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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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December 5, 2015

Glam-ish Christmas Entry Decor

*This post is sponsored by Martha Stewart Living at The Home Depot. I have partnered with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. for this post.  All expressed opinions and experiences are my own.*

There seems to be great debate out there about Christmas decorating. Frankly, I’m shocked at how vehement people get when discussing this ‘issue’. And, I’m perplexed as to why it’s an issue at all.

You see, everyone seems to have strong opinions when it comes to whether or not it should be acceptable to hang even one single strand of tinsel until after Thanksgiving.

greenery spray on banister for Christmas

 

And all I have to say is, I don’t get it. Granted, I’m a blogger and we work ahead of the season to try and bring ideas and inspiration to you in time for you to maybe implement them in your own home. But, even though it’s part of my job to decorate early, I simply like starting before Thanksgiving. It doesn’t make me any less thankful on that day and no one in my family has ever gotten the two holidays confused.

It takes me a long time to decorate for Christmas and I want to enjoy it, not rush through it. I want to be able to do a little bit each day so that by the time December 1 arrives, I can simply sit back with my cup of coffee and look at those twinkling lights knowing that all I have to do is enjoy the season ahead because the decorating is already done.

Christmas entry with a touch of glam atthepicketfence.com

And this year, I got a little bit of a push when I was asked if I would be willing to incorporate some of the new pieces from the Martha Stewart Living Holiday Collection at The Home Depot.

I selected pieces from the Winter’s Wonder collection and they are a beautiful combination of glam meets vintage style.

silver glittered berry wreath

The Champagne Berries Wreath looks perfect hanging on the mirror in my entry and I love how the glittery tones of the berries pick up the light and make it look like it’s sparkling.

glittered berry wreath

The Winter’s Wonder gold standing and sitting reindeer are so beautiful with their varying color tones and glittery antlers.

reindeer with glittered antlers atthepicketfence.com

 

deer with glittered antlers

And I have to tell you that this is hands down the most lovely boxed set of ornaments I have ever seen. They are all hand-blown glass and each has it’s own unique design.

martha stewart for home depot ornaments

I’ve always wanted to try out having a little tree in my entry so this was the perfect opportunity. My husband told me that pretty much all that’s left is having Christmas trees in our bathrooms. I told him to just wait! 😉

martha stewart ornament3

Aren’t these just gorgeous?

martha stewart ornament2

This next one is my most favorite of them all!

martha stewart ornament1

Our homes are such a reflection of who we are. And at this time in my life, who I am is a very busy wife and mother who is writing a book, running a business, shuttling kids to and fro and just hoping that I can get a shower each day. So, I say that if decorating for Christmas a little bit early makes me happy and helps me in the long run, then why shouldn’t I get to do that without being met with protests?

Christmas entry table decor atthepicketfence.com

And, who am I kidding? On a wet and blustery day here in Oregon, putting up a few Christmas decorations here and there lifts my spirits. What can be wrong about that?

So, whether you are a ‘die hard will not decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving’ person or a ‘the moment the last trick-or-treater comes to your door on Halloween you are breaking out your Christmas decorations’ person, let’s all choose to put an end to the great Christmas Decorating Debate.

After all, shouldn’t this be the season when we focus on more important things? Like our many blessings and all of the things for which we are thankful?

I count this wonderful community here At the Picket Fence among my many blessings because I know that no matter how early I start decorating for Christmas you will be supportive and encouraging, right? 😉

Vanessa signature

22 Comments Filed Under: Christmas, Decorating, Holidays, Sponsored Tagged With: Christmas, Christmas decor, Christmas decorating

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Comments

  1. Nancie says

    December 5, 2015 at 3:02 AM

    Amen! You said it perfectly! Your entry is gorgeous! Didn’t know Martha Stewart had a line of Christmas decorations at the Home Depot. I’ll have to check it out! Thanks for the inspiration, Vanessa!

    Reply
    • Shelley says

      December 5, 2015 at 7:02 AM

      they have been there several years now…get thee to Home Depot

      Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      December 5, 2015 at 6:30 PM

      Thank you Nancie!

      Reply
  2. Rebecca Turner says

    December 5, 2015 at 5:37 AM

    I usually begin decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving, but this year we needed a new tree and bought it early, so now I’ve had a chance to see how helpful it is to have a few more weeks to prepare. I will probably decorate early again next year, but I won’t forget to give thanks. I’ll look for ways to blend the decor.

    Reply
  3. Barbara says

    December 5, 2015 at 5:46 AM

    I am 80 years old, love Christmas and brought my faux tree in two weeks before Thanksgiving to get started. I am a decorator wannabe. My daughter came in and said “Mom , really, it`s not even Thanksgiving yet”. I am old and slow so I wanted to be able to make it worth all my work and time and be able to enjoy it at least a month. I decorate every room Love your blog and your style and Merry Christmas from Florida where it is 80 degrees. I have to imagine a snow covered world.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      December 5, 2015 at 6:29 PM

      Thank you so much for coming by today Barbara!

      Reply
  4. Shelley says

    December 5, 2015 at 7:05 AM

    when and how we decorate is when and how we do it…each person has the perfect time and theme…me, I wait till Black Friday…as I do not do Black Friday or Gray Saturday….lol…and I am a retro person…silver tree with many vintage Shiny Brite ornaments….many….many……lol…I used to do a fall themed tree…but decided to stop….
    so we each pick….and who cares what others think….I never have…

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      December 5, 2015 at 6:29 PM

      I totally agree Shelley! Thanks so much for stopping by today. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says

    December 5, 2015 at 8:21 AM

    Stunning. Love the Glimmer and Glam

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      December 5, 2015 at 6:27 PM

      Thank you so much Marty!! Hope you are having a wonderful start to the season my friend! <3

      Reply
  6. Harriett says

    December 5, 2015 at 9:03 AM

    Yep. I’d say you’ve got the glam going & mighty well if I do say so!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      December 5, 2015 at 6:27 PM

      Thank you so much Harriett!

      Reply
  7. Rose L says

    December 5, 2015 at 10:00 AM

    love the Christmas balls!

    Reply
  8. Cindy says

    December 5, 2015 at 12:14 PM

    Beautiful!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      December 5, 2015 at 6:27 PM

      Thank you Cindy!

      Reply
  9. Sissie says

    December 5, 2015 at 3:06 PM

    Your entryway looks stunning! I love the sparkling berry wreath and the deer.
    I think that we should decorate our homes whenever we like and I agree that those of us who blog and, or have a retail booth have to be ready for our readers and customers.
    Thanks for sharing your wonderful decor.

    hugs
    Sissie

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      December 5, 2015 at 6:26 PM

      Thank you so much Sissie!

      Reply
  10. Gwen says

    December 5, 2015 at 3:54 PM

    Very pretty and elegant entry!! I think it is lovely!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      December 5, 2015 at 6:26 PM

      Thank you so much Gwen!

      Reply
  11. martina says

    December 5, 2015 at 4:32 PM

    Vanessa your entry looks beautiful all dressed for Christmas!!

    Reply
  12. Michele says

    December 6, 2015 at 1:24 AM

    Beautiful entryway!

    Laughed out loud – truly and sincerely- when you mentioned decorating bathrooms for Christmas.

    Ahem, yeup yeup, you know it! : – p

    Reply
  13. Julia says

    December 7, 2015 at 11:44 AM

    I love your glam-ish entry!! And yes a tree in each room…even the laundry room!

    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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