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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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November 15, 2011

Announcing the Holiday Blogger Block Party!

christmas block partylggraphic
Can you BELIEVE it’s already time to be announcing a holiday version of the Blogger Block Party! Our Summer Blogger Block Party was such a success we couldn’t wait to co-host a holiday version!
Once again, we have such a talented group of bloggers joining us to host nine…yes you read that right NINE different parties for you to link up to! We will be offering everything from Magazine Copycat Challenges, to Christmas in the Kitchen, to Christmas Trees and everything in between! If it’s Holiday related you’ll find a party to link up to and we’d love you to link up to them all!
The partying will start on Monday, December 5th, with Debbie over at Debbie Doo’s Blogging and Blabbing for her holiday theme magazine copycat challenge.  Then we will be visiting Kristin at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia to show off our holiday mantels on Tuesday, December 6th. 
We will join Judy at DIY by Design on Wednesday, December 7th for our holiday banister party as well as heading outdoors with Vanessa here At The Picket Fence to share our welcoming outdoor décor and front doors! Thursday, December 8th, Sherry at No Minimalist Here invites us to her table where we can showcase our holiday dining ideas.
And we will party hop on Friday, December 9th with Debra and Common Ground sharing our vintage Christmas ideas, at French Country Cottage with Courtney where we will display our holiday vignettes, with Honey at 2805 where we can display the stars of Christmas our trees and we’ll celebrate all of this partying with Heather in her kitchen here At The Picket Fence by joining her as she FINALLY (grin) debuts her kitchen remodel and shares how to decorate and cook in the kitchen for the holiday.  Finally, we here At The Picket Fence will be showcasing some of our favorites from all of the parties on Saturday to wrap up the party!
christmas block partylggraphic
WHEW! That’s a lot of partying folks…so get those homes decorated and that holiday food baking and get ready to join us the week of December 5th-10th for the Holiday Blogger Block Party! 
We would be so thrilled if you would help us spread the word by sharing about the Holiday Block Party on your blogs by placing the following button in your sidebar! The more the merrier!

Can’t wait to see all of your fabulous creativity and talent! As always thank you for “partying” with us…At The Picket Fence!
dual signature
All Holiday Block Party graphics were created by Heather.  Are you interested in having party graphics, party buttons or blog buttons created for you? Email us through our contact page to discuss ideas and pricing!

13 Comments Filed Under: Blogger Block Party, Community, Good Ideas, Holiday Blogger Block Party, Holidays

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Comments

  1. Shelia says

    November 15, 2011 at 3:46 PM

    Oh ladies this sounds like so much fun and incentive for me to get to decorating for Christmas! Thanks for this opportunity!
    Be a couple of sweeties,
    Shelia 😉

    Reply
  2. Debra @ Common Ground says

    November 15, 2011 at 4:08 PM

    wow, I’m dizzy just thinking about it all! Can’t wait!

    Reply
  3. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    November 15, 2011 at 4:11 PM

    Can’t wait Girls!!

    Reply
  4. Debbie says

    November 15, 2011 at 5:10 PM

    OK, I was a big old Debbie Downer this summer and didn’t do these. I think that maybe this is exactly what I need to start feeling, less glum.

    I am putting this up on my blog so that it doesn’t come up and bite me in the booty.

    Reply
  5. anangloinquebec says

    November 15, 2011 at 5:54 PM

    Putting this on An Anglo in Québec right away! Sounds like a fun party!

    Reply
  6. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    November 15, 2011 at 6:56 PM

    I already have the button of events on my sidebar! Looking forward to this as I always get inspiration from these.

    Reply
  7. Kelly says

    November 15, 2011 at 8:06 PM

    This should be a lot of fun! I added it to my sidebar.

    Reply
  8. Natasha in Oz says

    November 15, 2011 at 11:02 PM

    Wow, what fun! I can’t wait to see what inspiration is shared at these great parties. I’d better get organised!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha.

    Reply
  9. Angie says

    November 15, 2011 at 4:55 PM

    Let the festivities begin! Looking forward to it!

    Blessings,
    Angie @ Knick of Time Interiors

    Reply
  10. The DIY Show Off says

    November 16, 2011 at 2:14 AM

    So much festive fun!!! Heather – your graphic skills are awesome! Looking forward to the Block Party goodies!

    Reply
  11. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says

    November 16, 2011 at 3:08 AM

    Hi Vanessa and Heather, Thank you for inviting me to participate in your party. Last Summers party was so much fun and I am really looking forward to the Christmas Blogger Block Party. I have to get busy polishing my silver!
    Hugs,
    Sherry

    Reply
  12. Lella Loves... says

    November 21, 2011 at 6:00 PM

    Hello there, lovely ladies 🙂
    I am super-excited and can’t wait to meet new folks at the party.
    Love it!
    Lella xx

    Reply
  13. Shauna@Satori Design for Living says

    November 30, 2011 at 12:49 AM

    Looking forward to participating and seeing what everyone comes up with!

    Reply

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Front door wreath….✔️ The very last Christmas dec Front door wreath….✔️

The very last Christmas decorating to be completed and one of the most important since there’s nothing I love more than welcoming people into our home this season.

I bought the wreath for $15 from a wonderful local vendor, reused my favorite bells and added a velvet bow in the color I’m carrying throughout the house this year.

Do you buy a fresh wreath each year or do you use a faux wreath on your front door? 

#frontdoorwreath #christmaswreath #christmasporch
The first day of December and the first Sunday of The first day of December and the first Sunday of advent. As we enter into a month that can be filled with stress, anxiety, worry and even sadness, let us turn our hearts towards the ONE who came as the ultimate, undeserved gift. Because it’s all about Him. 

“Who can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only requirement is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life.” (Corrie Ten Boom)
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” ~ G.K. Chesterton

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours dear friends! 🍂
Its that time of year again. I share this recipe e Its that time of year again. I share this recipe every November because it’s JUST.THAT.GOOD! 

And I have a confession ...I’d rather have cranberry sauce smothering the turkey on my plate than gravy any day!! And this, this right here? Well it’s the best (and easiest!) cranberry sauce ever!! I eat on crackers and sandwiches and sometimes just by the spoonful. It’s so yummy! And I’m just so very thankful for all of you that I’m going to leave the recipe right here instead of making you go to the blog to get it. I promise you won’t regret having this on your Thanksgiving menu but be warned...you may find yourself up in the middle of the night sneaking some helpings of this deliciousness. Or maybe that’s just me!

Ingredients:
2 pounds fresh or frozen cranberries
2 oranges
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup white wine.

Instructions:
Wash and pick over berries, removing any that are soft. Peel and dice oranges removing any seeds. Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a full boil. Reduce heat and continue cooking until cranberries pop open and mixture is thickening.
For best flavor, prepare and let stand for several days before using.

Gobble, gobble!! 🦃
It’s that time of year again!! Chex Mix will be ma It’s that time of year again!! Chex Mix will be made on repeat for the next month and I’ve figured out the secret to getting the BEST flavor.

Want to know what it is? It’s all about being EXTRA! 

Take the base recipe up a notch by using a full stick of butter, extra tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce and an extra 1/2 tablespoon of Lawry’s seasoning salt.

I guarantee you’ll never go back!

You’re welcome. 😉🎄

#chexmix #chexmixupgrade
Happy Friday!! I limped my way to the end of the w Happy Friday!! I limped my way to the end of the week and I’m feeling especially grateful for the twinkling lights around my home which give me so much joy.

The great debate on social media over whether or not Christmas decorations should appear before Thanksgiving is one I just let roll on past me. Because I am so unbelievably thankful for this life, my family, my friends, this country, this home and most of all my Savior. 

Having my home all ready to welcome the next sacred season doesn’t take away one iota from my ability to express gratitude on the official day set aside each year where we do that collectively.

And when the last slice of turkey has been eaten and all of the leftovers put away, I’ll be over here ready to be fully present in the month of December and soak up every bit of it! 🦃🎄
IKEA vs Heirlooms: Why we need family treasures “ IKEA vs Heirlooms: Why we need family treasures

“My children have grown up seeing antique books on a coffee table, vintage toys in their bedrooms and even pieces of furniture that were all passed down from one generation to the next. But as my nest gets closer and closer to being empty, I’m keenly aware of the fact that many of these cherished items might not be as welcome in the homes of future generations.”

*Read the rest over at @cleartruthmedia*
All of my CTM articles are saved in my highlights
Not too long ago, someone told me that they liked Not too long ago, someone told me that they liked it better when I just talked about decorating and didn’t mention anything else. This person preferred me to keep any opinions or convictions to myself and just focus only on content about home decor, crafts and recipes. Aside from the fact that I’m always astonished that people feel so free to say things like that, I do agree that it would be a lot easier and more palatable if I didn’t talk about things like a Biblical Worldview, apologetics and the nature of reality itself. For one thing, Instagram wouldn’t throttle my account with its algorithms that are skewed to diminish voices like mine. It would be much easier to be so tethered to this app that I change everything I post to fit into its preferred framework. I would be asked to be part of influencer groups and activities like I was years ago. But I’m not that person anymore. Yes, the core of this community will always be an emphasis on homemaking which will include decorating and recipes but I can’t separate that from the core of who I am as a follower of Jesus Christ.

It would be so much easier for me to just show you the latest Amazon products I’ve bought and tell you to “comment” to get the links. But I’m not called to take the easy path. Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.”

I truly believe that so many have been lulled into thinking that the narrow gate wasn’t really all that narrow. But, it’s never been more obvious that it really is. And every day I seek to stay on that very narrow way.  More than ever before, I believe that our world needs to know that there is objective truth and a solid foundation to stand upon as we navigate our lives. My role as a homemaker is predicated on that foundation and everything else flows out of it. Talking about these things isn’t going to get me lots of views here. 

But I live for an audience of ONE.
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The peace we long for in our home begins with our hearts. If you want your home to feel more peaceful during the upcoming holiday season, I have five things to consider that will make that not only possible but predictable.

✨ Read the full article over at @club31women ✨

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As our feeds are filled with so.much.stuff, I want to offer you a reprieve. A place where you will find less emphasis on what’s happening in our homes and more on what’s happening in our hearts.

More than ever before, I can see just how much people are needing the hope found in Christ and that will always be the focus here. 

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#wearethehomemakers #homemaking #homemakerschristmas #club31women
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