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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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June 14, 2011

Getting ready for the Blogger Block Party!

A Blog Party = Fun! A Blogger Block Party = Fantabulous Fun!!  Last week we announced we would be kicking off the official start of summer with our first annual Blogger Block Party on June 20-25!  That’s

12 Blogs
6 Days
1 HUGE party!

Blogger Block Party Graphic
We are joining forces with all of these fabulous bloggers to host one big
week long summer link party!

We each will have a summer related theme everyday of the week and you are welcome to link up as few or as many projects as you want throughout the week related to any of the themes..and trust us there is a theme for everyone! Because this is a “blog hop” the entire link party will show up on all 12 blogs the entire week so you are free to hop from blog to blog linking up your theme related projects!  We will wrap-up the Block Party on Saturday, here At The Picket Fence with a highlight feature of some of our favorite links! How cool is that?!

So what are the themes you ask?  Well here ya go!

DebbieDoo’s Blogging and Blabbing-Summer Paint Projects
At The Picket Fence (Vanessa)-Summer Activities for Kids
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia-Drop Cloth Projects
Savvy Southern Style-Summer Decks and Porches
DIY by Design-Outdoor Cooking and Dining
Elements Interiors-Summer DIY Projects
Green Door Girl Designs-Summer Fashions
No Minimalist Here-Summer Entertaining
SAS Interiors-Summer Spaces
Common Ground-A Vintage Summer
French Country Cottage-A Shabby Cottage Summer
Stuff and Nonsense-Summer Sales (Thrifting, Flea Markets and Yard Sales)
At The Picket Fence (Heather)-Fresh from the Garden (Garden Recipes and Projects)

WHEW! See we told ya there was something for everyone!  We hope you will visit each of the blogs where they will share what they have been up to this summer and then link up your theme related posts! You will see some blogs share a party date! That makes it even more fun!  Just hop over to the other themes and if you have a post (past or present) related to their theme you can link it up!
And, what would a party be without PRESENTS!?! Except these presents aren’t for us…they’re for you!  Yep! That’s right!

There will be 13 GIVEAWAYS..one for each theme! So you will need to visit each blog to see what their giveaway is!  That’s a whole lot of giveaway loving!  All giveaways will be drawn from those who link up projects! The more projects you link the more chances you have to win one of the incredible items we will be giving away!

Blogger Block Party Button
So here’s what we need YOU to do!  Get those summer posts ready to share with us!  It can be a past post or a new post…just as long as it’s related to summer!  No Christmas Trees please! Winking smile
And we’d love it if you’d help us spread the word about our Blogger Block Party by taking the button link below and placing it in your sidebar!

Or, if you really feel in the party spirit we’d love you to Blog, Facebook or Twitter (use #BloggerBlockParty) about the party!  Feel free to  use any of the graphics in our post.  We don’t mind this type of “borrowing”! Smile
So get ready to join us the week of June 20-25 for our week long Blogger Block Party! 
Hope to see you all there!
dual signature

Don’t Forget! Today’s the last day to enter our Etsy Shop Giveaway from
You can win a $25 gift certificate to Stacey’s lovely Etsy Shop so click on the link above to enter!

16 Comments Filed Under: Blogger Block Party

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Comments

  1. Ann from On Sutton Place says

    June 14, 2011 at 1:39 PM

    Thanks for this re-cap. I was trying to find the listing of parties somewhere and wa-la…it appeared on your blog! You two have perfect timing. Thanks!

    Reply
  2. Debbie says

    June 14, 2011 at 1:55 PM

    Since I’ve been Debbie Doldrums lately, I’ll enjoy looking at tall the links for some summer inspiration.

    Reply
  3. ⚜ ↁℯℬℬᴵℰ⚜ says

    June 14, 2011 at 1:59 PM

    Looking forward to it girls!~

    Reply
  4. Honey at 2805 says

    June 14, 2011 at 2:38 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    Reply
  5. Peggy says

    June 14, 2011 at 2:58 PM

    This sounds so fun! Can’t wait =)

    Reply
  6. Coley says

    June 14, 2011 at 5:53 PM

    This is going to be FUN!

    Reply
  7. michelle says

    June 14, 2011 at 8:08 PM

    Looks like fun! It is on my sidebar now.
    🙂

    Reply
  8. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    June 14, 2011 at 3:26 PM

    So excited about this girls~ I’ll be sharing this post this week too! Hugs, Courtney

    Reply
  9. Marianne says

    June 15, 2011 at 1:39 AM

    This sounds like so much fun..can’t wait!!
    marianne 🙂

    Reply
  10. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    June 15, 2011 at 3:03 AM

    Hi girls I can’t wait!! Sounds like it’s going to be so much fun!! Martina

    Reply
  11. Necessary Inspiration says

    June 15, 2011 at 3:15 AM

    This sounds like fun…can’t wait. I’ve posted the button on my sidebar and am picking out my posts…thanks, Linda

    Reply
  12. ❀ⒹⒺⒺ❀ says

    June 15, 2011 at 1:12 PM

    Thanks for the details. I can’t wait to participate. This is going to be so much FUN!

    Dee 🙂

    Reply
  13. Andrea@ourbluefrontdoor says

    June 15, 2011 at 10:21 PM

    Looking forward to it! I’m spreading the love on my blog. You all rock and can’t wait to party with everyone!

    Reply
  14. Debbie@refreshrestyle.com says

    June 16, 2011 at 12:54 AM

    Thanks for doing this, I am looking forward to it!
    Debbie

    Reply
  15. Tammy says

    June 18, 2011 at 3:19 PM

    Looks like a good time! Placing it on my blog today!
    Tammy
    Junk Wild

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. No sew 4th of July bandana pillows and a winner says:
    January 29, 2013 at 3:34 PM

    […] and all things summer in our week long Summer Link Party!  You can find out more details at our Blogger Block Party Post! Hope to see you all there! We also have a winner for our Etsy Shop Giveaway from Maggie Jane’s […]

    Reply

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The first weekend in December seems like a good ti The first weekend in December seems like a good time for my annual gentle reminder about this month. I don’t know about you but, for me, December is a month of mixed emotions, ranging from joy-filled moments to ones that have me wanting to pull my hair out.

There are so many expectations and we put so much pressure on ourselves to create magical memories. And for years I have felt the added weight of wanting to make sure my family had opportunities throughout the month to grow in their relationship with Christ.

We celebrate advent and read all of the appropriate Baby Jesus books and encourage a spirit of generosity and heavily emphasize the real reason for the season.

But sweet friends, I want to remind you today that one month out of the year does not a strong relationship with the Lord make. December doesn’t define our faith in Christ.

For our families or for us.

There are 11 other months in the year. 11 other months to live out our faith in front of our children. 11 other months to pray with them. 11 other months to help them wrestle through their questions and add depth to their walk with the Lord. 11 other months to encourage them to have generous spirits.

Let’s stop putting so much pressure on this one month out of the year. Let’s be surprised at the ways we might be able to celebrate the baby in the manger without a dozen countdown calendars. Let’s give our kids some grace when they are focused more on gifts because…well…they’re kids after all.

And while we’re at it, let’s give ourselves some grace too.

Grace when we think we should feel all the warm fuzzy feelings about Christmas but we really just want to take a nap. Or have a good cry. 

Grace that reminds us that this month will soon be over and we will have a brand new year ahead of us.

A new year filled with big moments and little moments and everything in between.

A new year to draw even closer to our Savior.

My hope for you is that, as you head into this season, you will be given fresh perspective and that you will give yourself (and your family) permission to just ‘be’. ✨
✨ The first Sunday of Advent is upon us and this ✨ The first Sunday of Advent is upon us and this year I created a super simple centerpiece for my dining room that incorporates the candles we will use each of the four weeks leading up to Christmas. While we will only light one candle each week, I used more than four so that the centerpiece would look a bit more filled in. In keeping with my goal to embrace a softer approach to my decorating, this arrangement works perfectly and helps to keep our focus on the beauty and the meaning  of the Advent season. For more ideas like this, check out my previous Advent post! ✨

#advent #adventcandles #simplechristmas #wearethehomemakers
In this season of motherhood, my soul is feeling a In this season of motherhood, my soul is feeling a bit more tender. When Christmas rolls around and I no longer have wish lists that include Lego sets or dollhouses, I find that I want my home to reflect this craving for all things gentle.

So our hot cocoa station this year is much more simple and done in a neutral color palette that just subtly blends in with the rest of the decor. It still feels festive and is definitely still “user friendly” but it’s just a bit less…well…less.

And, that’s ok. It’s not that this area won’t ever again have bright colors (maybe even pops of red!) but, right now I’m happy to have things this way.

With all that is going on in the world right outside our door, my desire is for our home to truly feel like a respite. I want it to be where we come and let our guard down, our heart rates slow and to be flooded with a sense of peace in knowing that here is where we can just simply be. I want it to be a place of rest. Rest from the constant onslaught of news and information. Rest from the seemingly small struggles of school and jobs that can so often feel like big struggles.

And, most importantly, we rest in the comfort of knowing the One who is Sovereign over all and is the reason this month is so very special and sacred.

Many blessings to you dear friends as we kick off this wonderful season! ✨
Next week is first Sunday of Advent. And contrary Next week is first Sunday of Advent. And contrary to popular belief, the celebration of Advent is VERY different from just simply doing a ‘countdown to Christmas’. It’s not about having little drawers filled with candy or doors to open with prizes inside. Those things are so much fun and definitely help to build anticipation as you head closer and closer to the big day.

But Advent, from the latin word ‘adventus’ meaning ‘arrival’ or ‘appearance’ keeps the focus completely on celebrating the arrival of the King who came in the form of an infant.

This is one of our favorite family traditions and over the years I’ve figured out how to incorporate the Advent candles into my decor without using the traditional wreath. I hope this gives you some ideas and inspiration as we head into this sacred season. 🌲

#advent #adventdecoration #wearethehomemakers
Why do I start decorating before Thanksgiving? Bec Why do I start decorating before Thanksgiving? Because it’s the Saturday after and my house is almost completely ready to start the season! So I’m sitting with my coffee and just soaking it all up knowing that now I can focus on shopping, hosting and preparing our hearts for the start of Advent. The only thing left to do is get our fresh tree for the front room and then the decorating is done. 

Starting early is a gift I give to myself and I’m always grateful for it! 🌲

#simplechristmas #traditionalchristmas
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest fo “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” ~ G.K. Chesterton

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours dear friends! 🍂
Christmas has arrived in the family room where I k Christmas has arrived in the family room where I keep things simple but festive! We’ll get a fresh tree after Thanksgiving which will go in our front room bay window but this slim faux tree with its colorful ornaments tides us over for now. Which room in your home gets the Christmas treatment first? Or do you just start doing a little at a time in each room? 🎄

*pillow covers are from @jshhomeessentials
I share this recipe every year because it’s JUST I share this recipe every year because it’s JUST.THAT.GOOD! 

And I have a confession ...I’d rather have cranberry sauce smothering the turkey on my plate than gravy any day!! And this, this right here? Well it’s the best (and easiest!) cranberry sauce ever!! I eat on crackers and sandwiches and sometimes just by the spoonful. It’s so yummy! And I’m just so very thankful for all of you that I’m going to leave the recipe right here instead of making you go to the blog to get it. I promise you won’t regret having this on your Thanksgiving menu but be warned...you may find yourself up in the middle of the night sneaking some helpings of this deliciousness. Or maybe that’s just me!

Ingredients:
2 pounds fresh or frozen cranberries
2 oranges
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup white wine.

Instructions:
Wash and pick over berries, removing any that are soft. Peel and dice oranges removing any seeds. Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a full boil. Reduce heat and continue cooking until cranberries pop open and mixture is thickening.
For best flavor, prepare and let stand for several days before using.

Gobble, gobble!! 🦃
How do I want people to feel when they walk throug How do I want people to feel when they walk through my front door? That’s always at the top of my mind when I’m decorating my entry for each season, particularly at Christmastime. 

✨I want them to feel like my home is greeting them with a smile.

✨I want them to feel like this is a place where care has been given to details (but not to the point of being too stuffy or too busy or too overwhelming). 

✨I want them to feel like there is peace here.

✨I want them to feel like they are welcome…because they are. 

My home is a reflection of my heart and my heart is a reflection of the ONE for whom I live and try to honor and praise all of my days, but especially at Christmas.

How do you want people to feel when they come into your home? 

#christmasentry #simplechristmas #simplicity #wearethehomemakers
This is not a criticism of those who are sharing t This is not a criticism of those who are sharing their great new Christmas finds but rather an encouragement to those of you who are feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all and trying to resist the temptation to purchase more items than you really need.

Several years ago I felt a conviction in my heart about how much time and money I was spending on trying to create a new look every Christmas. I was not being a good steward of my resources and I was far too easily swayed by the peer pressure in this area. And a funny thing happened when I smashed this idol that had taken up residence in my heart. I suddenly found renewed joy in decorating for the season. By keeping things simple and maybe only buying something like a new spool of velvet ribbon, I actually realized that I could be far more creative reusing and repurposing what I already had.

In the coming weeks your news feeds will be filled with temptations for MORE. Maybe, this year, you too can find the joy in LESS. 🌲

#simplechristmas #simplicity #wearethehomemakers
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