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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 17, 2014

Dashing Dish Cookbook Giveaway!

Friends we have such a treat in store for you today…literally and figuratively!

Have you ever thought about food as a relationship? Well it is. And you have one with it. In fact, our relationship with food is so intricate and complicated that sometimes we aren’t even aware of just how much control it has over our lives.

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Now, have you ever thought about the relationship between your physical health and your spiritual health? Well, recently we’ve connected with the incredibly talented and beautiful (inside and out!) Katie Farrell and we are so excited to be sharing her story here with you today!

I created Dashing Dish (dashingdish.com), a healthy recipe website and ministry to women. I am a registered nurse from Michigan, where I live in Brighton with my husband Sean. Dashing Dish is a combination of my passions—helping women find their identity in God and ending misconceptions about dieting and healthy eating. I want to inspire women to find the balance between spiritual and physical health, all while enjoying the journey! I teach and encourage you to put together simple and healthy meals with foods you crave, using everyday ingredients.  I focus on clean eating, gluten free and sugar-free recipes in my business where I work with clients every day through meal planning, teaching life skills for balanced eating, and nutritional counseling.
 

Katie Farrell

Katie’s road to healthy living was paved with many trials which she shares openly and honestly on her site. And her greatest desire is to come alongside women as they pursue both spiritual and physical well-being.

Along the way, though, she shares some absolutely AMAZING (and healthier!) recipes.

Like this one for Chewy Chocolate Peppermint Cookies.

chewy-peppermint-cookies-main

Katie’s book ‘Devotions for a Healthier You‘ focuses on the connection between mind, body and soul and is not only filled with fantastic meal plans and recipes, it also provides some ‘food for thought’ as Katie provides encouragement through simple devotions.

book-cover-devotional

We’re super excited that now Katie has put together all of her incredible, healthy recipes in one book appropriately called ‘Dashing Dish‘.

 

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AND, we’re even more excited to be giving away two, count ’em, TWO copies!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

We just couldn’t resist signing off today with Katie’s own words which just resonate with us so much and we are sure will resonate with you as well.

I have found that everything in life comes to one principal: The more you seek Him, the more you have a revelation of His great love for you. As you begin to understand His love, the more you trust Him with EVERY area of your life! If you haven’t already surrendered your life to Him, He is just a prayer away! He loves you, and He has AWESOME plans for you, if you simply let Him work in your life.


Thanks so much for meeting us (and Katie!) today at the Fence,

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And click here if you would like to hear about Heather’s own journey to health

Heather before and after 100 pounds

 

80 Comments Filed Under: Giveaways

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. jenny says

    December 17, 2014 at 3:49 AM

    I love both of your blogs, can’t wait to check out the new cookbook!!

    Reply
  2. Alison says

    December 17, 2014 at 3:51 AM

    i like to have a bowl of yogurt.

    Reply
  3. Nancy Curitti says

    December 17, 2014 at 4:07 AM

    Greek Yogurt gets my vote for a healthy snack.

    Reply
  4. jo wyrosdick says

    December 17, 2014 at 4:07 AM

    I don’t have a favorite healthy snack. I do try to eat almonds and walnuts for my cholesterol, also a TBLS. of flaxseed a day.

    Reply
  5. JoeyfromSC says

    December 17, 2014 at 4:39 AM

    This sounds like a great book!! My fave healthy snack is almonds! Thanks for the chance to win this book! Reading the above & seeing the transformations is very inspiring!

    Joey J.

    Reply
  6. jenny s says

    December 17, 2014 at 4:40 AM

    I love plain popcorn as a low fat snack.

    Reply
  7. Mel says

    December 17, 2014 at 5:01 AM

    Love your blogs! Would love to try this cookbook!

    Reply
  8. Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says

    December 17, 2014 at 5:04 AM

    For the past 50 years I have said I’d eat healthier and exercise more. Some years I did better than others. This year I’ve figured is IT!! I am encouraged by all the wonderful bloggers who have made a difference in their lives.

    Reply
  9. April V says

    December 17, 2014 at 5:57 AM

    I love sliced apples with Cookie Butter from TJ’s!!

    Reply
  10. Mollie says

    December 17, 2014 at 6:18 AM

    My favorite snack would be hummus with either veggies or crackers

    Reply
  11. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    December 17, 2014 at 6:26 AM

    Sounds like a wonderful book and concept….Favorite healthy snack is a nut mix that I make for myself and hubby…containing a variety of unsalted nuts (no peanuts) and a small amount of dried cherries…this replaces my love for chips!!!…

    Reply
  12. Terri S says

    December 17, 2014 at 6:29 AM

    I love celery with peanut butter.

    Reply
  13. Melanie C. says

    December 17, 2014 at 6:29 AM

    My favorite healthy snack is frozen blueberries. I’m hooked on them. I buy cases of them at the end of the season and enjoy them all year long.

    Reply
  14. Kristen Shields says

    December 17, 2014 at 6:45 AM

    I would love this cookbook and of course, I could stand to shed a few pounds!

    Reply
  15. Karen says

    December 17, 2014 at 6:46 AM

    My favorite snack is 5 soda crackers and a tablespoon of low fat sour cream

    Reply
  16. jan says

    December 17, 2014 at 7:21 AM

    apple slices dipped in peanut butter

    Reply
  17. Alison says

    December 17, 2014 at 7:33 AM

    Almonds and cashews

    Reply
  18. Katie says

    December 17, 2014 at 7:45 AM

    You girls seriously made my day! Thank you for blessing me with your sweet words, and for sharing the wonderful things that you did about my books! You gals have captured the heart of why I do what I do- and that is being spiritually and physically fit so that we can serve the Lord and honor Him with our bodies! So blessed by all that you are doing here as well! Keep up the amazing work! xo Katie

    Reply
  19. Stormy says

    December 17, 2014 at 7:51 AM

    I would LOVE to win her book!! I am about to begin a weight loss journey myself. My ultimate goal is 100 pounds. I would love any tips you can offer. And a lot of prayer!! ~Merry Christmas~

    Reply
    • Stormy says

      December 17, 2014 at 7:53 AM

      My favorite healthy snack is oranges.

      Reply
  20. Krista says

    December 17, 2014 at 7:55 AM

    I love her recipes

    Reply
  21. Veronique says

    December 17, 2014 at 7:57 AM

    Veggies and homemade hummus! SO GOOD.

    Reply
  22. Renee says

    December 17, 2014 at 8:06 AM

    Apples are my fave healthy snack!

    Reply
  23. Jamie says

    December 17, 2014 at 8:08 AM

    My favorite healthy snack is veggies and hummus! But I also love the Dashing Dish Chocolate Banana Protein Bread – so yummy!

    Reply
  24. Traci says

    December 17, 2014 at 8:09 AM

    My mom strongly suggested I subscribe to dashing dish. I had weight loss surgery and was looking for healthy recipes. I made the Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake for our school Christmas party (and an extra one for me 🙂 I was a little nervous about the cottage cheese, but my aunt (who is also a subcriber) assured me it would not look like cottage cheese after a run through my Vitamix! Yum! Would love to win the cookbook!

    Reply
  25. Stacey says

    December 17, 2014 at 8:15 AM

    My favorite healthy snack is greek yogurt.

    Reply
  26. Jodi says

    December 17, 2014 at 8:21 AM

    My favorite healthy snack is apples. I can’t wait to get the recipe book. Love your blog!

    Reply
  27. Daniela says

    December 17, 2014 at 8:22 AM

    I absolutely love to snack on carrots and hummus! This cookbook looks amazing and I’ve loved keeping up with Dashing Dish!

    Reply
  28. Rachel Brown says

    December 17, 2014 at 8:27 AM

    these books look awesome!!

    Reply
  29. Linda says

    December 17, 2014 at 8:47 AM

    Healthier snack…has to be nuts. ANY kind of nuts makes me happy. Next best snack is an apple. I’m a total apple addict. Thanks!!

    Reply
  30. Lauren Lehmuth says

    December 17, 2014 at 8:49 AM

    Love Dashing Dish! So excited for these books!

    Reply
  31. stacey says

    December 17, 2014 at 8:52 AM

    veggies and hummus are my favorite snack 🙂

    Reply
  32. Amy says

    December 17, 2014 at 9:16 AM

    Katie has come up with some amazing snacks that our whole family has loved! Can’t wait to see her cookbook!

    Reply
  33. Alana Cummings says

    December 17, 2014 at 9:56 AM

    Please enter me in the drawing!

    Reply
    • Alana Cummings says

      December 17, 2014 at 10:00 AM

      My fave healthy snack is a handful of nuts!

      Reply
  34. Sonja Loyd says

    December 17, 2014 at 10:17 AM

    i make a fruity snack with granola,and yogurt,Thank you for a chance to win a delicious book!

    Reply
  35. Cheryl Blatchley says

    December 17, 2014 at 10:23 AM

    My go-to healthy snacks are pistachios and lightly buttered popcorn, whether together or stand-alone, they are my two favorite snacks! Both my husband and I have a desire to lose weight and eat healthier, but never do well with the “diets”, so this book would be perfect for us! Thank you for the inspiration!

    Reply
  36. Kayla reitzler says

    December 17, 2014 at 11:16 AM

    Love the Dashing Dish and honey crisp apples with natural peanut butter!

    Reply
  37. lesley says

    December 17, 2014 at 11:25 AM

    i love edamame

    Reply
  38. Nancy M says

    December 17, 2014 at 11:29 AM

    Fruit and nuts are what I rely on for a healthy snack.

    Reply
  39. Julie says

    December 17, 2014 at 12:25 PM

    my favorite healthy snack is a chocolate protein shake!

    Reply
  40. Misty Brown says

    December 17, 2014 at 12:28 PM

    I have been waiting for this book to release and for a chance to win a copy! I plan to buy a copy if I don;t win, but if I do, I can bless someone with the purchased copy. 🙂

    Reply
  41. Kaye Killgore says

    December 17, 2014 at 1:12 PM

    I really like Greek Yogurt and nuts

    Reply
  42. Kayla says

    December 17, 2014 at 1:20 PM

    My favorite go-to snack is apples or cashews! Both satisfying and tasty!

    Reply
  43. Carla says

    December 17, 2014 at 1:57 PM

    Favorite snack is poms or halos.

    Reply
  44. Katie Ault says

    December 17, 2014 at 2:24 PM

    I love fruit.

    Reply
  45. Donna Smith says

    December 17, 2014 at 3:00 PM

    Thanks for the giveaway. I enjoy her recipes. I like to snack on almonds and apples and natural peanut butter.

    Reply
  46. Christy Spurlock says

    December 17, 2014 at 3:13 PM

    I love walnuts and/or fruit

    Reply
  47. Alicia Boarts says

    December 17, 2014 at 3:16 PM

    I love apples and peanut butter.we have a great local one called Sea Salted Caramel by Blind Spot nut butters. So good.

    Reply
  48. Kate D. says

    December 17, 2014 at 3:24 PM

    My favorite healthy snack is greek yogurt or apples.

    Reply
  49. Elizabeth G. says

    December 17, 2014 at 3:58 PM

    I like cashews.

    Reply
  50. Aimee W says

    December 17, 2014 at 4:20 PM

    Anything dark chocolate! Or pomegranate seeds. Or chocolate covered pomegranate seeds!

    Reply
  51. Nicki says

    December 17, 2014 at 4:59 PM

    My favorite healthy snack would be apple slices and peanut butter. 🙂

    Reply
  52. Cindy Jochims says

    December 17, 2014 at 5:09 PM

    This sounds like a great book to win!! My favorite healthy snack is almonds! Thanks for the chance to win this book!

    Reply
  53. Erin says

    December 17, 2014 at 5:24 PM

    I love to eat yogurt with strawberries and blueberries!

    Reply
  54. Abby F says

    December 17, 2014 at 5:39 PM

    Fresh fruit!

    Reply
  55. Jennifer says

    December 17, 2014 at 5:45 PM

    I think my favorite snack is yogurt, string cheese or apples with peanut butter!

    Reply
  56. Tania says

    December 17, 2014 at 6:02 PM

    Fruit is go to snack.

    Reply
  57. amy says

    December 17, 2014 at 6:20 PM

    My favorite healthy snack is to make a smoothie. Looks like a wonderful book!

    Reply
  58. Debbie S. says

    December 17, 2014 at 6:36 PM

    My absolute favorite snack is Greek vanilla yogurt with a handful of raw almonds!! Yum yum!!

    Reply
  59. Nancy H says

    December 17, 2014 at 6:56 PM

    My favorite snack is apples and peanut butter…

    Reply
  60. Christina Luther says

    December 17, 2014 at 6:56 PM

    I love her recipes!! All in one book would be awesome!

    Reply
  61. Sylvia says

    December 17, 2014 at 7:18 PM

    Sliced bell peppers

    Reply
  62. Diana K. says

    December 17, 2014 at 8:10 PM

    My favorite healthy snack is fruit and cottage cheese.

    Reply
  63. Liz C. says

    December 17, 2014 at 9:58 PM

    Nothing beats apples and peanut butter

    Reply
  64. Steph says

    December 18, 2014 at 5:38 AM

    Fruit

    Reply
  65. Alina says

    December 18, 2014 at 6:02 AM

    Some carrot sticks with jalapeno hummus. YUM!

    Reply
  66. Sharon says

    December 18, 2014 at 6:24 AM

    I love Greek Yogurt with a bit of honey and fruit! yum!

    Reply
  67. Sean C says

    December 18, 2014 at 6:45 AM

    Love eating Dried Snap Peas. They are yummy and come in a variety of flavors.

    Reply
  68. Amanda Ecklar says

    December 18, 2014 at 7:48 AM

    I love granola! I made some almond joy granola from Dashing Dish yesterday it hit the spot! So delicious!

    Reply
  69. Cori says

    December 18, 2014 at 8:00 AM

    I like sliced apples and almond butter with a dash of Cinnamon.

    Reply
  70. Cara says

    December 18, 2014 at 10:18 AM

    Absolutely love almost all of Katies recipes. Our favorite snack… that’s a tough one – we definitely enjoy the buffalo chicken bites!

    Reply
  71. Ellen says

    December 18, 2014 at 10:52 AM

    Yogurt and granola or cottage cheese with pineapple chunks

    Reply
  72. MARTHA says

    December 18, 2014 at 8:46 PM

    Mango is a favorite !!!

    Reply
  73. Phyllis says

    December 19, 2014 at 3:48 AM

    I love bananas with a bit of peanut butter.

    Reply
  74. Rachel Garcia says

    December 19, 2014 at 12:27 PM

    Almonds

    Reply
  75. Aly says

    December 19, 2014 at 2:52 PM

    Apples and peanut butter, carrots & almonds

    Reply
  76. Dezi A says

    December 20, 2014 at 5:41 AM

    Nuts. Fruit. Carrots with a wedge of laughing cow cheese.

    Reply
  77. Vickie says

    December 21, 2014 at 7:58 PM

    Fresh fruit salad..and for a real treat I do avocado or black bean brownies.
    Thanks.

    Reply
  78. Annette says

    December 23, 2014 at 9:52 PM

    My favorite healthy snack is a smoothie. I love nuts, but they don’t love my tummy.

    Reply

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“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10
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?
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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
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