can!

After we left the Governor's Mansion, we all went to Big Whiskey to watch the Razorbacks and just hang out.  We had so much fun but stayed out way too late.  Did I mention that Brad is the oldest resident???  We're a little too old to be staying out past midnight!!

  Bart and Brandi spent the night with us and I think it was right around 2:00 a.m. when we finally went to bed.  And then Bart set the house alarm off at 7:00 a.m. when they were leaving.  I was so tired, I think I went right back to sleep before they even got out of the driveway!

Hadley turned ONE and my day with Emilee

I went to Cave City a couple weeks ago for Hadley's FIRST birthday party!  Her party was the cutest animal parade theme.  Heather and her mom did such a great job planning the party.

Sweet birthday girl!

I just LOVE her hair!

Emilee pulled her in this wagon for the "parade".

She was so funny with her cake....I'm not sure she even ate any of it.  She would just stick her hands in it and then wipe it on her diaper!

Brad and I gave her an Anywhere Chair from Pottery Barn Kids.  She looked so cute sitting up there like a big girl!

I took Emilee home with me from the party for our annual birthday shopping celebration.  

We gave her a pair of Toms that she picked out for her birthday present.  

She's turned in to quite a bargain shopper!  I told her about a consignment store in NLR and she was excited about going.  She got a cute pair of Seven crops and a pair of denim shorts for a great price.  She was so happy!  She is definitely her mother's daughter.  No one loves a bargain more than Jenny!

She also wanted to go to a couple stores in the mall and while we were there we ran into my friend Kimmy, who works at Clinique and she offered to do a make over for Emilee.  Em loved that!

Emilee and Kimmy.

She looked a little too grown up but still cute!

After we went to dinner, we drove out to the Promenade but everything was closed.  That's what we get for planning our day on a Sunday.

So instead of shopping, we stopped at a car dealership to look at some of her favorite cars.

Then we went home and watched "We Bought a Zoo" which we all liked.

Jenny and Parker met us in Searcy on Monday to pick Emilee up.  While we were there, Lacy met us for lunch.  I wish Tara had been there!  

I'm already looking forward to my day with Emilee next year! I think I'm going to have to get a little more creative though.....there won't be much shopping in Mountain Home.  Although that girl loves TJ Maxx!