• 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
  • 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

January 29, 2014

Date Night and a Chalkboard Word Search Puzzle

It was the summer of 2003. My husband and I were sitting outside at a restaurant enjoying the warmth of the evening and sipping on our glasses of wine. Our newborn son slept soundly in his carrier at our feet and we smiled smugly at each other across the table as if to say, “Why do people always make it sound like life has to stop when you have kids? Here we are having a nice dinner out as though nothing has changed at all! The baby will be asleep for at least 2 hours and if he does fuss it’s nothing a bottle won’t fix. We’ll even be able to stay and have dessert. This is so easy!”

Valentine's Day date night at home atthepicketfence.com

(You know what’s coming don’t you?)

Fast forward a few months and we quickly realized that trying to bring an 8 month old on a romantic dinner out was about the same as trying to herd cats.

Noisy…sweaty…frustrating and frankly, pointless.

From that point on, date nights at home became a staple in our marriage. And the thing is, we love them!

Oh sure, it’s fun to get dressed up and go out but we freely admit to being homebodies. Our home is our sanctuary. A cocoon. It’s a refuge for us and our kids from the busyness of life and the hectic pace that is constantly tugging at us. Now, normally date night means wearing our favorite sweats, feeding the kids and putting them to bed and then enjoying a meal (sometimes take-out and sometimes a dish we know the kids would hate and complain about if we made them eat it but that we really love) in the family room while watching a movie.

roses

But, for Valentine’s Day…well, maybe we could just fanc-i-fy our date night at home…just a little. Maybe I could set the dining room table with china and crystal. I could create a centerpiece using fresh flowers and engrave our initials into a wood round. Because I’ve always wanted to have my initials carved into a tree. But it always felt kind of naughty…the whole tree desecration thing. Although when we were dating if Robb had wanted to carve our initials into a tree I probably wouldn’t have complained because I was suffering from that whole “stars in my eyes” thing. 😉

engraved intials wood round centerpiece

And if we were celebrating a Valentine’s date at home, I would have to include a trip down memory lane by placing photos into mason jars with battery operated candles. Like the one of my beloved proposing to me on that November day in 1997.

photo memory jar

And this one taken on the eve of our wedding.

photo-memory-mason-jar from atthepicketfence.com

I think that a ‘special occasion’ date night at home calls for a little activity…no…not THAT kind of activity…where are your minds people? That’s later! 😉 But, how about a fun and sweet gift that also makes a great conversation starter?

DIY Chalkboard Word Search Puzzle atthepicketfence.com


How to Make a Chalkboard Word Search Puzzle

Supplies: Chalkboard, Sticker Letters, Chalk, Ruler

chalkboard word search puzzle supplies

Step 1: Season your chalkboard by covering it in chalk and then wiping clean.

seasoning a chalkboard

Step 2: Create your word search puzzle at an online site like Discovery Education

Step 3: My puzzle was 6 rows across by 6 rows down. So, I found the center and used this awesome green plastic Christmas ruler to mark in chalk where each letter would go, spacing them out an inch apart.

chalkboard crossword puzzle step 1

Step 4: Place stickers over chalk markings according to the puzzle you created online.

chalkboard word search puzzle

Step 5: Attach a little tag to the frame with the words to be found in the puzzle.

chalkboard crossword puzzle

Valentine's Day chalkboard word search atthepicketfence.com

Finding baby-sitters was hard (and expensive) and our date nights at home have saved us, especially in the years with two very little ones when going out seemed like such a struggle.

On those nights, our home transformed from a zany place with kids running around, wrestling and generally wreaking havoc, to a place of respite. We would get them in bed, turn on some music, open a bottle of wine and (when we weren’t getting take out) Robb would sit at the kitchen island and talk with me while I cooked our dinner (or vice versa if he was cooking that night!). We would catch up on our days, talk about the kids and just reconnect.

Valentine's Day date night at home atthepicketfence.com

Now that the kids are getting older and the bed-times are getting later, our date nights at home are slowly becoming more challenging. Oh sure we can still watch a movie after they’ve gone to bed and sure it’s easier to leave them with a baby-sitter and go out on the town. But those evenings at home are among some of my most cherished memories in these early years of parenting.

Perhaps now we’ll just have to start having date ‘lunches’ at home, right? 😉

I’m so thrilled to be joining a fantastic group of bloggers this week for the Hearts at Home Tour and I hope you will pay them all a visit for some wonderful inspiration from their hearts and their homes!

hearts at home_3

Shabby Art Boutique

At The Picket Fence 

My Soulful Home

Thurs. 1/30

Town & Country Living 

Bright Bold & Beautiful 

Vintage Farmhouse 

White Lace Cottage

Fri. 1/31

Stone Gable

On Sutton Place 

Lilacs & Longhorns 

Sat. 2/1

French Country Cottage

Eat In My Kitchen

Top This Top That 

Emily A. Clark

Thanks so much for joining me today At the Picket Fence,

Vanessa signature

25 Comments Filed Under: Celebrations, Crafts, Holidays, Valentine's Day Tagged With: cheap crafts, crafts, Valentine's Day, Valentines Day crafts

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « DIY Painted Cork Board
Next Post: Save the date for our Joss & Main Collection! »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. chelsea says

    January 29, 2014 at 4:27 AM

    So adorable!

    Reply
  2. Julie {Lilacs & Longhorns} says

    January 29, 2014 at 6:14 AM

    What a beautiful post! We also did date nights at home when our kids were small — it’s so important to connect with one another without tugging little hands and lots of demands for attention. We weren’t always great about doing things like eating in the dining room, but did manage to have “spa” or movie nights together. 🙂

    I adore your projects — the initials burned in to the wood slices is my favorite!

    So happy to be touring with you, Vanessa! Happy Valentine’s day to you!

    Julie

    Reply
  3. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    January 29, 2014 at 6:37 AM

    Oh Vanessa your table is just so romantic with such wonderful personal touches and meaning to the two of you..love the “initials” and the picture of a thousand romantic words…I love date night dinners at home especially around Valentine’s Day when the restaurants are so crowded…love the word search chalkboard..you are so creative!!

    Reply
  4. laura@top this top that says

    January 29, 2014 at 6:38 AM

    oh if I wasn’t married , I would so date you….your hopeless romantic! what a sweet post and idea with the chalkboard.ha….It’s comforting to know that many of us share the same date night plans.

    Reply
  5. Laura Trevey says

    January 29, 2014 at 6:48 AM

    Love your word search idea – so clever!!

    Reply
  6. Meike says

    January 29, 2014 at 7:07 AM

    I love your photos in the jars, especially the one of your wedding! That’s such a beautiful idea!

    Reply
  7. Julia G. says

    January 29, 2014 at 7:58 AM

    I like the chalkboard idea!

    Reply
  8. Courtney says

    January 29, 2014 at 8:12 AM

    Love your date night at home ideas and memories Vanessa!!

    Reply
  9. kelly says

    January 29, 2014 at 8:16 AM

    What a wonderful post, idea & sentiment Vanessa! I like date night in my ‘comfy’ clothes too. And with all the busy-ness of life & kids it is a treat to act like a grown up person on a “date” in your own house. The word search is such fun…I love the ruler you used in the photos – are you a mom? hahaha!
    Thank you so much for being part of this tour and sharing so much!

    Reply
  10. Kate says

    January 29, 2014 at 12:11 PM

    Oh how I love this so very sweet. I miss those days in some ways. It all goes to show love can be celebrated in any form. Love the chalk boards of course. Terrific Post you girls are delightful! Have a great week! Kate xoxo

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      January 29, 2014 at 4:51 PM

      Oh thanks so much Kate!! I smiled when I saw your name here and so appreciate you stopping by! 🙂

      Reply
  11. Kerryanne @ Shabby Art Boutique says

    January 29, 2014 at 12:51 PM

    Oh how I relate Vanessa. We’ve had many a ‘date night’ at home too over the years and it can be just as romantic as going out. Love your very sweet chalk board too. What a great tour this will be.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      January 29, 2014 at 2:11 PM

      Thanks so much Kerryanne! 🙂

      Reply
  12. Mimi says

    January 29, 2014 at 1:42 PM

    I haven’t done a date night a home for a while. We used to do picnics on the living room floor. thanks for reminding me.

    Reply
  13. debbiedoos says

    January 30, 2014 at 6:17 AM

    Just the sweetest idea ever! Oh I love it.

    Reply
  14. Anne says

    January 30, 2014 at 11:16 AM

    Date night…what’s that..LOL.I think in the past 14 years we have had one or two of those.I think it’s time for us to get out on our own.Love that chalkboard!
    xx
    Anne

    Reply
  15. Ann says

    January 30, 2014 at 11:57 AM

    My husband and I used to have date nights way back before that’s what they were called! Loved this post and am happy to be on the Hearts at Home tour with you!

    Reply
  16. Jennifer @ Town and Country Living says

    January 30, 2014 at 6:06 PM

    My mom always told me that dating your hubby was key to a happy marriage. Hubby and I date (each other, of course) quite frequently and I found out my mother was right. 🙂

    Reply
  17. The Tablescaper says

    February 1, 2014 at 10:48 AM

    Cute ideas. I really like the tree initials.

    – Alma, The Tablescaper

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. My Heart is at Home…this home | My Soulful Home says:
    January 29, 2014 at 8:55 PM

    […] At The Picket Fence  […]

    Reply
  2. The Story of Our House - On Sutton Place says:
    January 31, 2014 at 3:00 AM

    […] January 29thShabby Art BoutiqueAt The Picket FenceMy Soulful […]

    Reply
  3. Finding The Heart of the Home - Town & Country Living says:
    January 31, 2014 at 7:23 AM

    […] At The Picket Fence  […]

    Reply
  4. A Sweet Berliner – Our Family Feast : eat in my kitchen says:
    February 1, 2014 at 3:02 AM

    […] Art Boutique At The Picket Fence My Soulful Home Town & Country Living Bright Bold & Beautiful Vintage Farmhouse White Lace […]

    Reply
  5. Confessions of a Housewife - Shabby Art Boutique says:
    February 2, 2014 at 2:12 PM

    […] At The Picket Fence […]

    Reply
  6. 10 DIY Valentine's Day Ideas |Clever Marketing & Events says:
    February 8, 2014 at 4:10 AM

    […] 8. Love Unscrambled […]

    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!

Must Reads

Recent Posts

  • Why We’ve Chosen Vacations Over Projects April 26, 2022
  • A New Look for the Family Room March 1, 2022
  • Christmas Kitchen and Family Room December 19, 2021
  • Christmas Home Tour Part One December 10, 2021
  • Easy Hot Cocoa Station November 21, 2021

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

This is one of my most favorite projects from my b This is one of my most favorite projects from my book Life in Season! 

Because, if heaven has a fragrance, I’m fairly certain it smells like lilacs.

I think that somewhere along the way the verse in the Bible that said, ‘heaven will smell like lilacs’ just got lost in translation. But it HAD to have been in there at some point, right?

When I bury my head in the blossoms (which I absolutely MUST do every single time I walk past them), I immediately feel a stirring in my soul.

It seems like I wait forever for my lilac tree to bloom. Every year I anxiously watch as the buds begin to form on the branches and then when the blossoms finally burst forth I begin that agonizing process of deciding the absolute perfect moment to snip them and bring them inside.

And then, after all of that waiting and watching it’s just over…done. Because, unlike heaven, lilacs don’t last for an eternity. So, making my own lilac room spray seemed like the perfect way to enjoy their fragrance long after the blossoms have faded.

Here’s how to make it! Ingredients: Water, Vodka, Lilac fragrance oil. 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.

Once you’ve made this lilac scented room spray you will be very tempted to spray it in every room in your house. And someone may want to use it in the bathroom to cover up other less…ummmm….pleasing aromas.

But, do not, I repeat do NOT, let them.

You’ve captured the fragrance of heaven in a bottle and you wouldn’t want to go and tarnish it now would you? 😉
We had two back to back days of sunshine (the most We had two back to back days of sunshine (the most we’ve had in a LONG time) and now we are back to pouring rain. This has officially confirmed what I’ve know to be true for awhile now.

I’m a MUCH better version of myself when the sun is shining! 🤪 So I’ll just be over here today plotting and planning how my husband and I can be snowbirds someday when the kids are out of the house.

If you could spend your winters (and apparently most of spring too!) in any part of the country, where would it be?
Happy weekend sweet friends!! We’ve had a LOT of Happy weekend sweet friends!! We’ve had a LOT of rain lately (which is saying something when you live in Oregon) and I’ll admit that it’s affecting my moods a bit. I feel like I’m dragging and struggling to find the energy to get stuff done. So don’t mind me if I’m over here looking at photos of my garden in the summertime and finding that it keeps me hopeful about those days to come. They will come, right?! 🤪. 

What are your favorite plants that you look forward to seeing in the summer?
We’re going to be giving our laundry room a make We’re going to be giving our laundry room a makeover soon. It’s LONG overdue! In fact, the folks from the counter company were just here taking measurements. While we have made some simple, inexpensive updates over the years, it still has many of the original elements from when the house was built in 1992.

Two of our bathrooms are also in need of major makeovers. And we’ve saved up enough money over the years to tackle those projects. But, for the most part, we made the decision to use the bulk of that money in another way. While we knew that it was financially wise to invest in our house, we also knew that the greatest investment we could make was in our children. 

I’ll admit, there are times where I see other people doing massive overhauls of their entire home in a matter of months and I feel a prick of envy. But, we decided that if our choice was between waiting a bit longer to enjoy a renovated bathroom or going on adventures as a family, we would choose adventures every time. And we don’t regret that decision for a single second. It’s not that we haven’t tackled home projects (we’ve done a lot!). It’s just that it’s been a slow and steady process. 

Most recently, we let our son pick where we would travel for spring break since this is his senior year of high school and we are trying to make up for lost time. With so much of life ‘paused’ for two years, we have appreciated these moments more than ever. And, since he’ll be heading to college in the fall, we are very aware of how important it is to spend this time together while we still have a modicum of control over everyone’s schedules.

We have many years left to remodel our home but only so much time left to make memories with our children.

And, while I’m always happy to look around my home and see rooms that are updated and more reflecting of our style, it doesn’t compare to the joy I feel when I look around my home and see the people I love the most who have been shaped by the many adventures we’ve experienced together.
Happy Saturday!! After endless days of rain (and h Happy Saturday!! After endless days of rain (and hail and snow) we are finally getting some sunshine and warmer temperatures. I’ll be honest, it’s really affected my spirits having one gloomy day after the next. So this is a much needed reprieve. Our cherry trees are showing off outside my kitchen window and we plan to get outside and make the most of these days while we have them.

What’s the weather like where you are?
“The devil, darkness, and death may swagger and “The devil, darkness, and death may swagger and boast, the pangs of life will sting for a while longer, but don’t worry; the forces of evil are breathing their last. Not to worry…HE’S RISEN!” (Charles R. Swindoll).

Happy Easter! He is risen indeed!
Who has believed our message? And to whom has the Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

For he grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground; he has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to him.

He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face, he was despised, and we did not esteem him. Surely our griefs he himself bore, and our sorrows he carried; yet we ourselves esteemed him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 

But he was pierced through for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon him, and by his scourging we are healed.

All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him. (Isaiah 53)
I try to always remember to put a water bottle in I try to always remember to put a water bottle in my car before I go to pick up my daughter from school. She didn't ask me to do this, but a few months ago I began to notice that she was often thirsty when she would get in the car. Her water bottle filled up at the beginning of the day was empty by the time school got out and she would ask if she could have some water from my hydroflask. So I make sure to have one waiting for her. It's just a simple thing, really. But, I want her to know that I'm paying attention, that I see her.

Isn't it amazing how small gestures can make us feel less invisible? Knowing that someone is thinking of us and takes the time to meet a need that we might not have even realized we had? These little acts can have big impacts. What is something that someone has done for you recently that made you feel valued and seen?

What have you done for someone else to remind them that you are paying attention to their needs?

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”
― Charles Dickens
“The next day the large crowd that had come to t “The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’ – John 12:9-19
#palmsunday
When the Lord blesses you with a glimpse of the pa When the Lord blesses you with a glimpse of the payoff of your investment in your children, it is truly one of the greatest gifts. We had that experience twice this week with our 18 year old son and were overwhelmed by this opportunity we had to watch as he handled two very different situations (one personal and one professional) with grace, maturity, integrity and courage. Those of you mamas of little ones, don't ever minimize the job you are doing in raising this next generation. 

Every story read at bedtime
Every correction made to strengthen character
Every outdoor exploration
Every nose wiped
Every bandaid applied
Every time you say no when the world says yes
Every night of helping with homework
Every difficult conversation
Every prayer uttered

The final pieces of the puzzle of his childhood are falling into place and the picture revealed is one that is more wonderful than we could have imagined. And we know that it is only by God's grace on us as we sought His wisdom and guidance that we have come to this point. We have been FAR from perfect parents, but one of my most sincere prayers for the past 18 years was that the Lord would stand in the gaps that were surely to be revealed by our imperfections. And He has answered those prayers again and again. He's taken my humble petitions and most sincere intentions and knocked our socks off with the young man we are so privileged to call our son. And we can’t wait to watch as his future unfolds!
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2022 At The Picket Fence