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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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April 12, 2016

Creating Success at Home Giveaway

In theory, being a homemaker or working from home sound like a piece of cake. Because, well, if you want you can just eat a piece of cake whenever it strikes your fancy. But, like so many other things in life, reality is often very different than the fantasy. I think that there are more of us who struggle with how to be managers of our home than we care to admit. Which is why I was so thrilled when I found out that my wonderful friend Sharon, author of the blog Mrs. Hines’ Class was writing a book to provide encouragement and practical tips for Creating Success at Home.  

Creating Success at Home 2D book cover

I’ll let Sharon describe in her own words her heart for this subject and what prompted her to write this book:

“As a former teacher and natural encourager, I love to mentor women to help them succeed in home and in life. I’m all too familiar with feelings of being stuck by indecision, limited by money, overwhelmed by clutter and chores, and too tired to do anything about it. I know firsthand that when your life is out of order, other areas of your life are likely to be as well. In muddling through the mess, I’ve learned how to put my home, and life, back in order. All of the valuable life lessons and practical tips that I picked up along the way are packed into Creating Success at Home. This book is my way of coming alongside you as a friend to offer help and encouragement.”

Here’s a peek at what you will find inside…

landing page what's inside

And Sharon is offering you the opportunity to enjoy portions of the book for free!

Click on the image below for a free sample chapter!

sample chapter image

Click on the image below for the FREE printable tool kit!

Creating Success at Home Toolkit Collage

AND one At the Picket Fence reader will win a signed paperback version of Creating Success at Home! Enter below for the chance to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can purchase Creating Success at Home in hard copy version or on your Kindle here.

36 Comments Filed Under: Giveaways, Good Ideas, Reviews

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jeanne says

    April 12, 2016 at 3:51 AM

    This book sounds like exactly what I need to finally get a handle on my homemaking! I’m looking forward to the sample too-
    Thank you!

    Reply
  2. Terie says

    April 12, 2016 at 3:55 AM

    Thank you so much!

    Reply
  3. Kesha says

    April 12, 2016 at 3:56 AM

    I could really use this to get organized! Much needed!

    Reply
  4. Margaret says

    April 12, 2016 at 3:57 AM

    I love learning!

    Reply
  5. Susanne says

    April 12, 2016 at 4:22 AM

    Just what I need. Thank you for the giveaway.

    Reply
  6. Leslie says

    April 12, 2016 at 4:25 AM

    Loved reading the sample! Can’t wait to read the rest of the story…!

    Reply
  7. Karenann says

    April 12, 2016 at 4:55 AM

    This book looks just like what I need for my home keeping! Thank you for such a great giveaway opportunity!

    Reply
  8. Donna Jackson says

    April 12, 2016 at 5:47 AM

    Thank you so much for the giveaway!

    Reply
  9. Nicci Ramirez says

    April 12, 2016 at 6:50 AM

    Goodness! Who in their right mind wouldn’t benefit from this?!?!?!? 🙂 Would LOVE to win!

    Reply
  10. Mia White says

    April 12, 2016 at 7:29 AM

    This sounds fascinating and definitely piques my interest! Would love to read it 🙂

    Reply
  11. Carol Elkins says

    April 12, 2016 at 8:01 AM

    This book sounds wonderful! I was just telling a friend that I need something to motivate me to get off my rear and do all of these projects I want to do to my home, instead of just looking at them on the internet or Pinterest. Thank you for the chance! Love your blog!

    Reply
  12. Amanda Tonar says

    April 12, 2016 at 8:23 AM

    Would love to read this book!

    Reply
  13. Sandy Heath says

    April 12, 2016 at 8:43 AM

    Sounds like just what the the doctor ordered! Thanks for the chance to win.

    Reply
  14. Mo says

    April 12, 2016 at 2:23 PM

    I need all the help I can get so I would love to have and read this book! hanks for the opportunity <3

    Reply
  15. Dana Black says

    April 12, 2016 at 5:23 PM

    I’ve been in our dream home for one and a half years now. My husband said it’s time to make it ours! I am very indecisive these days with everything. This books looks like it would be a welcomed read and hopefully get me jumpstarted.

    Reply
  16. Denise Barkel says

    April 12, 2016 at 5:31 PM

    This might just be the answer I have been looking for to finally get a hold of my life. Can’t wait to read.

    Reply
  17. Pam Ballard says

    April 12, 2016 at 5:37 PM

    Thanks for the chance at this lovely book. I could use some help organizing for sure.

    Reply
  18. MARTHAIA says

    April 12, 2016 at 9:56 PM

    This book would help in many daily chores at home & daily life….TY

    Reply
  19. Vanessa says

    April 13, 2016 at 6:46 AM

    What a great book and so much information that I know I would use. I love Sharon ideas and take on home decor.

    Reply
    • Alona says

      April 15, 2016 at 4:49 AM

      I have so much to learn and get on track. I love organization!!! I just don’t know how to get there

      Reply
  20. April V says

    April 16, 2016 at 6:15 AM

    I need help in ALL areas so this would be great for me!

    Reply
  21. Jessica miller says

    April 16, 2016 at 8:55 AM

    I could use this to help me organize and with my clutter.

    Reply
  22. Starla B says

    April 16, 2016 at 5:21 PM

    This is awesome. I think I would greatly benefit from this book because after all of these years of living with my sweet 81 year old Nana, she is now staying with my aunt because we have 3 flights of stairs and she has been sick. Needless to say, I am in the large home by myself now and I have alot of learning to do!

    Reply
  23. Julie Waldron says

    April 17, 2016 at 8:20 AM

    I would like this book because I really need to overcome decorating fears or at least learn how to decorate!

    Reply
  24. Megan C says

    April 18, 2016 at 4:41 AM

    I think it will help me get rid of clutter and learn how to decorate.

    Reply
  25. Marissa says

    April 18, 2016 at 5:09 AM

    I could definitely use some help organizing and making the house work!

    Reply
  26. pamela j says

    April 18, 2016 at 5:16 AM

    This book could really help. I could use a refresher course and some tips. Thank you!

    Reply
  27. Anne Perry says

    April 18, 2016 at 6:52 AM

    I would like to get some tips on keeping the clutter under control.

    Reply
  28. Meghan B says

    April 18, 2016 at 8:54 AM

    Could use some help with Organizing

    Reply
  29. jeremy mclaughlin says

    April 18, 2016 at 9:30 AM

    This would help my and wife organize better.

    Reply
  30. Stephanie Grant says

    April 18, 2016 at 12:41 PM

    I think this book would help me focus on the mindset to get our home clean, organized and decluttered

    Reply
  31. Pamela says

    April 18, 2016 at 2:01 PM

    The book sounds great! I love that the book itself is so well organized and divided into short chapters – no excuse for not enough time to read. I love the printables, too, what a great rsource!

    Reply
  32. Terri Irvin says

    April 18, 2016 at 3:19 PM

    I could use some help in organizing my home and the business so I look forward to reading it.

    Reply
  33. phxbne says

    April 18, 2016 at 3:39 PM

    much as I try, I can’t get organized – maybe this will help

    Reply
  34. Angela Saver a says

    April 18, 2016 at 8:32 PM

    This book would help me get our house decluttered & organized!

    Reply
  35. Leela says

    April 18, 2016 at 8:58 PM

    Clutter and organization.

    Reply

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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.
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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)
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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!
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