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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

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July 19, 2011

Behind The Blog…with Rhoda and Southern Hospitality!

  

Last week we shared a fun new series that we would be kicking off: Behind the Blog, where we introduce you, our friends, to some of the fabulous bloggers behind the blogs they write!  We were so honored when one of our favorite bloggers agreed to help us kick off the series and ask her all kinds of nosy questions!  Please help us welcome the classy, fun and talented:
Rhoda from Southern Hospitality  We know y’all will give her a warm welcome here At The Picket Fence!
picketfence_20010
Hi Miss Rhoda! We are so happy to have you here with us today At The Picket Fence! We are huge admirers of you and your fantabulous blog Southern Hospitality and we are honored that you would spend the morning with us here at the fence to have a cup of coffee and let us find out a little bit more about you and your thoughts and advise on blogging!”
“Hi girls, so excited to be here today, I think y’all are fantabulous yourselves…”
Ok, so who are we kidding? This part of of the interview didn’t actually take place, but we can always pretend right?  Now onto what we know you all are really waiting for…the questions!


Up first we asked Rhoda to share with us the “Ins and Outs” of her blogging experiences



What prompted you to start blogging in the first place?

“I have long been involved with decorating boards online, since around 2000 or so, where we shared design inspiration & our home projects too.  It was all private back then, pre-blogging days, but I had so much fun making friends with girls all over the country who were as obsessed about their homes as I was.  Blogging was just a natural fit when it came along.”

How long have you been blogging? 

“I began on a whim in Feb. 2007 and haven’t shut up since that day.  It’s been a thrilling ride and I still love it.”

What is the story behind your blog name?

“Since I’m a Southern girl, it just seemed like a good name to describe what I wanted to share on my blog.  I knew it wouldn’t be just about decorating, so Southern Hospitality seemed like a good name to describe all I wanted to embody with my blog.”

What is one piece of advice you would give to a “new” blogger?

“Be yourself and don’t try to copy anyone else.  There are SO many fabulous bloggers out there that it can be quite intimidating to anyone just getting started.  I still get intimidated by some of my supah-star blogger friends who do this blog thing much better than I do.  But, I just tell myself that there is only ONE me and I have so many faithful readers who stop by to see what I’m up to, so I stay true to myself and blog about those things that are important to me:  my family, food, friends, and of course decorating projects and DIY inspiration.  So, one piece of advice would be to follow your heart and blog your passion and that is what will come through as “real” and genuine to your readers. That will bring them back for more.  They will want to know what YOU are up to!”

“One more thing!  Be careful of blogging addiction.  It’s a very real thing and will suck the life out of your time. J“

(Ha! We couldn’t agree more with Rhoda on that last point…not that we are addicted to blogging or anything…ahem…nope not at all…)

What is one piece of advice you would give to a “seasoned” blogger to avoid the dreaded blogger burn-out?
“As hard as it is, try to stay away from the competitive mindset.  Blogging has evolved into much more of a community these days, with bloggers helping each other, promoting other blogs and reaching outside themselves and that is very healthy in the blogosphere.  I’m happy to see that and strive to do that myself.  I do think that burn-out can be a very real thing and I get very worried about those mom’s with young children who try to do it all.  Don’t kill yourself to be a huge blogger, let it come naturally.  Most blog growth is slow and steady, like the tortoise in the book.  Not many blogs shoot up to the stratosphere right off the bat.  It takes hard work, determination, and passion, but burn-out is very real too.  There are always going to be bigger bloggers than where any of us are at any given time.  Enjoy your space, where you are for the moment!”
(Enjoy your space..that is such good advice.  We often become discontent with a room or even lots of rooms in our homes because they aren’t exactly like we envision them to be.  Learning to enjoy where we are at the moment is something we probably all need to practice!)


Rhoda, how have you learned to balance blogging with the rest of your life, which we are sure is something all bloggers struggle with?

“I’m very fortunate in that my blog started off as a hobby, turned into a part-time business and now that I’m single and supporting myself solely again, I can really pour myself fully into blogging fulltime to see where it will take me.  So far, God has opened a lot of doors and opportunities and I’m just going to enjoy it and go where He leads.  I still love the process of blogging so very much and now having it turn into my primary stay-at-home business is just a blessing each and every day.  It’s growing every year and for that I’m grateful.  I do tend to stay on the computer WAY too much, but it keeps me out of trouble.  I don’t have kids or a husband to worry about. J“
What are your top 3 favorite things about blogging?

“Definitely the friendships I have made through blogging has been the biggest blessing in my life.  It’s just amazing that we can meet up with other bloggers that we have never met before and feel like they are lifelong friends.  That’s the beauty of blogging.  I’d say the friendships are first, then sharing projects and inspiration and finally, the fun perks that come with blogging in this home niche.  I’ve been blessed with a lot of perks along the way, from free products to monetary perks.”

picketfence_20010


Up next we asked Rhoda to share a little bit about her own projects.
What has been your most popular project with your readers?

“Probably my beadboard wallpaper projects have been the most talked about all over blogland.  I discovered that stuff 2 years ago and began blogging about it and have done several projects with  it.” 
Kitchen Beadboard Project

“Still love it to this day and just finished up another bathroom using it. Now I have it in my online shop and that is another blessing.  It’s selling very well and that is because I’m SO passionate about it and love the product!”  

Beadboard Bathroom Remodel



What is YOUR favorite project you have ever done?

“Without a doubt, it has to be the ugly stairs I refinished last year.  I ripped out ugly carpet, added molding, caulked, primed and painted, then finished it off with a jute striped runner that looked fantastic.  It was one of the hardest projects I’ve ever taken on, but definitely the most rewarding.  I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, but I was so dang proud of those stairs when I was finished.” 
Refinished Stairs Project
(Oh yes! We love this one too.  We both would love to copy your staircase project for sure!)

Have you ever had a project that completely failed and you did not show it on your blog?
“You know, I’ve been really lucky and never had anything go REALLY bad, so bad that I couldn’t show it.  There’s always a first time, I’m sure.”
We call this next round the “If You Were Stranded On A Desert Island” Set of Questions! (original we know…)
If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want to have with you?
“Now that’s a tough one.  OK, I’ll say TV, books, and plenty of snacks!”
(Gasp!…no TV would equal no HGTV and Design Star of course you have to have a TV!)
If you could only have one person with you on that island, whom would it be?
“The one person I’d want with me.  This might sound strange, but I’d take Jesus with me.  I wouldn’t want to be without Him, especially on a deserted island! 🙂 “ 


And last but certainly not least, we’re going to put Rhoda under the magnifying glass with Our Reader Questions..cause we know y’all are as nosy as we are!

We had y’all submit some questions you would might ask another blogger if you had the chance…here are the two we selected for Rhoda to answer!

“When you were 8 years old, what did you want to be/do as a grown up?”

“As an 8 year old, what I wanted to be when I grew up was not even on my radar. I was too busy being a kid, especially a tomboy girl, who loved climbing trees, riding bikes & playing in the creek.  I enjoyed my childhood and didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do/be when I grew up!”

“If you were going to a movie what candy would you HAVE to have?”

“Candy at the movies?  I do love candy and some of my fave is candy corn or malted milk balls.”


Thank you so much Rhoda for taking the time to answer our questions and letting us get a glimpse at the Blogger Behind the Blog! We want to say again how much we admire you and your dedication to the craft of blogging and to your readers and the bloggers who admire your work and passion! You inspire us!



And thank you to our readers who joined us today for our first installment of Behind the Blog! We will be featuring another fabulous blogger next Monday so join us then to find out who our next Blogger Behind the Blog…


…cause you never know who might show up next at the fence!

Thank you for joining us, Miss Rhoda, and Southern Hospitality
…at the picket fence!


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27 Comments Filed Under: Behind the Blog Series

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Comments

  1. ⚜ ↁℯℬℬᴵℰ⚜ says

    July 18, 2011 at 1:34 PM

    Wonderful interview! I enjoy these types of series. I think we can all learn something from them.

    Reply
  2. Liz says

    July 18, 2011 at 1:57 PM

    Great interview and it was fun getting to know more about Miss Rhonda!=)Thanks for sharing! XO ~Liz

    Reply
  3. Judy says

    July 18, 2011 at 1:59 PM

    Great interview. I love learning so much about the person behind the blogs I love to read.

    Reply
  4. Christine @ Stonehouse Living says

    July 18, 2011 at 2:09 PM

    Hi Vanessa & Heather,

    Fantastic new series!! It was so nice to meet Miss Rhoda on a more personal one to one basis.

    All the Best,
    Christine

    Reply
  5. Jeri says

    July 18, 2011 at 2:22 PM

    I loved the interview and I love Rhoda and everything she’s done! Thank you Vanessa and Heather for this fabulous idea and the questions are perfect because being a little blog I think I’ve
    experienced every one of those emotions. If it weren’t for you guys I would probably be still figuring out what HTML was! Thank you so much!
    xoxo
    Jeri

    Reply
  6. marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says

    July 18, 2011 at 3:02 PM

    This is such a great feature. I enjoyed learning more about Rhoda. I have enjoyed her blog since I started blogging and she is such a lovely person. Hugs, Marty

    Reply
  7. Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality says

    July 18, 2011 at 3:06 PM

    Heather & Vanessa, thank you both for doing this series & letting me kick it off. I really enjoyed the questions & being over here on your yes, fantabulous BLOG! You 2 are so sweet & friendly & I wish you all the best in this blogworld. Hope you can both come to the Haven conference next June! Now that is going to be a fun time, for sure. Thanks again!

    Reply
  8. Grammy Goodwill says

    July 18, 2011 at 3:16 PM

    Thanks for featuring Rhoda. She was the first blogger I started reading on a regular basis. I didn’t know how to follow for a long time. I don’t remember how I even found her. She’s great.

    Reply
  9. Coley says

    July 18, 2011 at 4:00 PM

    great feature and great advice. thank you!

    Reply
  10. Beverly says

    July 18, 2011 at 5:00 PM

    Thank you for this great new feature. I love it, and Rhoda was the perfect person to feature.

    Terrific!

    Reply
  11. {The Perfect Palette} says

    July 18, 2011 at 5:19 PM

    lovely interview!

    xoxo, Chrissy
    The Perfect Palette

    Reply
  12. michelle says

    July 18, 2011 at 6:27 PM

    What a great series! Rhonda seems very sweet and I love her projects that you showed, I think I need to check out that beadboard wall paper. 🙂
    Thank you again!!
    xo

    Reply
  13. Live Better For Less says

    July 18, 2011 at 7:34 PM

    Thank you for featuring Southern Hospitality…she is one of my favorites. I love this new feature of yours!

    Reply
  14. Kim {Recipes To Run On} says

    July 18, 2011 at 2:03 PM

    Heather and Vanessa, This is a WONDERFUL idea. I just love it and super enjoyed reading this interview. I’ve long been afraid to try to tackle decorating but have decided to give it a go rather than hire someone. Rhoda’s blog was one of the first places I turned to for ideas. Great blogging Girls!!! Have a great start to your week…

    Reply
  15. Dayle says

    July 18, 2011 at 9:37 PM

    Rhoda is a class act. Love her blog.

    Reply
  16. Becca says

    July 18, 2011 at 11:10 PM

    Great interview, Heather, Vanessa and Rhoda !! Love learning more about fellow bloggers, and I can’t think of two better gals to host such a great series. I look forward to getting to know many others, too !! xoxo

    Reply
  17. Life Of A Southern Couple - Brittany says

    July 19, 2011 at 12:11 AM

    Rhoda is amazing! She has a great blog! This was a really good interview. I really like hearing from other successful bloggers. It helps those of use that are just starting out. 🙂

    https://lifeofasoutherncouple.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  18. Debbie-refreshrestyle says

    July 19, 2011 at 1:10 AM

    Thanks for letting us get to know Rhoda, she’s such an inspiring positive influence! Looking forward to getting to know more fellow bloggers!
    Debbie

    Reply
  19. Simple Daisy says

    July 19, 2011 at 11:46 AM

    What a lovely interview!! Thank you for sharing:):)

    Reply
  20. Paula Jo @ Home and Garden Decor says

    July 19, 2011 at 5:34 PM

    What a nice and interesting interview. I enjoyed reading it very much. I like what she did with her bathroom, and the stairs. The runner looks fantastic on the stairway.

    Reply
  21. Janette@the2seasons says

    July 19, 2011 at 7:49 PM

    That was fun!

    Reply
  22. Richella says

    July 19, 2011 at 9:27 PM

    Weren’t y’all smart to start with Rhoda? Honestly, that woman REALLY lives up to her blog name. She doesn’t just talk about Southern Hospitality–she practices it! She is kind and helpful and really goes out of her way to
    encourage others. I love the fact that she has one of the longest-standing home decor blogs–it’s fun to see how many people said that hers is one of the first blogs they ever read. Thank you so much for featuring her here. What a great idea for a series!

    Reply
  23. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    July 19, 2011 at 4:03 PM

    Great interview girls!! Love Rhoda and her blog~ great questions too!! 🙂 What a fun series!

    Reply
  24. Susan (My Place to Yours) says

    July 20, 2011 at 7:18 PM

    Ladies, congratulations on a successful “first in the series” of posts! Rhoda always has such great ideas. I’m glad you interviewed her. I especially loved the answer to the “when you were 8 years old” question. Notice she didn’t say she was being chauffeured to a different sport/music lesson every day — she was just busy PLAYING and being a kid! I love that!

    Reply
  25. Anne Lorys - Fiona and Twig says

    July 23, 2011 at 2:19 PM

    Great feature! Rhoda seems as down to earth and sweet as she is talented.

    Happy Weekend!
    XO,
    Anne

    Reply
  26. Shannon says

    August 1, 2011 at 5:18 PM

    I loved this article! It was very insightful for my new blog! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  27. Mimi says

    November 10, 2011 at 7:02 PM

    Thanks for that delightful interview with Southern Hospitality!

    Reply

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The first weekend in December seems like a good ti The first weekend in December seems like a good time for my annual gentle reminder about this month. I don’t know about you but, for me, December is a month of mixed emotions, ranging from joy-filled moments to ones that have me wanting to pull my hair out.

There are so many expectations and we put so much pressure on ourselves to create magical memories. And for years I have felt the added weight of wanting to make sure my family had opportunities throughout the month to grow in their relationship with Christ.

We celebrate advent and read all of the appropriate Baby Jesus books and encourage a spirit of generosity and heavily emphasize the real reason for the season.

But sweet friends, I want to remind you today that one month out of the year does not a strong relationship with the Lord make. December doesn’t define our faith in Christ.

For our families or for us.

There are 11 other months in the year. 11 other months to live out our faith in front of our children. 11 other months to pray with them. 11 other months to help them wrestle through their questions and add depth to their walk with the Lord. 11 other months to encourage them to have generous spirits.

Let’s stop putting so much pressure on this one month out of the year. Let’s be surprised at the ways we might be able to celebrate the baby in the manger without a dozen countdown calendars. Let’s give our kids some grace when they are focused more on gifts because…well…they’re kids after all.

And while we’re at it, let’s give ourselves some grace too.

Grace when we think we should feel all the warm fuzzy feelings about Christmas but we really just want to take a nap. Or have a good cry. 

Grace that reminds us that this month will soon be over and we will have a brand new year ahead of us.

A new year filled with big moments and little moments and everything in between.

A new year to draw even closer to our Savior.

My hope for you is that, as you head into this season, you will be given fresh perspective and that you will give yourself (and your family) permission to just ‘be’. ✨
✨ The first Sunday of Advent is upon us and this ✨ The first Sunday of Advent is upon us and this year I created a super simple centerpiece for my dining room that incorporates the candles we will use each of the four weeks leading up to Christmas. While we will only light one candle each week, I used more than four so that the centerpiece would look a bit more filled in. In keeping with my goal to embrace a softer approach to my decorating, this arrangement works perfectly and helps to keep our focus on the beauty and the meaning  of the Advent season. For more ideas like this, check out my previous Advent post! ✨

#advent #adventcandles #simplechristmas #wearethehomemakers
In this season of motherhood, my soul is feeling a In this season of motherhood, my soul is feeling a bit more tender. When Christmas rolls around and I no longer have wish lists that include Lego sets or dollhouses, I find that I want my home to reflect this craving for all things gentle.

So our hot cocoa station this year is much more simple and done in a neutral color palette that just subtly blends in with the rest of the decor. It still feels festive and is definitely still “user friendly” but it’s just a bit less…well…less.

And, that’s ok. It’s not that this area won’t ever again have bright colors (maybe even pops of red!) but, right now I’m happy to have things this way.

With all that is going on in the world right outside our door, my desire is for our home to truly feel like a respite. I want it to be where we come and let our guard down, our heart rates slow and to be flooded with a sense of peace in knowing that here is where we can just simply be. I want it to be a place of rest. Rest from the constant onslaught of news and information. Rest from the seemingly small struggles of school and jobs that can so often feel like big struggles.

And, most importantly, we rest in the comfort of knowing the One who is Sovereign over all and is the reason this month is so very special and sacred.

Many blessings to you dear friends as we kick off this wonderful season! ✨
Next week is first Sunday of Advent. And contrary Next week is first Sunday of Advent. And contrary to popular belief, the celebration of Advent is VERY different from just simply doing a ‘countdown to Christmas’. It’s not about having little drawers filled with candy or doors to open with prizes inside. Those things are so much fun and definitely help to build anticipation as you head closer and closer to the big day.

But Advent, from the latin word ‘adventus’ meaning ‘arrival’ or ‘appearance’ keeps the focus completely on celebrating the arrival of the King who came in the form of an infant.

This is one of our favorite family traditions and over the years I’ve figured out how to incorporate the Advent candles into my decor without using the traditional wreath. I hope this gives you some ideas and inspiration as we head into this sacred season. 🌲

#advent #adventdecoration #wearethehomemakers
Why do I start decorating before Thanksgiving? Bec Why do I start decorating before Thanksgiving? Because it’s the Saturday after and my house is almost completely ready to start the season! So I’m sitting with my coffee and just soaking it all up knowing that now I can focus on shopping, hosting and preparing our hearts for the start of Advent. The only thing left to do is get our fresh tree for the front room and then the decorating is done. 

Starting early is a gift I give to myself and I’m always grateful for it! 🌲

#simplechristmas #traditionalchristmas
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest fo “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! 🍂
Christmas has arrived in the family room where I k Christmas has arrived in the family room where I keep things simple but festive! We’ll get a fresh tree after Thanksgiving which will go in our front room bay window but this slim faux tree with its colorful ornaments tides us over for now. Which room in your home gets the Christmas treatment first? Or do you just start doing a little at a time in each room? 🎄

*pillow covers are from @jshhomeessentials
I share this recipe every year because it’s JUST I share this recipe every year 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!! 🦃
How do I want people to feel when they walk throug How do I want people to feel when they walk through my front door? That’s always at the top of my mind when I’m decorating my entry for each season, particularly at Christmastime. 

✨I want them to feel like my home is greeting them with a smile.

✨I want them to feel like this is a place where care has been given to details (but not to the point of being too stuffy or too busy or too overwhelming). 

✨I want them to feel like there is peace here.

✨I want them to feel like they are welcome…because they are. 

My home is a reflection of my heart and my heart is a reflection of the ONE for whom I live and try to honor and praise all of my days, but especially at Christmas.

How do you want people to feel when they come into your home? 

#christmasentry #simplechristmas #simplicity #wearethehomemakers
This is not a criticism of those who are sharing t This is not a criticism of those who are sharing their great new Christmas finds but rather an encouragement to those of you who are feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all and trying to resist the temptation to purchase more items than you really need.

Several years ago I felt a conviction in my heart about how much time and money I was spending on trying to create a new look every Christmas. I was not being a good steward of my resources and I was far too easily swayed by the peer pressure in this area. And a funny thing happened when I smashed this idol that had taken up residence in my heart. I suddenly found renewed joy in decorating for the season. By keeping things simple and maybe only buying something like a new spool of velvet ribbon, I actually realized that I could be far more creative reusing and repurposing what I already had.

In the coming weeks your news feeds will be filled with temptations for MORE. Maybe, this year, you too can find the joy in LESS. 🌲

#simplechristmas #simplicity #wearethehomemakers
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