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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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November 19, 2014

A Few of My Favorite Things

It was time. The children had finally reached an age where I was certain that they were ready to sit down and watch one of the greatest movies of all-time. The fake logs glowed in the fireplace, the lights twinkled on the Christmas tree and the smell of popcorn floated in the air.

And as Julie Andrews spun around in circles on the top of a hill, apron flying in the wind and I sat there surrounded by my precious babes, I was quite certain that there was nothing that could top this moment. I was wrong.

unique and creative Christmas gift ideas from atthepicketfence.com

 

When we reached my most favorite part in the movie, where Maria is in her room praying and Liesel is sneaking in through the window after meeting that boy Rolf (traitor!!) and dancing around the gazebo, I could barely control my anticipation. I knew which song was coming. The BEST song in whole movie in my opinion. And as Julie/Maria belted out those lines about raindops and roses and whiskers on kittens, I could see it dawning on my sweet girl’s face. She knew that song very well! I have been singing it to her since the day she was born and it is ‘our’ song.

And then, just when I thought my heart would burst with joy, she piped up and said, “Oh Mommy! That lady sings almost as great as you do!”

My heart pulled a grinch and grew two sizes bigger in that moment.

I mean, I’ve always sounded just like Julie Andrews in my head so this was just the proof I needed! 😉

You can imagine my delight when Melissa from 320 Sycamore asked me if I would be willing to join a whole gaggle of other bloggers in sharing a ‘Few of my Favorite Things’ this year. Of course, ever since I received the email I’ve been singing that song.

favorite things 2014

And now I’m sure you are too. You’re welcome.

So, in my best Fräulein Maria and without further adieu, I give you a few of my favorite things this Holiday season!

My incredible friend Laura from Finding Home just launched her new AMAZING new shop where you can buy 100% Pure Maple Syrup and I’m thinking they would make the perfect stocking stuffers this year!

View More: https://eveswishphotography.pass.us/putnam

I’m pretty sure that this  Downton Abbey Stocking from The French Elements would help in my quest to stay patient as we wait for the next season to premiere here in the states!

downton abbey stocking

 

A certain little girl in our home will be receiving the American Girl Doll of the Year Isabelle and I promise it isn’t just because she said I sound exactly like Julie Andrews. 😉 She is the ‘Girl of the Year’ so I know she will be cherished since come January 1 she will be no longer available.

Isabelle

I have several….ahem…older-ish folks in my life who seem to be always losing their glasses (usually they are on their heads!) so I think this Spectacles Necklace from Ambivalent Relics would be such a fun/funny gift.

spectacles necklace

I got this Chillsner from Uncommon Goods for my husband last year for Christmas and at first he was skeptical but all it took was a beer staying nice and cold until it was all gone to win him over.

chillsner

I don’t know about you but I still go the old-school route and have physical calendars in our home and I just love this Photo Calendar from Photographs by KLP so much!

calendar

 

I was explaining to my kids the other day that I learned to type on a typewriter instead of a computer and they looked at me like I was about 200 years old so I’m thinking one of these Typewriter Key Bracelets from Junxtaposition might be just the thing to help me recover from their insults. 😉

bracelets2-359x460

If I was decorating a nursery right now, the colors in this Child’s Deer and Butterfly Monogram Pillow Cover Set from LaRae Boutique would be exactly the palette I would choose! So beautiful, soothing and sweet.

deer pillow from LaRae boutique

 

A certain friend of mine has a little boy who adores all things construction and since I absolutely adore him I couldn’t resist ordering these Construction Utensils from Uncommon Goods!

construction utensils

 

 

These Cowgirl Boot Earrings from Bel Monili totally remind me of the year when my daughter was a cowgirl for Halloween. She NEVER wanted to take off those boots!

cowgirl boot earrings

 

My son is a total techie kid who spends his own money to buy electronics at Goodwill simply so that he can take them apart and study the insides. I kid you not that there is a section of our garage covered in motherboards. He’s been begging me for a ‘real’ camera, not a kids camera, so that we could do some photography sessions together. So when I saw this DIY Digital Camera Kit I KNEW it was the perfect thing for my boy. A camera that he can put together himself and see exactly how it all works!

camera

 

So, there you have it. Those are just a few of my favorite things this year.

What about you? Do you have some favorite things on your list this year?

For more great ideas head over to 320 Sycamore  and have fun working your way through all of the amazing selections from the other ladies. I’m heading over to visit Amy at The Idea Room  and I can’t wait to see her ‘Favorites’!

Now, you’ll have to excuse me because there is a little girl waiting upstairs for me to come sing to her. Bless her little tone deaf heart! 😉

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13 Comments Filed Under: Christmas, Good Ideas, Holidays Tagged With: Christmas, Christmas gifts

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Comments

  1. Iryna says

    November 19, 2014 at 6:01 AM

    Oooh, these are great ideas. Consider an Arduino board for your son and introduce him to Scratch (easy animation making software from MIT). 🙂

    Reply
  2. Catherine says

    November 19, 2014 at 7:37 AM

    Fun picks Vanessa—especially LUV those pillows!
    Catherine

    Reply
  3. Anna says

    November 19, 2014 at 8:28 AM

    So many fun things! I can’t decide which one is my favorite. 🙂

    Anna

    Reply
  4. Jessica says

    November 19, 2014 at 12:59 PM

    My favorites? Typewriter key bracelets and the photo calendars! Love them. Beautiful list!

    Reply
  5. Laura Putnam says

    November 19, 2014 at 5:23 PM

    Thank you sweet friends! I so appreciate your support!!!!!!

    Reply
  6. Ashley @ Cherished Bliss says

    November 19, 2014 at 7:40 PM

    So many great things ladies!! I would love some of that maple syrup! : )

    Reply
  7. Barb says

    November 19, 2014 at 9:19 PM

    So many goodies. Thank you for including my Downton Abbey stocking. We are overseas right now so it started my day off in a very merry way!

    hugs,
    Barb

    Reply
  8. Laura says

    November 20, 2014 at 7:16 AM

    Thank you for including my pillows in this beautiful collection!

    Reply
  9. Randi - Dukes and Duchesses says

    November 20, 2014 at 8:15 AM

    So many great gift idea suggestions! Love them all!

    Reply
  10. Megan says

    November 20, 2014 at 8:21 AM

    I’m always on the hunt for unique gift ideas for people. These are all wonderful options! Thanks for the suggestions!

    Reply
  11. taryn @ Design, Dining and Diapers says

    November 20, 2014 at 11:57 PM

    Oh I love that photo calendar and those pillows! Great picks!

    Reply
  12. melissa320sycamore says

    November 24, 2014 at 8:39 AM

    What great finds, Vanessa! I so miss buying American Girl for my girls, I still love looking at the catalog 🙂 Happy Thanksiving!

    Reply
  13. jeanne / juNxtaposition says

    December 2, 2014 at 8:29 PM

    aww… you make me blush !! thanks for the share – so wonderful !!! (and you KNOW you are one of our favorite blogs !!)

    Reply

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