Instagram Pillows

Hey all! I had the opportunity to create a project for MyHome Magazine and I'm so excited to share it with you guys! I made Instagram Pillows out of T-shirt and heat transfer paper.

Materials needed for this project:
- plain shirt
- printed shirt
- heat transfer paper
- scissors
- tape measure
- pencil
- thread and needle
First, print your image on the glossy side of the heat transfer paper. If your image has text, use a photo editing program to mirror the image, so it will come out correctly when transferred on the fabric.


With your pencil and tape measure, mark an 18" x 18" square (or follow the size of your pillow) on the blank side of the plain shirt. Do this step for the printed shirt as well. The printed shirt will be the back side of your pillow.


Carefully cut out the square on your shirt. After cutting the squares, place the printed fabric over the white fabric, right side facing each other.

Sew the sides of the fabric together using backstitch. Using a sewing machine will be handy for this step. You can also add a zipper or buttons on one side of the square.

Put the shirts on a flat surface and smooth out any wrinkles. Insert a piece of paper in between the two shirts. Place the transfer paper on where you want the image to be on the shirt. When the iron is set at the desired temperature, apply pressure on the shirt from the outside going inwards.

Once everything is evenly ironed, wait for it to cool for about two minutes and then gently peel off one corner of the transfer paper. After this, insert the pillow into your new pillowcase.

And that's it! Here are some tips that you may want to take note of:
- Working with transfer paper is tricky so you got to read the instructions included in the pack of transfer paper. If you are not confident on working with transfer paper, try practicing with a small piece of cloth.
- Add about 1/2"-1" allowance when you cut the fabric. T-shirt fabric is stretchy, that's why if you cut it too small, it's forgivable. But if your fabric isn't so elastic, then you might want to add allowance.

All Things Valentine's Day

Love is in the air, don't you think? If you are having a fancy valentine party, then here are ideas that you can try:

1. Heart Cut Out Gift Wrapping, House That Lars Built
2. Pink and Gold Dessert Table, Ruffled
3. Watercolor Tags, Ruffled
4. Heart Garland, Etsy
5. Candied Pretzels, Ruffled
6. L O V E Signage, Style Me Pretty
7. All You Need Is Love, Ruffled
8. Eraser Heart Stamps, House That Lars Built
9. Love Wedding Desk, Grey Like Weddings
10. Side Table Vignette, Ruffled
11. Heart Shaped Cookies, Ruffled
12. Pink Flowers, The Sweetest Occasion

Shop The Road Less Traveled

National Geographic launched the online store called "Shop The Road Less Traveled", which features handmade jewelry, accessories, furniture and home decor inspired by the travels of anthropologist Dr. Elizabeth Kapu’uwailani Lindsey.

The three collections reflect the rich cultures, traditions, colors and landscapes that Elizabeth Lindsey encountered on her recent visits to India, Thailand and Bali. Each piece from the line offers consumers an opportunity to experience another part of the world and appreciate the work of its talented craftspeople. Items purchased from the boutique help support the local artisans as well as National Geographic’s work of exploration, research, conservation and cultural preservation.

Jewel Tones

Renew your spirits with handcrafted items in shades from teal to indigo.

Neutral Luxe

Richly textured selection of home decor and accessories, handcrafted in wood and leather, wool and stone.

Royal Accents

Tell a colorful, cultural story without saying a word. This vibrant collection of one-of-a-kind textiles, accessories and decor does all the talking.

Here are some of my favorite items from the three collections:

Jewel Tones

1. Paisley Morning Pillow Rectangle, 2. Merino Wool Striped Shawl, 3. Blue Thai Celadon Vases

Neutral Luxe

4. Thai Mango Wood Vases, 5. Hand Carved Elephant Festival Sculpture, 6. Suzani Medallion Embroidered Ottoman

Royal Accents

7. Vintage Kantha Quilts with Indigo Black and Beige Shams, 8. Kantha Quilted Peacock Chair, 9. Vintage Kantha Cube

Text and Photos via National Geographic

At the Lettuce Farm

I will continue my story on what we did during our vacation in Tagaytay. There's a lettuce farm right across the flower farm and we were welcomed inside as Toti knew the owner. All I saw was green. Green everywhere. It smelled fresh and everything looked nutritious!

The farm grows nine types of lettuce. Nine types? I only know Iceberg and Romaine. Anyway, here's a photo of cute baby lettuce leaves. 

I know kale is not widely available in the Philippines. I've been reading about it in the internet but I just couldn't find it at the supermarket, not even at the palengke. But lo and behold! They have fresh kale in this farm. My sister picked a lot. As in a lot. As if we were on a shopping spree.

It's not only lettuce that they grow. They also have herbs like rosemary, and other vegetables like cherry tomatoes. The owner gave us a pot of rosemary, how generous of him! And oh, I really love the smell of fresh rosemary leaves. 

If there's a cat at the flower farm, there's a dog at the lettuce farm. Don't worry, he doesn't bite.

We were so blessed to have been able to bring home fresh herbs and vegetables. It was like a sign that I should eat healthy this 2014! So from that day up until now, the lettuce in our salad is from this farm. It's been what, 10 days? And we're not yet short of supply. Haha. Of course we shared some to our family friends. 

And so that ends our trip to Tagaytay. Yay! I'm looking forward to more adventures this year.

At The Flower Farm

During our stay in Tagaytay, we also visited a flower farm owned by Toti Faner, who is a family friend. It is only less than a kilometer away from Ilog Maria along Balite Road in Silang, Cavite. Of course the most excited person was my mom, who loves arranging flowers. Upon entering the vicinity, the first thing we saw were two ladies preparing buckets of beautiful flowers for a wedding.

They wrap newspapers around the head of the flower so that the petals won't get ruined when they're on the road. They remind me dog cones though. Haha!

Another client ordered sunflowers for her wedding. They're so beatuful! Toti said if you want to order flowers for a wedding, you should inform the flower farm at least 3 months in advance so they can schedule the planting and harvesting.

And then Toti led us to the place where they plant all the flowers. There were huge greenhouses arranged in rows, complete with irrigation system. And each greenhouse is classified according to stage. As you can see here, the flowers in this area are not yet in full bloom.

Toti went to Israel to work and to know more about the technology on flower farming. When he came home, he applied the technology that he learned and started his own flower farm.

Then this kitty showed up and followed us the whole time we were walking around! So cute.

These are some of the flowers that we saw. 

Can you imagine how fresh and sweet smelling the flower farm was? It was such a nice experience :)

Toti was happy to have us there, and he gave us 4-5 bunches of colorful flowers. After the visit to the flower farm, we went to the lettuce farm which was just across the road and I will writing about that tomorrow. :)

Ilog Maria Honey Bee Farm

Last week my family and I stayed in Tagaytay City to enjoy the cool Christmas weather. And of course I'm happy to share with you some of the photos from our trip. The first one will be about our visit to Ilog Maria.

Ilog Maria is a honey bee farm located at Silang, Cavite. It's a quaint place. Nothing fancy, just a simple bee farm. When you walk around the area, you will see white boxes. These boxes are bee colonies that they take good care of. 

They allow curious people to open this wooden box so you can see what's inside a bee colony. A lot of bees were flying nearby, but don't worry! They are are harmless. As long as you're not wearing strong perfume, and you're not wearing anything floral, then I suppose you're safe. 

If you open the box, this is what you will see. Bees, bees, and more bees!

That's real honeycomb made by the bees! Amazing isn't it? They are made of beeswax, which the farm uses to make soap, lotion and even lip balm since it has moisturizing properties.

Upstairs is a shop where they sell various bee products. They have virgin honey, natural bee pollen, royal jelly, beeswax candles, beeswax and propolis soap, as well as honey cider vinegar.

Propolis is the sap that bees collect from trees. Bees use them to to build their hives. It has notable antibacterial properties which is why Ilog Maria uses it in their soap products.

Check this out: Honey-Beeswax-Propolis Milk Soap. Super moisturizing, made with fresh buffalo milk. This sounds delicious and nutritious! And they make me hungry cos they look like white chocolate.

Their products are locally made and handmade. I've tried their shampoo and the propolis spray, which is used to relieve sore throat, and I absolutely love them. 

If you are on a trip to Tagaytay, you should visit Ilog Maria. It is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, 8am-5pm. Check out the map here.

Happy Holidays from The Pink Doormat!

Hi guys! Are you all done wrapping your presents? I sure am! Isn't it fun when you have a color scheme for all of your gift packaging? I decided to reuse the brown paper bags from the grocery, because I didn't want to throw them away, but I didn't really know what to do with them. And after adding a touch of red and white, here's what I got!

For the record, I'm not giving away those Christmas cookies. Those are mine, actually. I just wanted to include them in the shot. But anyway, I just wanted to greet you all...

Merry Christmas to everyone! I hope you enjoy the holidays and I can't wait to have hot cocoa this evening!

Credits to:

Jessica McCarty

Fellow Fellow

Cabin Christmas

This is my interpretation of what Christmas in a log cabin looks like - a rustic home with a delightful feast on the dinner table, the rich taste of hot cocoa, warm blankets, the smell fresh of pine trees, and the sound of wood burning in the fireplace.

1. via Anastasia Volkova
2. via Stocksy
3. via Lexington Company
4. via Anastasia Volkova
5. via Anastasia Volkova
6. via Anastasia Volkova
7. via Architecture Art Designs
8. via Skimbacolifestyle
9. via DecoratingIdeas1.com

Have a Cabin Christmas in your home with these items:

1. Donner 18" Pillow, Crate and Barrel
2. Apotheke Holiday Gift Set, West Elm
3. Holiday Heart Decoration, Lexington Company
4. Peppermint Bark and Hot Chocolate Set, Williams Sonoma
5. Holiday Checked Tablecloth, Lexington Company

My Favorite Christmas Ornaments

Hello all! How to you buy or make your Christmas tree ornaments? Is it by color, by shape, or by theme? Anyway, I have compiled a list of cute ornaments according to theme that all of you will love.

Sweet Ornaments

1. 2" Dessert Delights Whoopie Pie with Pink Filling Christmas Ornament, Walmart
2. Cake Slice Ornament, Bloomingdales
3. Pink Cupcake Glass Ornament, Bronners
4. Big Donut Christmas Tree Ornament, Urban Outfitters via Shelterness
5. Neapolitan Ice Cream Ornament, Bloomingdales

Christmas Critters

1. Carved Wood Horse Ornament, Crate and Barrel
2. Winter Scene Disc Ornament, Crate and Barrel
3. Woodland Prep Animal Ornament, The Land of Nod
4. Scandinavian Reindeer Ornament, Crate and Barrel
5. Soiree Bunny Ornament, Anthropologie


Christmas Around The World

1. Christmas Around the World Ornaments, Pottery Barn Kids
2. Michael Storrings for Landmark Creations, Bloomingdales
3. On-Holiday Ornaments, Anthropologie
4. Around the World Ornaments, Crate and Barrel
5. Round the World Ornaments, The Land of Nod

Merry and Bright

Who says Christmas has to be just about red and green? Here are some merry and bright colors for the holidays that will make you feel like a kid again!

1. Advent calendar via Real Simple
2. Ho ho ho washi tape via Target + Oh Joy Pinterest
3. Christmas gift wrapping via Studio ToutPetit
4. Christmas ball wreath via Bright Bazaar
5. Neon Christmas tree via Print and Pattern
6. Colorful Pompom Trees via Target
7. Geometric ornaments via Design Sponge

1. MT Vibrant Solid Washi Tape, Cute Tape
2. Multi Colored Shaped Wreath, Paperchase
3. Geometric Paper Ornaments Set of 8, Field Guide Design
4. Purple Glitter Stag, Paperchase
5. Rainbow Stocking, Land of Nod
6. Marty Moose Shot Glass, Urban Outfitters

Dreaming of a White Christmas

It's already December! The last month of the year! I don't know about you, but I've been thinking of Christmas every minute. I'm going to post Christmas decor inspiration in different themes every week and I'm going to start with White Christmas. 

1. Photo by Roy Alsen via Mad About The House

2. via Fit Mommy Diaries

3. Stag Head via Dobbies

4. Jute Cushion Cover via H&M

5. via Trendir

6. Aðventukransar via Rakel Ósk Sigurðardóttir

7. via Norske Interior Blogger

Neutral colors, clean crisp white sheets, warm and lovely candles, Scandinavian decor - all of these produce a calming vibe for your room. Here are some items that you can use to decorate your White Christmas home:

1. Tree in a box 3 pieces, &Klevering

2. Engel Set 3 Snow Stars, &Klevering

3. Town Square Sculpture, Anthropologie

4. Grey Gran Pillowcase, Nordic Design

5. Stuffed Ornaments, Ferm Living

6. Candleholder String, Ferm Living