Thanks for all the ideas folks. I got a big roll of parchment paper and I also got an oven sheet (one of those sheets you put in the bottom of the oven to make spills easier to clean.
I also have a large 30 in sq wood cutting square with I use as an ironing surface now since my ironing board was not big enough for mistral. This board appears to have been an old style cutting mat, it has grid markings on it. But since it is pressed board with holes in it (so it cools faster) it works great for ironing.
Note: I also got an ironing mat with silicone iron rest at shopko for $10, but it is too puffy. I dont like it.