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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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May 10, 2011

A Blogger Baby Shower for Tuscaloosa!

I am sure like all of you were, we here At The Picket Fence were devastated when we turned on our televisions and saw the destruction that had been wrought on our Southern neighbors.  As many of you know Alabama received the brunt of the damage where it was reported that at least 23 tornadoes touched down  in Alabama over a 24 hour period!  



You all may know by now what a special place Alabama holds in the heart of Heather’s family.  Both Bama Boy and their son were blessed to be born in Alabama and their family lived there for several years.  They have many friends in the Tuscaloosa area that they could not reach for many days.  It is hard to fully understand what has happened to our beloved Sweet Home Alabama…




We know it is difficult to fully comprehend the damage that was done

Source: Fox News
The kind of damage that tears a road in half

Source: Fox News
The kind of destruction that levels whole communities

Source: Fox News
A storm that causes a neighborhood to flee with the few possessions they can salvage

Source: Fox News
With so much loss..we began to wonder.  How will parents and grandparents provide the bare necessities for their children

alabama_tornado_01.jpg
Source: Sacramento Bee

Because the pictures that always break our hearts the most are the ones of children.  Children who don’t understand that their home is gone forever..or a friend, or a grandparent..or parent.  Children have so many needs, and these needs can be difficult to meet in the middle of destruction such as was seen across Alabama.


Therefore several bloggers have joined forces under the direction of Callie of The Wannabe Athlete and her mom, our friend Dianne, of the Inspired Housewife  to hold a 


VIRTUAL BABY SHOWER FOR TUSCALOOSA 





Callie’s sister lives in Tuscaloosa blocks away from neighborhoods that were destroyed.  She has been volunteering at a local church that is aiding the community and is in desperate need for baby items.  The type of items we take normally take for granted.  Diapers.  Formula.  Basic Clothing.  


And that is where you are dear friends At The Picket Fence can help.  If you’ve been asking yourself, “What can I do?  I live so far away.  I can’t travel down there to offer assistance.  I don’t know anyone to offer help to.”  Here’s your chance!  We want to invite you to participate in our Blogger Baby Shower.  Here’s what we need you to do!

Visit the  Baby Registry that has been set up on Amazon.com – we have registered for diapers, formula, onesies, etc. Just click on the link above, the image below or the name is registered as “Tuscaloosa Tornado”.



Prices start at just $8.99 so there is something for every budget. Just purchase the item on the registry and it will be shipped directly to the church in Tuscaloosa that can get the items to the people who need it most.  It really couldn’t be easier  And as an additional incentive to participate in our Blogger Baby Shower there are two giveaways to enter for those who make a purchase of baby supplies for the victims in Tuscaloosa.
Dianne will be giving away a $50 gift card to Home Goods at her blog The Inspired Housewife and us girls here At The Picket Fence will be offering a $25 gift card to TJ Maxx!
We will be able to keep track of all donors through Amazon and anyone who makes a purchase of baby items for the Blogger Baby Shower for Tuscaloosa will automatically be entered to win both giveaways!  
So what are you waiting for?!  
Head over to Amazon and make a purchase to help the littlest victims of the storms that devastated our Southern friends and thank you from the bottom of our hearts, and if you feel so inclined we’d love you to leave us a comment letting us know that you participated in the Blogger Baby Shower.  If you yourself or if you know someone personally that was effected by the storm please let us know how you or they are doing!
And when you’re done making your donation we’d love you to pay a visit to the other fabulous blogs participating in the Virtual Blogger Baby Shower for Tuscaloosa
Callie @ The Wannabe Athlete
Dianne @ The Inspired Housewife
Meghann @ Meals and Miles
Carmella @ Creative Carmella
Beth @ Home Stories A 2 Z

Emily @ Daily Garnish
Catlin @ Healthy Tipping Point
Allison @ House of Hepworths

It would mean a lot to us if you would share the link(s) to any of the virtual baby showers on your own blogs, Facebook pages and on Twitter!  Feel free to use the graphic above.  We would love to see this spread to other blogs during the week so that others would have a chance to participate in this worthwhile cause!  Thank you!

Photo courtesy of Scott Fillmer @ ScottFillmer.com 


God bless you for your willingness to help and 
all our prayers to our Southern friends!

24 Comments Filed Under: Community, Good Thoughts

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Comments

  1. Amanda says

    May 9, 2011 at 12:41 PM

    I’ve just ordered a packet of nappies, will check the twins pocket money and order something later from them. It’s hard enough raising children at the best of times, let alone with all of this to deal with.

    Reply
  2. Laura Steckly says

    May 9, 2011 at 3:26 PM

    This is an awesome idea! I ordered this morning and I am going to get Anna and Isaac involved to order this afternoon from them too. Thank you!!

    Reply
  3. michelle says

    May 9, 2011 at 5:19 PM

    What a great idea! I ordered a few things. Thank you for posting this.

    Reply
  4. Debra@Common Ground says

    May 9, 2011 at 5:47 PM

    Thanks gals for sharing this site, just placed an order!
    God Bless, xoxo Debra

    Reply
  5. Debra@Common Ground says

    May 9, 2011 at 6:06 PM

    I just wrote a post directing people over here to the Baby Shower. Have a great day!!
    xoxo Debra

    Reply
  6. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    May 9, 2011 at 8:48 PM

    What a super idea. I just ordered a couple of things.

    Reply
  7. Judy says

    May 9, 2011 at 9:29 PM

    What a great idea. I’ll head over there and see what I can do. Thanks for making me aware.

    Reply
  8. Robin says

    May 9, 2011 at 11:40 PM

    Have have posted a blurb on my blog with links, but I don’t know how to post my blog to your links.

    Anyway, this is a wonderful idea!

    Robin

    Reply
  9. Robin says

    May 9, 2011 at 11:40 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    Reply
  10. NanaDiana says

    May 10, 2011 at 12:44 AM

    I will do this tomorrow- I have wanted to do SOMETHING and now I know what to do- Thank you! xxoo Diana

    Reply
  11. Debbie--https://refreshrestyle.com/ says

    May 10, 2011 at 1:42 AM

    I sent diapers! Thanks for making it so easy to help out! I shared it on FB and will post later this week on my blog! I hope a lot of people help out!
    Debbie

    Reply
  12. Pamela says

    May 10, 2011 at 1:09 PM

    Wonderful idea ladies!! Just sent a bunch of onesies their way! I will post on my FB page and make a post later today!

    Reply
  13. bj says

    May 10, 2011 at 2:16 PM

    This is such an awesome idea. Such a perfect way for us to help those so far away.
    Thanks so much..I am on my way over to Amazon.
    I will also post this on my sidebar for my readers to see and respond to.
    xo bj

    Reply
  14. Pam says

    May 10, 2011 at 3:11 PM

    Thank you for coordinating this so those of us who want to help and weren’t sure how, are able to!

    Take care,
    Pam

    Reply
  15. bj says

    May 10, 2011 at 3:16 PM

    I just sent my items..and also sent the link to everyone in my address book, asking them to send it to THEIR friends.
    Awesome idea…..
    xo bj

    Reply
  16. Leslie says

    May 10, 2011 at 3:44 PM

    I can’t imagine the sadness and hopelessness. I am headed over to Amazon…thank you for sharing this, girls!
    Love,
    ~me

    Reply
  17. ⚜ ↁℯℬℬᴵℰ⚜ says

    May 10, 2011 at 3:45 PM

    Going on over now to check it out and order some stuff…wonderful wonderful idea! XO

    Reply
  18. ⚜ ↁℯℬℬᴵℰ⚜ says

    May 10, 2011 at 3:48 PM

    Done! Sure does not get any easier than that girls…I sure hope everyone does just a lil something, it will help a family and a baby.

    Reply
  19. Lynn Richards says

    May 10, 2011 at 4:17 PM

    Oh, thank you so much for such a direct way to give. I love it. I’m heading over right now to do so.
    xo
    lynn

    Reply
  20. Marianne says

    May 10, 2011 at 5:25 PM

    Thanks so much for posting this. I just ordered a few things to be sent.
    Marianne 🙂

    Reply
  21. marie says

    May 10, 2011 at 6:51 PM

    This is such a WONDERFUL idea!! Today is a special day in my life and to be able to participate in this baby shower on this special day blesses my heart in a mighty way!

    Thank you so much for sharing about it ~ now I’m off to Amazon!

    Reply
  22. Anonymous says

    May 10, 2011 at 11:53 PM

    I ordered diapers & a pack of onesies! Love knowing I am directly helping mommies & their babies! Thank you for coordinating this project!

    Donna

    Reply
  23. Kathy says

    May 12, 2011 at 4:35 PM

    I saw this over at Kims blog and couldn’t believe how easy this was to donate…you are such great bloggers what a fabulous way to help and make it easy for those of us that are new to the techie world
    to also get involved.

    Reply
  24. Sarah says

    May 14, 2011 at 11:55 AM

    I’m heading over to order right now…thank you for the opportunity!

    Sarah

    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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