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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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February 7, 2011

At the Kids Table…for Valentine’s Day!



Let’s face it!
The kid’s table isn’t usually where you want to be sitting.
Weird cousins…small chairs…missing out on the good “grown-up” conversations.
But here, At the Picket Fence, we think the Kid’s Table should be the best seats in the house! This series is dedicated to celebrating the privilege of getting to sit…
For this installment, we are so thrilled to have a very special guest with us.
Christie from Three Pixie Lane!
She is known and loved by so many of us and if you have ever received one of her sweet comments on your posts, you feel like you have just won the lottery.
She is truly beautiful inside and out. And the passion she has for her home is only surpassed by her desire for it to be a place of joy and refuge for her precious family.
Christie is graciously sharing with us her charming Valentine’s Day Tea Party.
We’ll let her describe it to you in her own words.
“Last year, I had a Valentine’s Tea Party for my girls and our friends.”



“My oldest daughter helped with the decorations and food.”





“These were the old love letters from my Grandpa to my Grandma during WWII.  They seemed appropriate as decoration for this Valentine’s Day Party.”


“My friend who had hosted a party for her daughter for many years suggested that I let my daughters pick some of their favorite foods!  After all, the party is for them!  Pretzels and cheese puffs made the list!”

“The little tables are set for the little girls…”

“Their table is set with tea sets from IKEA.  The ribbon roses were made by my oldest daughter to decorate their table.  To make these simple rosettes, take a 12 to 18 inch wire ribbon.  Pull the wire of one side of the ribbon until the ribbon bunches.  Wrap the loose wire around a pencil or small stick and form a rose.”




“I always look forward to Valentine’s Day right after Christmas!  I keep some of the ‘red’ decorations out from Christmas and just add some fun Valentine’s decor.  I change the decorations out as soon as I take down Christmas.  It seems to make for an easier transition!

Happy Valentine’s to you!”
Christie

Well, I don’t know about you, but I would have been thrilled to sit at any one of those tables! Thank you so much for joining us over here today Christie, and for helping us to kick off a week of celebrating Valentine’s Day!
Mark your calendars because this coming Saturday we will be hosting the
Valentine’s Day Edition of
Get your Valentine’s Day crafts, recipes, decorating ready to link up!
Maybe you will even want to share a story from the heart. We would love to heart it!
Be sure to come back tomorrow for more great ideas and inspiration and thanks for stopping by the Fence today!

Heather and Vanessa

16 Comments Filed Under: At the Kids Table, Good Ideas, Guest Posts, Holidays, Main Dishes

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Judy says

    February 7, 2011 at 1:14 PM

    So pretty. I love it. Please stop by my blog today…I featured your project. Thanks.

    Reply
  2. Pam - diy Design Fanatic says

    February 7, 2011 at 2:28 PM

    Awww, that’s so cute! Everything looked wonderful!

    Reply
  3. Nellie's Cozy place says

    February 7, 2011 at 3:22 PM

    What a precious idea and everything looks so lovely, I am sure lil and big girls had a wonderful time.
    Makes me wish I had some grandaughter to do that with. maybe one day!! lol
    thanks for sharing that sweetness
    of Valentines day,
    blessings, Nellie

    Reply
  4. Val says

    February 7, 2011 at 4:53 PM

    I love this post! Beyond adorable!!

    Reply
  5. Dear Sweet Home says

    February 7, 2011 at 4:54 PM

    Love it! So sweet. I am having a Surprise party for my daughter Thurdsday night (she is turning 16) and I may do a little valentine-twist on the decor! Thanks for sharing. Oh, and Vanessa….I would love for you to share my term “fluff your stuff” – I got it from somewhere a few years back and it just stuck with me!~ you are too sweet! Happy Monday!

    Reply
  6. Jo says

    February 7, 2011 at 2:12 PM

    Sooo sweet, at the kids table, lovely.
    The letters from her grandpa to your grandma…PRICELESS!
    ~Jo
    LazyonLoblolly

    Reply
  7. Liz@https://infusewithliz.blogspot.com/ says

    February 7, 2011 at 10:40 PM

    Wow, can I come to the party! I love all the table settings…how fun for the girls and what a great “memory” for them…nothing like showing them the finer things in life when they are young so they will carry it through their life!

    Reply
  8. Allyson Pecilunas says

    February 7, 2011 at 11:02 PM

    How pretty is this?! Thank you for coming by and visiting me I am now following along.

    Reply
  9. NanaDiana says

    February 8, 2011 at 12:03 AM

    What a fun party. I love little girl tea parties..this one is absolutely lovely…love the clear glass plates on the heart shaped paper doilies-great idea. Hugs-Diana

    Reply
  10. Christie says

    February 7, 2011 at 5:57 PM

    Oh! Your words are TOO kind! I feel kind of slack this year, because we aren’t doing a little party…in the middle of refinishing floors! How fun is that?! It is fun to kick off the week over here and I can’t WAIT to see all the Valentine’s goodness coming our way! I am working on my posts for Sat.!! Love to you girls and thanks again!! Christie at Three Pixie Lane

    Reply
  11. Christie says

    February 7, 2011 at 8:41 PM

    I added a new post and included your button with a big thanks for this feature! Thanks again! christie

    Reply
  12. Cindy says

    February 7, 2011 at 9:09 PM

    I agree…I would love to be a guest at all of these tables!

    Reply
  13. dmuseit says

    February 8, 2011 at 10:19 AM

    I have many fond memories of sitting at the kids table with my cousins. (Yes, my siblings were there too.)

    You show one special chair – the harp back or musical motif, in front of the window. What can you tell me about that? Our grandparents had a beautiful display table very similar.

    Reply
  14. Ashley says

    February 8, 2011 at 1:29 PM

    What an adorable party! I love this idea and can’t wait to do something like this for my daughter and her friends!

    Reply
  15. Leslie @ goodbye, house! HELLO, HOME! says

    February 9, 2011 at 3:44 AM

    I wanna be 8 years old and be invited next time, m’kay?

    Reply
  16. Sorta Fairytale Girl says

    February 8, 2011 at 11:55 PM

    how sweet…would love to do something like this for my daughter when she is older!

    Reply

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I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consumin I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consuming seasonal decorating. When I think back on the years where I would feel all of the pressure to come up with something fresh and creative I’m seriously embarrassed. Truly. Because it was such a waste. A waste of my time, my energy, my resources. Something clicked with me a few years ago. I was just done. I needed to simplify. I needed to not spend an obscene amount of time looking at fireplace mantels on Pinterest and trying to figure out how to make mine look amazing. I needed to put it all in the proper place in my heart and my mind. Which meant, it had to go waaaaayyyy down on the priority list. So far down it almost wasn’t on it. And I needed to confess to the Lord that I had allowed it to become an idol. 

Yes, I want to have a home that I enjoy. Yes, I love pretty things. But something really amazing happened when I finally released it all. When I decided to not give into the pressure and panic I would feel when I would scroll through my Instagram feed. When I just laid it all down and said…enough. There was this incredible irony in it. Because, the less time I took to decorate my home for each season, the more I found myself loving the results. I think that all along I had just been getting in my own way. It’s really taken a lot of time and prayer for me to finally be at a place where even though I still struggle with insecurities and I still have doubts from time to time, I’m becoming increasingly more confident in who God created me to be. And, just like my home, I’m finding that as I relax into myself, letting go of the comparisons and the pressure, the more I can actually lean into the calling He has placed on my life. 🍂

Leave a comment if you can relate! 

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking
“As the alluring song of September begins to whi “As the alluring song of September begins to whisper in my ear, my passionate spirit yearns for the splendor of its promise.” (Peggy Toney Horton)

Happy September dear friends! While I’m not quite ready to let go of summer and I plan to make the most out of the lingering, warm days, I’ll admit to starting to think about my fall decor this year. And one way to get inspired is to take a look back at previous years. Here’s just a glimpse at some of the ways I’ve welcomed Autumn to my home! 🍂

#september #falldecorating #falldecor #falldecoratingideas #wearethehomemakers
Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning the corner and getting closer to fall but I’m not quite ready to let summer go. So I’ll just be over here continuing to whip up some super simple summer meals for my family that frankly can be enjoyed in any season. These shrimp rolls I made the other night were definitely a hit and would be great for any of your upcoming holiday weekend gatherings!

Shrimp Rolls 🍤

Ingredients
1-2 lbs of shrimp that is peeled, deveined and tail off (If using frozen make sure it’s thawed completely)
1/3 cup mayonnaise 
1/2 of a lemon
2 Tbsps chopped scallions
1 Tbsp chopped dill
1 Tbsp chopped Italian parsley
1 Tsp of Old Bay seasoning (more if you like!)
pinch of sea salt and pinch of black pepper
Hoagie Rolls
Softened butter

Directions: Gently pat the shrimp with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Roughly chop the shrimp and place in a bowl. Add mayonnaise, squeeze half of lemon and stir to combine before adding in the scallions, dill and parsley. Stir to combine and then add the additional seasonings. Spread butter on hoagie rolls and toast in the oven until lightly browned. Pile on the shrimp mixture and enjoy! 

#shrimproll #foodie #weeknightdinner #easydinner #seafoodlover
Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. W Today has been a very Monday-ish kind of Monday. We woke up to the sound of chainsaws and rushed downstairs to find that our backyard neighbors were having two of the huge trees that line our shared fence removed. These trees have been here longer than the neighborhood and no, they weren't dead or causing damage to roofs, foundations, etc. They were beautiful and gave us wonderful privacy. We had no notice of this happening so this came as quite a shock. Because we were given no notice, we didn't have the chance to cover our outdoor furniture or plants and everything is now coated in a thick layer of sawdust including the fresh bark we recently put in the garden beds. And now our lovely privacy is gone, replaced by a direct view of an above ground pool and RV. I know, I know, it's totally a first world, privileged kind of problem to have. But, now we have to spend thousands of dollars on plants to try and recapture some semblance of privacy. Now we have days worth of clean up to do after we had JUST done a massive freshening up of our backyard. My overarching feeling has just been weariness at the way our world is today.

I think about how often we try to do right by people, to be respectful and courteous. To be thoughtful and considerate. And it’s not reciprocated. How its starting to seem more and more like people have just given up on those seemingly small niceties. And my soul just feels heavy. Because I feel like so much of what used to be common courtesy is not so common anymore. Drivers on the roads are angrier and more reckless than ever before. Red lights being run are an everyday occurrence around town. On our recent family vacation, I heard more people using the F word out in public than ever before even while around children. Where are manners? Where is kindness? I'm finding myself being surprised when someone is thoughtful because it seems like a rarity. And that's just all on a micro, local level. Don't even get me started on the insanity in our world/culture. After I returned from grocery shopping (which can also be soul crushing), I found myself desperate for a reminder of the truth. 

*Part 2 continued in the comments.*
How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully grasp our strengths or our weaknesses until we are put to the test? Little did I know how much I would love my role as a wife, mother and homemaker until I became one. And that in my endeavor to do those roles to the best of my ability, it would bring to the forefront gifts and talents and blessings that I use outside of these walls.

As I water others, I’m watered too because it brings such joy to care for those around me. But it can also make me see more clearly the areas in which I’m lacking and be a very humbling reminder of how much I still need to grow and learn.

Proverbs 11:25 says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Have you done any ‘watering’ of others this week? How has it blessed and ‘watered’ you in return?
“Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you “Mom, this is one of my favorite meals that you make.” Statements like this from my kids fill me with so much joy and such a sense of assurance that my role as the maker of this home is one that makes an impact on them in both big and small ways. It’s not just sheet pan shrimp boil. 

It’s nourishment
It’s time together around the table
It’s laughing as we try to get the butter sauce out of the pan
It’s a memory
It’s an imprint on their lives 

The ordinary act of making a meal becomes EXTRAordinary. And I try to keep that in mind as I do this task day in and day out, year after year. 

***

Ingredients: 
1 pound baby red or yellow potatoes
Green beans or corn (4 ears cut in half) whichever you prefer
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
1/2 tsp coarse sea salt and pinch of black pepper 
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 (12.8-ounce) package smoked andouille sausage, thinly sliced
Crusty bread for dipping 

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or coat with nonstick spray. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook potatoes until just tender, about 10 minutes. Put potatoes, shrimp, sausage and green beans or corn on baking sheet. Pour butter over top. Sprinkle with old bay seasoning and salt and pepper. Mix well to combine. Bake for about 12 minutes or until shrimp is pink. 

#shrimpboil #sheetpandinner #sheetpanmeals #homemaking
Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and lig Temperatures in the 100’s call for fresh and light cocktails! My husband is my own built in bartender and he put this together the other night. 

2 jiggers of gin (you could also use vodka) 
*you should do a jig when using a jigger 😉*
Crushed ice 
Grapefruit tonic 
Squirt of lime 
Sprig of mint 

Easy and so refreshing!! ☀️

#cocktails #summercocktails
There is something magical about the late summer e There is something magical about the late summer evenings. Maybe it’s because we have a greater sense of the fact that these long days are slowly shortening and we want to savor them as much as we can. I know I intend to do just that. 

I hope you’re having a wonderful August so far dear friends!
Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our hou Variations of this recipe are on repeat at our house all summer long. We’re big on the ‘build your own’ method of making dinner especially on very hot days. Simplicity for the win! 
#recipes #easydinner #easydinnerideas #homemaking
In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grou In music, rhythm is a regular repetition or a grouping of beats. No matter what else a piece of music has in terms of its pitch or tone, the rhythm never changes. Its the stabilizing force and brings order to a composition that would be completely chaotic without it.

The same can be said of rhythms in our lives and in our homes. When everything else feels out of control, rhythms and patterns provide us with stability and something that we can rely upon to give us a sense of security in a very insecure world. But, too often, we associate the rhythmic things we do in our lives as merely tasks to be gotten through rather than gifts which provide much-needed balance.

Whether it’s making the coffee every night before we go to bed or doing my devotional in the morning before the rest of the house wakes up or watering my garden, these simple tasks provide a rhythm to my day that is truly grounding. 

What’s something that you do that you would classify as a rhythm or pattern in your week?
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