• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Shop My Home
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

December 29, 2014

Our Best of 2014

Let’s all say it together shall we? FASTEST YEAR EVER! Seriously, folks, is it just us or did this year literally fly by?

I'll Have A Blue Christmas 1

Anyone else find themselves on Christmas Eve having that panicky moment where you look around and think to yourself, “wait, is it actually Christmas Eve right now? Wasn’t it just Easter?” 😉 You’ve been shopping and decorating and baking and wrapping all season long and yet somehow you feel totally perplexed as to how you actually got to this point in the year.

Please tell us we aren’t the only ones! 😉

So, we thought maybe we would take a look back through a year’s worth of blog posts in an effort to help us feel like this year really DID happen and we really DID get things done because right now we feel as though we have been turned into a big ball of post-Christmas mush and we can’t recall what actually occurred over the past 365 days.

Apparently there were some crafts and home decor projects…

Valentine’s Day Party Poppers

5 minute valentine's day poppers

 Tween Boy Bedroom Makeover

wall light mounted on headboard over bed

Blue and White Home Decor Ideas

How to decorate with blue

 DIY Iron Grate Mirror

DIY iron grate mirror from atthepicketfence.com

 

Homemade Lilac Room Spray

homemade lilac room spray

DIY Wall Plate Rack

plate rack on wall in kitchen atthepicketfence.com

And supposedly there were some yummy recipes…

Nutella Hand Pies for Valentine’s Day

Nutella and Blackberry Valentine's Day Hand Pies

Key Lime Pie Dessert Shots 

Key Lime Pie Shots

Lemon Crème Brûlée

Lemon-creme-brulee atthepicketfence.com

We know for a fact which was our most important makeover this year…

Weight Loss Journey 

Heather weight loss 10 months

 We also know that we shared with you from our hearts…

The Holy Spirit Made Me Do It

cherry blossoms

 We have no doubt that this next year will go just as quickly. There will be successes and failures, good days and bad ones. There will be all of the highs and lows that make each year a crazy roller coaster in which we find ourselves strapped in and holding on for dear life.

new year

This fresh new year is filled with possibilities…with opportunities and endless choices.

Some will be small and simple and others will be life changing.

Over this fresh new year hangs a giant question mark. It can be so overwhelming to stare down the barrel at the next 365 days and know that while there are things we know are coming, there are so many other things that we aren’t prepared for.

But, the one thing we do know is that we have a God who knows what is coming in the next 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, 8,765 hours and 525,949 minutes.

And we trust Him with every last one of the 31, 536,000 seconds in that year.

We hope you know how very much you all mean to us. Our lives change and shift and we don’t know exactly what you will see each week here At the Picket Fence in 2015. There will always be plenty of ideas for your home, but our deepest desire is to provide inspiration for your hearts. You see, when we look back at this past year, we count YOU among greatest blessings. And we want to get to know you better. We want you to share your lives with us as we share ours with you.

So, buckle up friends. We’re all on this roller coaster ride together and we wouldn’t have it any other way!

Happy New Year!

dual-signature_thumb2

7 Comments Filed Under: Good Ideas

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « Our Best Holiday Recipes
Next Post: Breathless Expectation »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    December 29, 2014 at 6:19 AM

    Loved all of your projects of home decor, recipes, and posts from the heart in 2014….looking forward to another great year of enjoying your inspiration of home and heart!…

    Reply
  2. martina says

    December 29, 2014 at 7:10 AM

    You girls had an awesome year filled with fabulous projects and inspiring posts…looking forward to seeing what you have planned for 2015!! Wishing you both all the best in 2015!!

    Reply
  3. dee says

    December 29, 2014 at 8:45 AM

    I’ve so enjoyed your blog and I only found it a couple of months ago . . . so I can’t wait to see what you share with us in 2015 😉

    Reply
  4. Sami says

    December 29, 2014 at 9:09 AM

    It has been a time warp for me. One day I was having my tree put up and now…well…I feel like Christmas was two weeks ago. I will maintain for the twelve days though. Probably longer if I’m truthful since one of my biggest fans hasn’t seen my tree yet.

    Reply
  5. Julia G. says

    December 29, 2014 at 10:38 AM

    The year has gone very quickly for me. Thank you both for posting and sharing your lives with us readers. You have encouraged and inspired me this past year. God’s blessings to you both in the coming 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, 8,765 hours and 525,949 minutes and 31,536,000 seconds!

    Reply
  6. laura@top this top that says

    December 30, 2014 at 4:16 AM

    Happy New Year guys!

    Reply
  7. Pamela says

    December 30, 2014 at 7:53 AM

    Happy New Year gals!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

  • A New Look for the Family Room

    A New Look for the Family Room
  • Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

    Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze
  • The Slow Exit

    The Slow Exit
  • Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

    Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

Sign Up and Never Miss A Post!

Must Reads

Latest Recipes

Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze

Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

Apple Bread Pudding

view more recent recipes

Recent Posts

  • Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze April 19, 2023
  • Console Table Refresh March 24, 2023
  • Laundry Room Makeover February 23, 2023
  • Winter Decorating Ideas January 27, 2023
  • Nostalgic Christmas Home Tour December 10, 2022

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

What do you do when you want to use a bunch of boo What do you do when you want to use a bunch of books in your decorating but it can cost $50 or more for just ONE brand new book? Head to the secondhand bookstore of course! I’m so excited about this new look in my family room and this easy, inexpensive decorating tip I’m bringing to you for this #tiptuesday
Today feels like one of those days that is worthy Today feels like one of those days that is worthy of a chef’s kiss. Blue sky with nary a cloud in sight, perfect mid-70’s temps, a gentle breeze blowing through my hair as I walk around my yard to see the status of my flowering plants.

This morning I was running errands and the weight of hard things that are happening in the world, the culture, my own community and even in our circle of friends just felt so heavy.

But, as I was exiting a store, I passed a couple who were in their late 60’s/early 70’s and holding hands as they walked through the parking lot. I happened to glance over just as the husband lifted his wife’s hand up and planted a kiss right on it. It was a moment that reflected such love and tenderness and it was made sweeter by the fact that they weren’t spring chickens. I felt honored that I had been the one to observe and appreciate that moment.

What an incredible thing it is that as humans we are able to hold so many emotions in our souls all at once. To feel sorrow for the pain a friend is enduring, grieve the decline of a culture drifting further from the Lord, ponder how to navigate a challenging school situation, marvel at and enjoy the beauty of creation right outside my door and feel joy at getting to see a tangible example of lasting love while walking through a parking lot.

I truly believe that as we mature in our lives and in our faith, we learn to embrace the tension that comes with the collision of different emotions and recognize that they can all coexist at the same time without one taking something away from another. Simple joys make the hard stuff a bit easier and hard stuff makes us appreciate those simple joys even more.

What’s a simple joy that you are thankful for today?
Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here are some highlights…

*Friday night I joined some wonderful ladies at church for a time of fellowship and yummy desserts. I made a strawberry lemon coffee cake and it was amazing if I do say so myself. ☺️ We are new-ish to this church and have just felt so warmly welcomed and folded in which has been very healing.

*Saturday was filled with getting our outdoor spaces spiffed up and my guys got our new table put together!

*Sitting outside for lunch with a yummy salad and iced tea felt like a little slice of heaven.

*Sunday we went to the iris gardens with my in-laws and then came home for naps and the most mouth watering ribs that my sweet husband had on the smoker all day.

*This glorious weekend ended with some ferocious rounds of UNO-corn (a hilarious version of UNO) and brownies my sweet daughter made for our dessert.

How was your weekend sweet friends? 🌸
I am absolutely and completely a better version of I am absolutely and completely a better version of myself when the sun is shining! Raise your hand if this is true for you too.

And, not only do I feel myself seeming to physically rise up from a slumbered state to greet the sunshine we've been longing for, I find that it seems like my house is rising up too. Every room, every nook and cranny (even though I now see dust bunnies that I missed during my cleaning on the dreary days), every leaf and flower outside...it's all coming to life and breathing fresh hope into my spirit. What a gift it is to be able to enjoy this home in all of the seasons of the year and of our lives. Now, I'm going to head outside and clean our deck and maybe there will be some time leftover for those dust bunnies!
I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispenser I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispensers! They come with pre-made labels for SO many different options and would make a great Mother’s Day gift! I love how they add a bit of pizzazz to my kitchen. And they go perfectly with some of my antique accessories like the little dish my mother in law gave me for salt and pepper and the tiny toothpick holder which belonged to my great grandmother. 

If you’d like the link to order them, just leave a comment with the word ‘bottles’ and I’ll send it your way. They’re even on sale right now! 🙌🏻
The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This is what I’m thinking (and sometimes saying out loud) every time I pass my dining room window and see my lilac tree bursting forth. I should probably just go full Paul Revere and ring a bell while I shout the news for all to hear. I’m sure my family would love that!

Lilac season is so bittersweet because it’s over way too soon but, fortunately, I’ve figured out how to capture the deliciousness of the fragrance by making my own lilac scented room spray. It’s SO simple!

Directions: Fill spray bottle with 50/50 ratio of water to vodka.

Add 12 drops of lilac oil. Give it a shake, spray and if the scent isn’t strong enough, simply add a few more drops of lilac oil.

This sweet little project was first featured in my book Life in Season and is definitely one of my favorites.

Have the lilacs started blooming where you live?
The cherry blossoms on the tree in our backyard ar The cherry blossoms on the tree in our backyard are at their peak and I’m here for it!
It’s time for another #tiptuesday! One of the gr It’s time for another #tiptuesday! One of the greatest joys of this stage in my parenting journey is getting to see the results of the years spent pouring into my children. The worry, the sleepless nights, praying, questioning our decisions and learning to trust in the Lord Who loves them even more than we do. We definitely didn’t do everything right, but what an an amazing experience it is to watch them become these incredible teens/young adults. My tip this week might seem simple, but I believe it can make a major difference in the lives of our children, in our homes and maybe, just maybe, in the culture too. 🌸
It was the most glorious day to celebrate my best It was the most glorious day to celebrate my best friend! Oregon came through with perfect weather for my wonderful husband’s birthday and we made the most of it by taking the convertible to our favorite winery and soaking up the sunshine, yummy food and wine. Then we had a lovely time celebrating with family at our home. Robb is truly the most amazing husband and father and all around incredible man. He loves and leads us well so it’s such a joy to get to honor him on his special day. 🎂

“The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good.” Matthew 12:35
It’s time for another #tiptuesday! Today I’m s It’s time for another #tiptuesday! Today I’m sharing with you two critical things to determine if you want to create order in your home which leads to a much more peaceful experience for everyone. As a recovering perfectionist, this has been one of my greatest lessons and I hope it encourages you today! 🍃
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 At The Picket Fence